US 5,496,266 A · Device and method of iontophoretic drug delivery

Abstract

A selectively permeable membrane (14) is positioned between the agent reservoir (15) and the electrode (11) of a donor electrode assembly (8) in an iontophoretic delivery device (10). Optionally, an electrolyte reservoir (13) is positioned intermediate the electrode (11) and the agent reservoir (15). In certain embodiments, the membrane (14) is permeable to species of less than a predetermined molecular weight and substantially less permeable to species of greater than the predetermined molecular weight. The agent is capable of dissociating into agent ions and counter ions. The size selectivity of the membrane (14), the molecular weight of the agent ions, the molecular weight of the counter ions, and optionally the molecular weight of the electrolyte ions are selected to (A) inhibit agent ions from interacting with the electrode (11), and from permeating into the electrolyte reservoir (13), where they might otherwise be degraded and (B) inhibit electrolyte ions, having a charge similar to that of the agent ions, from permeating into the agent reservoir (15) and competing with the agent ions for iontophoretic delivery into the patient.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An electrically powered iontophoretic agent delivery device including a donor electrode assembly, a counter electrode assembly and a source of electrical power adapted to be electrically connected to the donor electrode assembly and the counter electrode assembly, the donor electrode assembly comprising:

an agent reservoir comprising an agent and adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation with the body surface;
a donor electrode adapted to be electrically connected to the source of electrical power;
a selectively permeable membrane intermediate the electrode and the agent reservoir, the membrane being non-charge selective and being permeable to species of less than a predetermined molecular weight and substantially less permeable to species of greater than the predetermined molecular weight;
wherein the agent is capable of dissociating into agent ions and counter ions of opposite charge, the agent ions having greater than the predetermined molecular weight.

1 more element

A method of increasing agent delivery efficiency of an electrically powered iontophoretic agent delivery device (10) including a donor electrode assembly (8), a counter electrode assembly (9) and a source of electrical power (27) adapted to be electrically connected to the donor electrode assembly (8) and the counter electrode assembly (9), the donor electrode assembly (8) including an agent reservoir (15) for containing an agent and adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation with a body surface (22) and a donor electrode (11) adapted to be electrically connected to the source of electrical power (27), the method comprising:

placing a selectively permeable membrane (14) intermediate the agent reservoir (15) and the donor electrode (11), the membrane (14) being permeable to passage of species of less than a predetermined molecular weight and substantially less permeable to passage of species of greater than the predetermined molecular weight;
and
placing an agent in the agent reservoir (15), the agent being capable of dissociating into agent ions and counter ions of opposite charge,
wherein the method is characterized by the agent ions having greater than the predetermined molecular weight, the counter ions having less than the predetermined molecular weight.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device and method of iontophoretic drug delivery

Life of this patent

Device and method of iontophoretic drug delivery

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30