Application device for topical administration of pharmaceutical compositions and products

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the grip is arranged to be held between a finger and thumb of a user's hand.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the receiving means forms a portion of a spreading means for facilitating the spreading of a composition, a unit or measured dose of which is carried by the receiving means, on the skin or other exterior region of a human or animal body.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims in the form of a single piece moulding.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the grip is foldable or collapsible from a position where is it extended for use into a storage position.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the receiving means are arranged to define a recess that can accommodate a unit dose of the spreadable composition with a face of the unit dose exposed for application to the skin and at least a portion of the unit dose within the recess, wherein the depth of the recess adjusts automatically and sufficiently to allow substantially all of a unit dose accommodated in the recess to be applied through skin contact induced erosion at said exposed face of the unit dose.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the grip, or a zone in the vicinity of the grip, is protected or shielded from contact with the spreadable composition during application of the latter.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims further comprising a unit or measured dose of a spreadable composition carried on or coupled to the receiving means.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the unit or measured dose of the spreadable composition is, at ambient or room temperatures, a solid unit dosage form.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the spreadable composition is solid at ambient or room temperatures, but softens sufficiently to be spreadable on contact with the skin of a live human or animal body.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the solid composition or unit dosage form remains solid when heated to temperatures of up to 25, 26, 27 or 28° C., but softens sufficiently to be spreadable, or has a softening point, when heated to a temperature no higher than 37, 35, 34, 33 or preferably 32° C.

An applicator as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the solid composition or unit dosage form becomes substantially liquid when heated to a physiological temperature, or to a temperature of at least 37, 35, 33, or 33° C.

An applicator as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein, when placed in continuous contact with the skin of a living human or animal body, the solid unit dosage form will soften to a consistency to effect substantial application of the unit dosage form onto the contacted skin within a time period of less than 10, 5 and, preferably, 2 minutes.

An applicator as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spreadable composition is a pharmaceutical composition or formulation.

An applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims packaged in a sealed container.

A method of treating a human or animal body, comprising applying a spreadable composition to the skin or other external part of said body with an applicator as claimed in any of the proceeding claims.

A device for topically treating a desired skin region of a living being comprising, an applicator member including a surface having indicia of measurement thereon, the surface configured to receive a measured dosage of a pharmaceutical formulation in extruded form, and a grip extending from the applicator member, the grip configured to be held by a user and to enable the user to move the applicator member with respect to the desired skin region so as to apply and spread the measured dosage over the desired skin region.

A method for applying a pharmaceutical formulation to a desired skin region of a living being, the method comprising extruding an amount of the pharmaceutical formulation onto a surface of an applicator member of a spreading device, the surface including indicia of measurement, the extruding being performed so as to obtain a measured dosage of the pharmaceutical formulation using the indicia of measurement, gripping a grip of the spreading device, the grip extending from the applicator member, and moving the grip with respect to the desired skin region so as to apply and spread the measured dosage over the desired skin region.

A device for topically treating a desired skin region of a living being, the device comprising:

• a unit dose of a pharmaceutical formulation including a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier medium therefore, the formulation being solid at ambient temperature and having a softening point of not higher than 35, 34, 33, or 32° C., such that when the formulation is placed in a continuous contact with the desired skin region, it is softened to a consistency to effect substantial application of the unit dose onto the desired skin region within a time period of less than 10, 5 or 2 minutes;
• and
• an applicator member having a first portion coupled to the unit dose and a second portion configured for being held by a user.

A method for topically treating a desired skin region of a living being, the method comprising:

• coupling a unit dose of a pharmaceutical formulation to a first portion of an applicator, the formulation including a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carried medium therefore, the formulation being solid at ambient temperature and having a softening point of not higher than 35, 34, 33, or 32° C., such that when the formulation is placed in continuous contact with the desired skin region, it is softened to a consistency to effect substantial application of the unit dose onto the desired skin region within a time period of less than 10, 5 or, preferably, 2 minutes;
• holding a second portion of the applicator;
• spreading the unit dose with a skin region outside the desired skin region.