Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A device for administering a drug transdermally following application of the device to a subject's skin wherein the delivery of drug is delayed at least about six hours after said application comprising in combination: (a) a nonrupturable backing layer forming the top surface of the device: (b) a pressure rupturable reservoir underlying (a) and containing the drug dissolved in a liquid vehicle; (c) an adsorbent wick layer underlying (b) for dispensing the drug once the reservoir is ruptured; (d) a layer of a drug permeable polymer adhesive underlying (c); (e) a microporous polymer membrane underlying (d), the polymer of which is impermeable to the solution of drug in the liquid vehicle; (f) a layer of a drug permeable adhesive polymer underlying (e) and forming the basal layer of the device wherein the pores of the membrane are filled with a polymer that is substantially immiscible in the polymers of (d) and (f), and has a solubility parameter that is within two units of the solubility parameter of the vehicle, wherein it initially takes at least about six hours for the drug to diffuse to the skin from the reservoir once the reservoir is ruptured and the device is applied to the skin.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A device for administering a drug transdermally following application of the device to a subject's skin wherein the delivery of drug is delayed at least about six hours after said application comprising in combination: (a) a nonrupturable backing layer forming the top surface of the device: (b) a pressure rupturable reservoir underlying (a) and containing the drug dissolved in a liquid vehicle; (c) an adsorbent wick layer underlying (b) for dispensing the drug once the reservoir is ruptured; (d) a layer of a drug permeable polymer adhesive underlying (c); (e) a microporous polymer membrane underlying (d), the polymer of which is impermeable to the solution of drug in the liquid vehicle; (f) a layer of a drug permeable adhesive polymer underlying (e) and forming the basal layer of the device wherein the pores of the membrane are filled with a polymer that is substantially immiscible in the polymers of (d) and (f), and has a solubility parameter that is within two units of the solubility parameter of the vehicle, wherein it initially takes at least about six hours for the drug to diffuse to the skin from the reservoir once the reservoir is ruptured and the device is applied to the skin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the reservoir is defined by a cavity formed between the backing layer and a pressure rupturable layer overlying the wick layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 2 including means for transmitting manually applied pressure to the pressure rupturable layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the means is an incompressible body underlying the pressure rupturable layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the pressure rupturable layer is a metal foil layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
A delayed onset device for administering nitroglycerin transdermally to a subject's skin comprising in combination: (a) a nonrupturable backing layer forming the top surface of the device; (b) a pressure rupturable reservoir underlying (a) and containing a solution of nitroglycerin in propylene glycol; (c) an adsorbent wick layer underlying (b) for dispersing the nitroglycerin once the reservoir is ruptured; (d) a first layer of a nitroglycerin permeable polymer adhesive underling (c); (e) a microporous polymer membrane underling (d) the polymer of which is impermeable to the solution of nitroglycerin; (f) a second layer of nitroglycerin permeable adhesive polymer underlying (e) and forming the basal surface of the device, wherein the pores of the membrane are filled with a polymer that is substantially immiscible in the adhesive polymers of (d) and (f) and has a solubility parameter within two units of the solubility parameter of propylene glycol and it initially takes at least about eight hours for the nitroglycerin to diffuse to the skin from the reservoir once the reservoir is ruptured and the device is applied to the skin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
A delayed onset device for administering nitroglycerin transdermally to a subject's skin comprising in combination: (a) a nonrupturable backing layer forming the top surface of the device; (b) a pressure rupturable reservoir underlying (a) and containing a solution of nitroglycerin in propylene glycol; (c) an adsorbent wick layer underlying (b) for dispersing the nitroglycerin once the reservoir is ruptured; (d) a first layer of a nitroglycerin permeable polymer adhesive underling (c); (e) a microporous polymer membrane underling (d) the polymer of which is impermeable to the solution of nitroglycerin; (f) a second layer of nitroglycerin permeable adhesive polymer underlying (e) and forming the basal surface of the device, wherein the pores of the membrane are filled with a polymer that is substantially immiscible in the adhesive polymers of (d) and (f) and has a solubility parameter within two units of the solubility parameter of propylene glycol and it initially takes at least about eight hours for the nitroglycerin to diffuse to the skin from the reservoir once the reservoir is ruptured and the device is applied to the skin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the polymer filling the pores of the membrane is high molecular weight polyethylene oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the diffusion coefficient of nitroglycerin in the adhesive polymers of (d) and (f) are 1×10 -7 cm/sec to 1×10 -8 cm/sec.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the adhesive polymer is an acrylic polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the skin flux during said at least about six hours is less than 2 μg/cm 2 /hr and thereafter rises to about 5 to 20 μg/cm 2 /hr.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the reservoir is defined by a cavity formed between the backing layer and a pressure rupturable layer overlying the wick layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 11 including means for transmitting manually applied pressure to the pressure rupturable layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the means is an incompressible body underlying the pressure rupturable layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the skin flux during said at least about six hours is less than 2 μg/cm 2 /hr and thereafter rises to about 5 to 20 μg/cm 2 /hr.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the drug is a vasodilator, analgesic, contraceptive, appetite depressant, or growth factor; the pressure rupturable reservoir is comprised of a metal foil coated with a layer of a heat-sealable polymer; the wick layer is nonwoven; and the material forming the microporous membrane is polypropylene, polyethylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 15 wherein the metal foil is aluminum foil and the heat-sealable polymer is ethylene vinylacetate copolymer, polyethylene, or polypropylene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the pressure rupturable reservoir is comprised of a metal foil coated with a layer of a heat-sealable polymer; the wick layer is nonwoven; the polymer filling the pores of the microporous membrane is polyethylene oxide; and the material forming the microporous membrane is polypropylene, polyethylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 17 wherein the metal foil is aluminum foil and the heat-sealable polymer is ethylene vinylacetate copolymer, polyethylene, or polypropylene.