Iontophoretic delivery device and method of hydrating same

An electrically powered iontophoretic agent delivery device including a multilaminate dry state donor electrode assembly, the donor electrode assembly having a drug reservoir including a substantially non-hydrated hydratable matrix for containing a drug to be delivered, the drug reservoir being adapted to be placed in drug-transmitting relation with a body surface and a donor electrode in electrical contact with the drug reservoir;

• means for hydrating the substantially non-hydrated drug reservoir matrix, said means including a self-supporting layer of a liquid-containing material, which layer of liquid-containing material (i) forms a portion of the device, and (ii) is initially isolated from the drug reservoir layer, and
• means for placing the layer of liquid-containing material in liquid transmitting relation with the drug reservoir layer;
• whereby placing the layer of liquid-containing material in liquid transmitting relation with the drug reservoir layer causes the liquid in the layer of liquid-containing material to be transmitted into the hydratable drug reservoir matrix and hydrate the drug reservoir matrix and activate the donor electrode assembly;
• a multilaminate dry state counter electrode assembly, the counter electrode assembly having an electrolyte reservoir including a substantially non-hydrated hydratable matrix for containing an electrolyte to be delivered, the electrolyte reservoir being adapted to be placed in electrolyte-transmitting relation with a body surface and a counter electrode in electrical contact with the electrolyte reservoir;
• means for hydrating the substantially non-hydrated electrolyte reservoir matrix, said means including a self-supporting layer of a liquid-containing material, which layer of liquid-containing material (i) forms a portion of the device, and (ii) is initially isolated from the electrolyte reservoir;
• means for placing the layer of liquid-containing material in liquid transmitting relation with the electrolyte reservoir;
• whereby placing the layer of liquid-containing material in liquid transmitting relation with the electrolyte reservoir matrix causes the liquid in the layer of liquid-containing material to be transmitted into the hydratable electrolyte reservoir matrix and hydrate the electrolyte reservoir matrix and activate the counter electrode assembly;
• and
• a source of electrical power which is electrically connected to the donor electrode in the donor electrode assembly and the counter electrode in the counter electrode assembly.