US4915685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for iontophoresis application of medicaments at a controlled ph through ion exchange
Assignee: Iomed LLC
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Filing: 1987-06-19
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Granted: 1990-04-10
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Expires: 2007-06-19
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for administering known quantities of medicaments by iontophoresis, while avoiding burns caused by extremes in the pH of the medicament medium during passage of an electric current, are disclosed. It is known that as iontophoresis progresses in conventional iontophoresis systems, the electrolysis of water occurs to produce hydrogen or hydroxyl ions at the interface of the electrode and medicament medium. Since these ions are highly mobile, they are transported directly into the skin of a patient in preference to the larger medicament ions. Thus, extreme changes in pH are experienced which result in burns due to the acidificaion or alkalinization of the medicament medium and passage of electric current through the skin. In addition, the efficiency of iontophoresis decreases over time. The present invention avoids extremes in pH by removing the hydrogen or hydroxyl ions which are created during iontophoresis and creates conditions for constant delivery over prolonged periods of time. In the present invention, the medicament ions are attached to an ion exchange matrix, such as an ion exchange resin. When the medicament leaves the ion exchange matrix, the vacated active site is filled by the produced electrolysis products, thereby allowing iontophoresis to progress at a relatively constant pH.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomasz J. Petelenz
- 👤 Stephen C. Jacobsen
- 👤 Robert L. Stephen
- 👤 Jiri Janata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0428; A61N1/0432; A61N1/0448
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of a patient while simultaneously removing competing ions from the medicament medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ion exchange matrix and a drug comprising medicament ions which are insoluble in an iontophoresis medium and complementary ions; (b) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (c) obtaining an iontophoresis medium; (d) placing the ion exchange matrix and the drug in communication with iontophoresis medium such that the medicament ions are precipitated onto the ion exchange matrix; (e) placing the first electrode in communication with the iontophoresis medium; (f) placing the iontophoresis medium in communication with the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (g) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; and (h) creating an electrical voltage difference between the first and second electrodes, said voltage difference causing the electrolysis reaction of water, the products of the electrolysis of water acting to solubilize the medicament such that the medicament ions are transported through the skin of the patient, while an approximately constant pH is maintained within the iontophoresis medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament through the skin of a patient while simultaneously removing competing ions from the medicament medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ion exchange matrix and a drug comprising medicament ions which are insoluble in an iontophoresis medium and complementary ions; (b) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (c) obtaining an iontophoresis medium; (d) placing the ion exchange matrix and the drug in communication with iontophoresis medium such that the medicament ions are precipitated onto the ion exchange matrix; (e) placing the first electrode in communication with the iontophoresis medium; (f) placing the iontophoresis medium in communication with the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (g) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; and (h) creating an electrical voltage difference between the first and second electrodes, said voltage difference causing the electrolysis reaction of water, the products of the electrolysis of water acting to solubilize the medicament such that the medicament ions are transported through the skin of the patient, while an approximately constant pH is maintained within the iontophoresis medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 1 wherein the iontophoresis medium comprises an aqueous medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 1 wherein the ion exchange matrix comprises an ion exchange resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 3 wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 4 wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a copolymer of styrene and divinyl benzene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 1 wherein the medicament comprises morphine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for iontophoretically administering a medicament as defined in claim 1 wherein the medicament comprises morphine sulphate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions through the skin of a patient while simultaneously removing competing ions from the medicament medium the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an iontophoresis medium; (b) obtaining a drug comprising medicament ions which are insoluble in the iontophoresis medium and complementary ions; (c) obtaining an ion exchange matrix; (d) reacting the drug with the ion exchange matrix such that the complementary ions become bound to the active sites of the ion exchange matrix; (e) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (f) placing the drug and the ion exchange matrix in communication with the iontophoresis medium such that the medicament ions precipitate onto the ion exchange matrix; (g) placing the first electrode in communication with the iontophoresis medium; (h) placing the iontophoresis medium in communication with the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (i) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; and (j) creating voltage difference between the first and second electrodes, said voltage difference causing the electrolysis reaction of water, the products of the electrolysis of water acting to solubilize the precipitated medicament such that the medicament ions react with the products of the electrolysis reaction of water and are then transported through the skin of the patient, while an approximately constant pH is maintained within the iontophoresis medium.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions through the skin of a patient while simultaneously removing competing ions from the medicament medium the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an iontophoresis medium; (b) obtaining a drug comprising medicament ions which are insoluble in the iontophoresis medium and complementary ions; (c) obtaining an ion exchange matrix; (d) reacting the drug with the ion exchange matrix such that the complementary ions become bound to the active sites of the ion exchange matrix; (e) obtaining a first electrode and a second electrode; (f) placing the drug and the ion exchange matrix in communication with the iontophoresis medium such that the medicament ions precipitate onto the ion exchange matrix; (g) placing the first electrode in communication with the iontophoresis medium; (h) placing the iontophoresis medium in communication with the patient such that the medium is disposed between the first electrode and the skin of the patient; (i) placing the second electrode in communication with the skin of the patient at a point distal from the first electrode; and (j) creating voltage difference between the first and second electrodes, said voltage difference causing the electrolysis reaction of water, the products of the electrolysis of water acting to solubilize the precipitated medicament such that the medicament ions react with the products of the electrolysis reaction of water and are then transported through the skin of the patient, while an approximately constant pH is maintained within the iontophoresis medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions as defined in claim 8 wherein the iontophoresis medium comprises an aqueous medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions as defined in claim 8 wherein the ion exchange matrix comprises an ion exchange resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions as defined in claim 10 wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions as defined in claim 10 wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a copolymer of styrene and divinyl benzene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions as defined in claim 8 wherein the medicament comprises morphine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method for iontophoretically administering medicament ions as defined in claim 9 wherein the medicament comprises morphine sulphate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-09 | 1993-10-09 | 1994-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-09 | 1997-10-09 | 1998-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-09 | 2001-10-09 | 2002-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |