US 8,197,844 B2 · Active electrode for transdermal medicament administration

Abstract

A transdermal medicament patch includes a biocompatible substrate having a therapeutic face on one side configured for disposition against the skin of a patient, a biocompatible adhesive on the therapeutic face, a planar medicament matrix covering a portion of the therapeutic face, and a release liner covering the portion of therapeutic that is not obscured by the medicament matrix. An aperture formed through the release sheet affords direct access by medicament to the entire surface of the medicament matrix opposite from the therapeutic face of the substrate. An active electrode positioned between the medicament matrix and the therapeutic face of the substrate includes an electrically conductive backing layer positioned against the therapeutic face of the substrate and a pH-control layer covering less than all of the side of the backing layer opposite from the therapeutic face of the substrate. One active electrode design criterion relates the relative size of the pH-control layer to the size of the backing layer; another relates the size of portion of the area of the backing layer that is free of the pH-control lawyer to the size of the pH-control layer. The pH-control layer is made of an electrically conductive material capable of moderating changes in the hydrogen-ion concentration in the medicament matrix during iontophoretic current flow. An electrical contact electrically coupled through the substrate to the backing layer includes a hollow, electrically conductive snap fitting having an open end and a cooperating stud that is inserted into the open end of the snap.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An active electrode for a medicament patch of the type including a flexible, planar biocompatible substrate with a therapeutic face for disposition against the skin of a patient and a planar medicament matrix having on respective opposite sides thereof a skin contact surface and a securement surface, the securement surface being retained against the therapeutic face of the substrate obscuring a concealed portion thereof with the balance of the therapeutic face defining an exposed portion thereof, the skin contact surface of the medicament matrix effecting electrically conductive engagement with the skin of the patient, when the exposed portion of the therapeutic face of the substrate is retained there against and the medicament matrix is permeated by a medicament, wherein said active electrode is capable of assembly in the medicament patch between the medicament matrix and the concealed portion of the therapeutic face of the substrate, and said active electrode comprises:

(a) an electrically conductive backing layer having on respective opposite sides thereof a driving face and a securement surface, said securement surface becoming positioned against the concealed portion of the therapeutic face of the substrate, when said active electrode is assembled in the medicament patch;
and
(b) a pH-control layer on said driving face of said backing layer covering less than all of said driving face of said backing layer, said pH-control layer and the portion of said driving face free of said pH-control layer together electrically engaging the medicament matrix, said pH-control layer being made of an electrically conductive material capable of moderating changes in the hydrogen-ion concentration in the medicament matrix, when the therapeutic face of the substrate is disposed against the skin of the patient, and an electrical potential is imposed between said backing layer and the skin of the patient remote from the medicament matrix.

An active electrode for a medicament patch of the type including a flexible, planar biocompatible substrate with a therapeutic face for disposition against the skin of a patient and an absorbent medicament matrix non-releasably retained against a portion of the therapeutic face of the substrate obscuring a concealed portion thereof with the balance of the therapeutic face defining an exposed portion thereof, the medicament matrix effecting electrically conductive engagement with the skin of a patient, when the exposed portion of the therapeutic face is retained there against and the medicament matrix is wetted with a medicament solution, wherein said active electrode is capable of assembly in the medicament patch between the medicament matrix and the concealed portion of the therapeutic face of the substrate, and said active electrode comprises:

(a) an electrical contact;
(b) a pH-control layer comprised of an electrically conductive material capable of moderating changes in the hydrogen-ion concentration in the medical matrix, when the patch is disposed against the skin of the patient and an electrical potential is imposed between said electrical contact and the skin of a patient at a location remote from the medicament matrix;
and
(c) an electrically conductive backing layer sandwiched between said electrical contact and said pH-control layer, the surface of said backing layer contacted by said pH-control layer defining a driving face of said backing layer, and said pH-control layer covering less than all of said driving face.

1 more element

An active electrode for driving medicament into the skin of a patient from a solution of the medicament contained in a reservoir on the therapeutic face of the substrate of a transdermal medicament patch, the reservoir being disposed interior of the periphery of the therapeutic face of the substrate, and the reservoir electrically conductively engaging the skin of the patient when the therapeutic face of the substrate is disposed there against, said active electrode comprising:

(a) a planar backing layer positioned between the reservoir and the substrate and comprised of an electrically conductive material, the surface of the side of said backing layer remote from the substrate defining a driving face of said backing layer;
and
(b) a pH-control layer on said driving face of said backing layer covering less than all of said driving face, said pH-control layer and the portion of said driving face free of said pH-control layer together electrically engaging the reservoir, said pH-control layer being comprised of an electrically conductive material capable of moderating changes in the hydrogen-ion concentration in the reservoir, when said patch is disposed against the skin of the patient, and an electrical potential is imposed between said backing layer and the skin of the patient at a location remote from the reservoir.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Active electrode for transdermal medicament administration

Life of this patent

Active electrode for transdermal medicament administration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36