Alza Corporation

Medtronic, Inc.

John D Badzinski

Larry A McNichols

Gary A Lattin

Ronald P Haak

Joseph B Phipps

Paul D Sorenson

Thomas A Riddle

Dennis G Hepp

William N Reining

Michael A Colson

Dale A Dickson

Rama V Padmanabhan

Wiliam N Reining

Larry A Mc Nichols

Gary K Hayden

Larry A Mcnichols

An electrotransport device () for delivering therapeutic agents includes an adjustable voltage boos multiple controller () for boosting the voltage from a power source () to a working voltage Vhaving a value just sufficient to provide the desired therapeutic current level Ithrough the electrodes (), at least of which contains the therapeutic agent to be delivered.

Electrotransport delivery device with voltage boosting circuit

An electrotransport device for delivering one or more therapeutic agents through the skin includes electrodes for contacting the skin, at least one electrode containing the agent, a power source for generating electrical current (I) for delivering the agent, a current generating and controlling means and a disabling means for permanently and irreversibly disabling the current. The disabling means may include a timer means, a counter means, or a body parameter sensor and limit comparator to effect permanent disabling. The disabling means may be a permanent transition to a disabled logic state, a permanent discharge of a power supply source, or a permanent diversion of electrotransport current from the electrodes, or a combination of the above. The permanent disabling means may include a circuit connection means having a frangible conducting member which permanently fractures and causes an irreversible open circuit in the connection to the electrodes upon removing a disposable/single use electrode assembly from a reusable portion of an electrotransport device.

Electrotransport delivery device having improved safety and reduced abuse potential

A reservoir and a family of reservoirs are provided which are designed to be used with a single controller to provide a wide range of therapeutic drug delivering regimens while maintaining many of the same reservoir configurations and drug formulations. A method of making a reservoir and a family of reservoirs and incorporating them into an electrotransport system is disclosed.

Methods of electrotransport drug delivery

An electrotransport device () for delivering one or more therapeutic agents through the skin includes electrodes () for contacting the skin (), at least one electrode containing the agent, a power source () for generating electrical current (I) for delivering the agent, a current generating and controlling means (), and a disabling means () for permanently and irreversibly disabling the current. The disabling means () may include a timer means (), a counter means (), or a body parameter sensor () and limit comparator () to effect permanent disabling. The disabling means may be a permanent transition to a disabled logic state, a permanent discharge of a power supply source (), or a permanent diversion of electrotransport current from the electrodes (), or a combination of the above. The permanent disabling means may include a circuit connection means () having a frangible conducting member () which permanently fractures and causes an irreversible open circuit in the connection to the electrodes () upon removing a disposable/single use electrode assembly () from a reusable portion of an electrotransport device.

Reservoir and a series of related reservoirs for use in an electrotransport drug delivery device and devices comprised thereof

An electrotransport device () for delivering therapeutic agents includes and adjustable voltage boost multiple controller () for boosting the voltage from a power source () to a working voltage Vhaving a value just sufficient to provide the desired therapeutic current level Ithrough the electrodes (), at least of which contains the therapeutic agent to be delivered.

An electrotransport delivery device (410) includes control circuitry for discontinuously delivering a beneficial agent (eg, a drug) through a body surface (eg, skin 400). For example, the device may be the type which is manually activated by the patient or other medical personnel to activate electrotransport drug delivery. Once electrotransport delivery has been activated, a timer (221) counts a transition interval, typically about one minute, during which the device is allowed to operate and the impedance of the body surface (400) is allowed to stabilize. Thereafter, the electrotransport current and voltage are then monitored and compared to predetermined limits. Allowing for the transition interval permits tighter tolerances in monitoring the applied current.

Electrotransport delivery device

An electrotransport device (10) for delivering therapeutic agents includes an adjustable voltage boost multiple controller (100, 200) for boosting the voltage from a power source (102, 202) to a working voltage V.sub.w having a value just sufficient to provide the desired therapeutic current level I.sub.I through the electrodes (108, 112), at least one of which contains the therapeutic agent to be delivered.

An iontophoretic drug-delivery device incorporating a power supply which minimizes the cost of the batteries needed by operating the batteries in a series configuration at the start of delivery, when the patient's skin resistance is high, and by switching the batteries into a parallel configuration when skin resistance drops. An automatic switching circuit for achieving this transition is included.

Iontophoretic delivery device and power supply therefor

An electrically powered iontophoretic delivery device is provided. The device includes a pair of electrode assemblies (41, 43) and a source of electrical power (30) connected thereto. Circuitry (60) is provided including an activation circuit (62) and a power generating circuit (70). Before use, neither the power generating circuit (70) nor the activation circuit (62) draw current from the power source (30). When the device is placed on the body (50) and electrical contact is established between the two electrode assemblies (41, 43), the activation circuit (62) is closed causing the power generating circuit (70) to be activated, thereby activating the device. The circuitry (60) improves the shelf-life of the device by minimizing current drain from the battery (30) before use.

Iontophoretic delivery device

A two-stage iontophoretic drug delivery system provides that iontophoretic current is delivered at a first level for a first predetermined interval to rapidly introduce a therapeutic agent into the bloodstream and thereafter reduced to a second lower level to maintain a desired steady-state therapeutic level of the agent. One embodiment provides that the initial interval is maintained sufficiently long to provide a peak dosage, thereafter which the current is shut off to allow concentration of the agent to subside in the bloodstream, whereupon a maintenance level of iontophoretic current is initiated. Another embodiment provides that the patient may selectively initiate a brief interval of increased iontophoretic current level to attain a brief interval of increased dosage.

Iontophoretic drug delivery system with two-stage delivery profile

An iontophoresis device including a control module and a disposable electrode module. The control module includes a flexible printed circuit board carrying the battery and other electrical components. The control module is so configured that by trimming it along one of several labeled lines, various current levels may be selected. Trimming the control module provides a simple method for varying the dosage of the drug delivered by the iontophoresis device and simultaneously provides an easily readable visual indicator of the dosage level.

Programmable constant current source transdermal drug delivery system

An ultrasound scanning system particularly adapted for imaging skeletal structure, such as the spinal column. An ultrasound scanning head for generating ultrasound waves and for receiving reflected ultrasound signals is mounted on a transporter for moving it linearily along the spine between a cervical reference point and a sacral reference point. A position transducer monitors the position of the transducer along the spine and a counter measures the time between the ultrasound pulse and its echo to determine the distance from the transducer face to the tissue interface responsible for generating the echo. The distance and range data is smoothed and analyzed in a digital computer using algorithms that distinguish between the echoes received from bone and other tissue such as lung tissue. The bone data is further processed via computer to produce a visual representation of the spine and rib structure sufficient for the diagnosis of spinal misalignment characteristic of scoliosis.

Ultrasound scanning system for skeletal imaging

Apparatus and technique for monitoring physiological parameters. An acoustic sensor or microphone is placed in close proximity to the chest of a patient having one or two prosthetic heart valves. These heart valves produce clicks characteristic of opening and closing action. The acoustic sensor picks up the sound of these clicks and transfers them as electrical energy to a transmitter unit. The transmitter unit processes the analog signal, converts it to a digital signal and establishes the key timing factors involved. This digital data is stored in a memory buffer within the transmitter. Subsequently, this information is modulated and placed on telephone lines for transmission to a central monitoring site. At the monitoring site a demodulator returns the data to baseband digital signals. A computer at the central monitoring site displays the information in the time domain and also converts the information for display in the frequency domain.

Growing community of inventors

Coon Rapids, MN, United States of America

John D Badzinski