US4921475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transdermal drug patch with microtubes
Assignee: Drug Delivery Systems Inc
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Filing: 1988-05-20
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Granted: 1990-05-01
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Expires: 2008-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A transdermal drug patch for delivering at least one drug to a patient through the skin comprises: (a) at least two electrodes forming the patch and separated from each other by an insulator; (b) a circuit including an electrical power source for supplying power to and electrically connected to the electrodes at a conductive element; and (c) drug reservoir means in the form of a plurality of microtubes separated from and insulated from each other extending from a conductive element at one end to the surface of the patch interfacing with the patient at the other end of the microtube.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Sibalis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0428; A61N1/0432; A61N1/044; A61M; A61M37/00; A61N1/0448
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A transdermal drug patch for delivering at least one drug to a patient through the skin, comprising: (a) at least two electrodes forming the patch and separated from each other by an insulator, each electrode containing a conductive element; (b) a circuit including an electrical power source for supplying power to and electrically connected to the electrodes at said conductive elements; and (c) drug reservoir means in at least one of said electrodes in the form of a plurality of microtubes separated from and insulated from each other extending from said conductive element at one end of the microtube to a surface of the patch adapted for interfacing with the patient at the other end of the microtube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A transdermal drug patch for delivering at least one drug to a patient through the skin, comprising: (a) at least two electrodes forming the patch and separated from each other by an insulator, each electrode containing a conductive element; (b) a circuit including an electrical power source for supplying power to and electrically connected to the electrodes at said conductive elements; and (c) drug reservoir means in at least one of said electrodes in the form of a plurality of microtubes separated from and insulated from each other extending from said conductive element at one end of the microtube to a surface of the patch adapted for interfacing with the patient at the other end of the microtube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein the electrodes are generally of the same structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein the electrodes are of different structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein the electrodes are of different size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, further comprising a semipermeable membrane at the ends of the plurality of microtubes away from the conductive element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein the microtubes are separated and insulated from each other by a nonconductive material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 6, wherein said microtubes are randomly placed in said material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein at least one electrode is in electrical series with an insulating material traversed by conductive fibers and separated from said insulating material and said microtubes by a reverse plating cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 8, wherein the conductive fibers are elongated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein at least one end of the microtubes are plugged with a semipermeable material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 10, wherein the semipermeable material is a gel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 10, wherein both ends of the microtubes are plugged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 12, wherein one of said plugs at an end of the microtubes comprises a material selected from the group of an ion-permeable gel and an ion-selective retention gel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein said drug reservoir means contains drugs which are both ionic and nonionic for transdermal delivery to the patient at the same time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein the electrodes contain different drugs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, further comprising cover means at least partially enclosing the patch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, further comprising adhesive means for affixing the patch to the patient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A transdermal drug patch as in claim 1, wherein said microtubes are generally perpendicular to said conductive element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A transdermal drug patch according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said electrodes constitutes an inactive or indifferent electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transdermal drug patch according to claim 1, wherein all of said electrodes are active electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-30 | 1993-10-30 | 1994-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-30 | 1997-10-30 | 1998-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-30 | 2001-10-30 | 2002-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |