Iontophoresis assembly including cleanable electrical contacts
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorRonald J. Flower
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An iontophoretic delivery system permits transcutaneous delivery of a drug contained on a patch. The system includes a flexible planar patch having a medicament-containing surface in contact with the skin of a patient. A controller supplies electrical current to effect iontophoretic delivery. Electrical connection is established between the controller and the patch. The connection is maintained free of contaminants which could adversely affect the electrical connection by employing an abrasive wiping surface to clean the electrical interconnection.
Claims19
In an iontophoresis drug delivery system, an assembly for providing electrical interconnection between a drug containing patch and an electrical controller, said assembly comprising:
- electrical controller contacts mounted on the controller, said controller contacts receiving an electrical current from the controller;
- electrical conductive pads positioned on the patch, said conductive pads being matable with said controller contacts to provide electrical interconnection between the controller and the patch;
- and
- abrasive wiping means affixed to the patch and positioned for wiping engagement with said controller contacts upon said interconnection, whereby said controller contacts are wiped clean of contaminants and debris immediately prior to said electrical interconnection.
In combination, a disposable flexible patch containing medicament for iontophoretic delivery and a controller for providing electrical current to said patch for controlling said medicament delivery, said combination comprising:
- a patch body having a medicament-containing portion and an insertion portion, said insertion portion having a thin electrically conductive pad thereon, said conductive pad being electrically connected to an electrode proximate said medicament containing portion;
- a controller housing supporting electronic components for generating said electrical current, said controller housing having an opening for insertably accommodating said insertion portion of said patch body, said controller including an electrical contact supported by one of said controller housing and said electronic components, said contact being electrically coupled to said electronic components to receive said current therefrom, said contact providing electrical connection with said conductive pad of said patch body upon said insertable accommodation in said controller housing;
- and
- an abrasive surface, said abrasive surface positioned at a forward location of said insertion portion of said patch body for engagement with said electrical contact, whereby said engagement wipes away debris or contaminants so as to establish good electrical engagement between said conductive pad and said electrical contact.
A disposable patch containing medicament for ionotophoretic delivery when interfaced to a controller having at least one contact for providing electrical current to said patch for controlling said medicament delivery, said patch comprising:
- a patch body having a medicament-containing portion and an insertion portion, said insertion portion having at least one thin electrically conductive pad thereon, said medicament-containing portion having at least one electrode thereon, said at least one conductive pad being electrically connected to said at least one electrode;
- and
- an abrasive surface, said abrasive surface positioned at a forward location of said insertion portion of said patch body for engagement with the at least one contact within the controller, whereby said engagement wipes away debris and contaminants so as to establish good electrical engagement between said at least one conductive pad and the at least one contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.