Bertek, Inc.

Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

John J Wick

Ludwig J Weimann

Wayne C Pollock

Alfred Kwiatek

Ronald LaPrade

A patch applicator for easy application of a transdermal patch is disclosed, wherein the applicator is especially suitable for a small transdermal patch of size 20 cm.sup.2 or less. The patch applicator includes a rigid release liner and a flexible transdermal patch releasably attached to the release liner. The release liner has a first and second poritons separated by a slit, and pulltabs affixed to the portions. The pulltabs can extend beyond an end margin of the transdermal patch, and preferably extend outwardly at an acute angle for use, so that a patch user may easily grasp the pulltabs and remove a first portion of the release liner from the patch. The patch is then applied to the skin or mucosa, followed by removal of the second portion and final application of the patch. The patch applicator reduces loss in manufacturing yield, and especially benefits the elderly population.

Patch applicator

A patch applicator for easy application of a transdermal patch, especially a small transdermal patch of size 20 cm.sup.2 or less. The patch applicator includes a bottom release liner, a transdermal patch releaseably attached to the bottom release liner, and a top release liner releasably attached to the transdermal patch. The top release liner has a first tab which extends beyond an end margin of the transdermal patch, so that a patch user may easily grasp the tab and remove the top release liner and patch from the lower release liner. The patch is then applied to the skin or mucosa A second tab of the top release liner preferably also extends beyond an end margin of the patch so that the top release liner may be easily removed from the patch after the patch has been applied to the skin or mucosa. Alternatively, the first and second tabs are removed from the patch by peeling back the tabs from a slit between the tabs. The first and second tabs are differently and distinctly marked to aid the patch user in applying the patch. The patch applicator reduces loss in manufacturing yield, and especially benefits the elderly population.

Devices for the controlled release of an active agent to the skin or mucosa of a host are disclosed, which devices are laminates of a backing layer and a monolithic carrier layer formed from a melt blend of an active ingredient with a thermoplastic matrix polymer without first dissolving or suspending the polymer or active ingredient in a solvent therefor, so that the carrier layer is substantially free of residual solvent, wherein the thermoplastic matrix polymer has a melt temperature between about 170.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. and is selected from polyether block amides, ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, copolymers of polyether prepolymers with polybutylene terephthalate, copolymers of polyether prepolymers with polyisobutylene terephthalate and polyether polyurethanes, the active ingredient is heat stable at the melt temperature of the matrix polymer and is selected from active agents, active agent enhancers and mixtures thereof, and the laminate is provided with means for affixing the laminate to the skin or mucosa of the host so that the active ingredient is continuously released from the carrier layer thereto. Methods for assembling the device are also disclosed.

Transdermal patch incorporating a polymer film incorporated with an

Devices for the controlled release of an active agent to the skin or mucosa of a host are disclosed, which devices are laminates of a backing layer, a monolithic carrier layer of an active ingredient selected from active agent, active agent enhancers and mixtures thereof, melt-blended with a thermoplastic matrix polymer capable of controllably releasing the active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient is heat stable at the melt temperature of the matrix polymer, together with means for affixing the laminate to the skin or mucosa of the host so that the active ingredient is continuously released from the carrier layer thereto. Methods for assembling the device are also disclosed, in which a thermoplastic matrix polymer capable of controllably releasing an active ingredient is melt-blended with an active ingredient that is heat stable at the melt temperature of the matrix polymer, so that a melt-blend of the active ingredient and the thermoplastic matrix polymer is formed, which melt-blend is formed into a monolithic carrier layer, and the carrier layer is then combined with a backing layer and means for affixing the laminate to the skin or mucosa of the host so that the active ingredient is released from the carrier layer thereto.

Process of assembling a transdermal patch incorporating a polymer film

Skin contact devices are disclosed for treating the skin, including a film layer which is non-occlusive to the passage of water vapor, an occlusive layer adhesively affixed to the inner surface of the film layer, in which the occlusive layer does not permit water vapor to pass therethrough, and a series of vent slots extending through the occlusive layer so that water vapor contained within the occlusive layer can pass through these vents for subsequent passage through the film layer itself.

Moisture permeable double disk

Devices for applying a plurality of active agents to the skin of a patient are disclosed including a liner layer with a releasable surface, a carrier layer, and a plurality of active agent carriers on the surface of the carrier layer, with the releasable surface of the liner layer in contact with the surface of the carrier layer including the active agent carrier and the two surfaces being releasably heat sealed together at least at a location between the plurality of active agent carriers in order to physically separate them prior to removal of the liner layer from the carrier layer.

Twin patch applicator

Devices for applying film layers and/or active agent carriers to the skin are disclosed, including a liner layer having a release surface, a carrier layer for the film layer, a first adhesive between the carrier layer and the film layer, and a second adhesive between the liner layer and the opposite surface of the film layer and carrier layer. In this manner, the film layer is sandwiched between the liner layer and carrier layer, and the coefficients of adhesion of the two adhesives are selected so that upon separation of the liner layer and the carrier layer the film layer remains on the carrier layer, and upon application of the film layer to the skin, the film layer transfers from the carrier layer to the skin. The device preferably includes a hinge permanently connecting a peripheral edge of the carrier layer to the liner layer in order to facilitate this process, and in a preferred embodiment an active agent carrier is either substituted for or added to the film layer.

Growing community of inventors

Miami, FL, United States of America

John J Wick