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US4883457A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Disposable and/or replenishable transdermal drug applicators and methods of manufacturing same

Assignee: Drug Delivery Systems Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-05
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Granted: 1989-11-28
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Expires: 2007-06-05
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Abstract

Abstract Applicators for the electrophoretic and/or electro-osmostic dispensing of a medicament across the skin and into the bloodstream of a patient. Each applicator includes two electrodes in electrical contact with the skin with at least one of the electrodes being a drug reservoir, at least one battery, a flexible, non-conductive substrate having an electrically conductive coating extending to electrical contact with each electrode and to the terminals of the battery, the substrate being folded into at least two layers, a cover adhesively secured to the applicator, and a release liner covering and protecting the drug reservoir or reservoirs until use.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dan Sibalis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 09:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0428; A61N1/0432; A61N1/044; A61M; A61M37/00; A61N1/0436; A61N1/0448

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 198 words
A transdermal drug applicator for application to the skin of a patient which is electrically powered, comprising: a flexible, non-conductive substrate having conductive coated areas which together form a single flexible member said flexible substrate defining first and second surfaces, and said conductive coated areas being on said first surface and forming drug reservoir electrodes, said flexible member being folded at about 180 degrees at each of two opposite ends to form top side and bottom side portions with the conductive coated areas providing electrical conductors between said top side and said bottom side portions, a plurality of separated drug reservoirs in electrical contact with said drug reservoir electrodes at said bottom side portions, a power source, including an electrical circuit, connected to said conductors at said top side portions for providing current to said plurality of drug reservoirs via said conductors and drug reservoir electrodes, electrical current conditioning means in said circuit with said power source and said drug reservoir electrodes, and a covering for said drug applicator enveloping and enclosing said flexible member, said power source and current conditioning means, and said plurality of drug reservoirs leaving a side of said drug reservoirs free for application.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 198 words
A transdermal drug applicator for application to the skin of a patient which is electrically powered, comprising: a flexible, non-conductive substrate having conductive coated areas which together form a single flexible member said flexible substrate defining first and second surfaces, and said conductive coated areas being on said first surface and forming drug reservoir electrodes, said flexible member being folded at about 180 degrees at each of two opposite ends to form top side and bottom side portions with the conductive coated areas providing electrical conductors between said top side and said bottom side portions, a plurality of separated drug reservoirs in electrical contact with said drug reservoir electrodes at said bottom side portions, a power source, including an electrical circuit, connected to said conductors at said top side portions for providing current to said plurality of drug reservoirs via said conductors and drug reservoir electrodes, electrical current conditioning means in said circuit with said power source and said drug reservoir electrodes, and a covering for said drug applicator enveloping and enclosing said flexible member, said power source and current conditioning means, and said plurality of drug reservoirs leaving a side of said drug reservoirs free for application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 63 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, wherein said power source is a reusable battery and said cover forms an aperture to receive said reusable power source, said reusable power source having positive and negative terminals adapted to be in electrical contact with said conductive areas so as to form an electrical circuit when said reusable battery is positioned in said aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 2 further including a programmable control means connected to said reusable power source so as to make a reusable power and control unit adapted to be removably placed in said applicator at said aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 3, wherein said power source includes a pair of positive and negative sheet electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 4, wherein said pair of positive and negative sheet electrodes are zinc and carbon electrodes, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, wherein said drug reservoirs include gels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 6, wherein said gels are reinforced by scrims.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 2, wherein said drug reservoirs include open cell foam material impregnated with gels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 8, further including a semi-permeable membrane in juxtaposition to said drug reservoirs, said semi-permeable membrane having seals so as to define particular drug zones.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 9, wherein said drug zones contain drugs of different compositions from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 9, wherein said drug zones contain drugs of different concentrations from each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 40 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, further including another substrate containing thereon a coated release agent, and said plurality of drug reservoirs being positioned with their free sides in juxtaposition with said release agent of said another substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
A transdermal drug applicator according to claim 12, wherein said topside portions of said coated areas are joined to terminals of said power source so as to create an electrical circuit when said applicator is applied to the skin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, wherein some of the conductors are of a predetermined resistance so as to perform the function of a current limiting resistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said drug reservoir electrodes of one of said plurality of drug reservoirs comprises graphite.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 57 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of drug reservoirs have opposed inner and outer sides with the outer sides adapted to make contact with the sun of patent upon application, and said at least one electrode mode of graphite is in electrical contact with said inner side of said one drug reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, further including an adhesive layer on the other side of said non-conductive substrate for firmly securing the folded opposite ends of said non-conductive substrate to itself.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 35 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, further including a conductive adhesive at opposite end portions of said conductive coated areas for removably securing said plurality of drug reservoirs to said conductive coated areas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 37 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, further including spacer means having cutouts, and being disposed between said non-conductive substrate and said covering for locating in said cutouts said current conditioning means and said power source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 40 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 19, including a non-conductive liner having a plurality of perforations juxtaposed on both sides of said spacer means, and said perforations arranged in line with said current conditioning means and said power source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 28 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 20, including conductive adhesives extending through said perforations for maintaining electrical contact with said current conditioning means and said power source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 19 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 2, wherein said power source is a plurality of electrically connected batteries.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 36 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 22, wherein said batteries and current conditioning means together with predetermined printed circuit layouts in said applicator and said conductive adhesives form said electrical circuit of the drug applicator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 20 words
The applicator drug applicator according to claim 23, wherein said predetermined printed circuit layers are formed by a conductive paint.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 19 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 23, wherein said predetermined printed circuit layouts are formed on said liner.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 33 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 20, further including apertures in said spacer means, said liners and said non-conductive substrate forming in registry at least one window in said transdermal drug applicator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 19 words
The transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit includes indicator means in said electrical circuit.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-11-27 1993-05-29 1993-11-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-11-27 1997-05-29 1997-11-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-11-27 2001-05-29 2001-11-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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