Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Vyteris, Inc.

Other

Drug Delivery Technologies, Inc.

Ronald J Flower

Kenneth E Garde

James Michael Devine

Burton H Sage

Steven D Walter

Charles Mason Huck

Circuits are provided for increasing the reliability of an iontophoretic drug delivery system. Such circuits detect the failure of a crystal oscillator of the system, the failure of a voltage reference of the system, or the impending failure of a battery power source of the system.

Circuits for increasing the reliability of an iontophoretic system

An iontophoresis system includes a transdermal patch for placement against the skin of a patient and a controller electrically connected to the patch. The patch includes an anode and cathode electrode, and holds an electrolyte and a medication. The controller includes a DC-DC converter circuit which generates an output voltage that is provided to the anode electrode. The controller also includes an adjustable current regulator circuit. The current regulator circuit is coupled to the cathode electrode and is adjustable to provide a desired current flow through the electrodes and the skin of the patient. The DC-DC converter circuit is responsive to the voltage drop across the electrodes and adjusts its output voltage in response to this voltage drop and changes in the impedance of the patient's skin.

Iontophoretic drug delivery device having high-efficiency DC-to-DC energy conversion circuit

An iontophoretic drug delivery device includes a controller normally being in an off or low power consumption state, and a patch including electrodes, a reservoir for holding an ionizable drug for transdermal delivery to a patient and a return reservoir. The patch is removable and electrically connectable to the controller, and delivers the drug to patient when the patch is on the patient's skin and when the controller is switched from the off or low power consumption state to an operational state. This occurs when the patch is connected to the controller and a connector connects a power source to the controller or an activation means signals the controller to switch to the operational state. This feature preserves the battery of the controller.

Devices activating an iontophoretic delivery device

An apparatus and a corresponding method for the iontophoretic delivery of drugs that operates only when the supply voltage is higher than a predetermined threshold is provided. The apparatus includes a current control circuit for controlling the current in an iontophoretic patch, and a supply voltage detection circuit. When a low supply voltage is detected, the current control circuit is disabled, which stops the iontophoretic current, thereby stopping the delivery of drugs.

Disabling circuit for an iontophoretic system

An iontophoresis system includes a transdermal patch for placement against the skin of a patient and a controller electrically connected to the patch. The patch includes an anode and cathode electrode, and holds an electrolyte and a medication. The controller includes a DC--DC converter circuit which generates an output voltage that is provided to the anode electrode. The controller also includes an adjustable current regulator circuit. The current regulator circuit is coupled to the cathode electrode and is adjustable to provide a desired current flow through the electrodes and the skin of the patient. The DC--DC converter circuit is responsive to the voltage drop across the electrodes and adjusts its output voltage in response to this voltage drop and changes in the impedance of the patient's skin.

Iontophoretic drug delivery device having high-efficiency DC-to-DC

A circuit for causing a voltage step in a battery of a plurality of serially-connected cells is provided. The circuit causes one or more of the cells to discharge through a resistor at a higher rate than the other cells, thus producing a voltage step when the faster discharging cell dies before the other cells. A reverse-biased diode is connected in parallel to the faster discharging cell to cause the current to bypass the faster discharging cell after it has died, thus preventing it from reverse charging. This circuit may be controlled to adjust the higher rate of discharge, and thus the time of occurrence of the voltage step.

Circuit for causing a voltage step in a multi-cell battery

An iontophoretic controller is provided. The controller is electrically connected via two electrical connectors to a patch consisting of two electrodes, the two electrodes are respectively positioned in an active reservoir and a return reservoir of the patch. A current is applied to the patch when the iontophoretic controller is turned on or otherwise activated. A waveform, such as the patch voltage, is measured over a predetermined time interval. A change in the measured voltage is compared to a threshold. If the change in measured voltage exceeds the threshold, the controller takes an action, such as providing a warning or discontinuing the application of current.

Iontophoretic controller

A fail-safe iontophoretic drug delivery apparatus and a corresponding method is provided. The apparatus includes a current generating circuit for sending a current through a patch, error detection circuitry, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the current generating circuit. When errors are detected in the apparatus, the control circuit stops the current and disables itself.

Circuit and method for automatically turning off an iontophoresis system

An iontophoretic drug delivery device includes a controller normally being in an off or low power consumption state, and a patch including electrodes, a reservoir containing an ionizable drug for transcutaneous delivery to a patient and a return reservoir. The patch is removably and electrically connectable to the controller, and delivers the drug to patient when the patch is on the patient's skin and when the controller is switched from the off or low power consumption state to an operational state. This occurs when the patch is inserted into the controller. This feature preserves the battery of the controller. Upon patch insertion, the controller periodically changes from a non-current delivery state to a current delivery state for the predetermined period of time to deliver a pulse of current to the inserted patch. A current sensor within the controller measures the current delivered to the patch. The controller switches to the non-current delivering state if the amount of current drawn is less than a predetermined amount, and is therefore off the skin, and switches to the current delivering state otherwise. This feature prevents the build up of charge on the patch electrodes and the possibility of an uncomfortable electrical sensation.

Awakenable iontophoretic delivery device for reducing electrical

An iontophoretic drug delivery system of the present invention includes a controller interconnectable with a drug-filled patch. The controller includes electronic circuitry which monitors and controls the supply of electrical current to the drug-filled patch during delivery of at least one drug, and the electronic circuitry includes a circuit for causing a voltage step in a battery of a plurality of serially-connected cells. Specifically, the circuit causes one or more of the cells to discharge through a resistor at a higher rate than the other cells, thus producing a voltage step when the faster discharging cell dies before the other cells. A reverse-biased diode is connected in parallel to the faster discharging cell to cause the current to bypass the faster discharging cell after it has died, thus preventing it from reverse charging. This circuitry may be controlled to adjust the higher rate of discharge, and thus the time of occurrence of the voltage step.

Iontophoretic drug delivery system

A iontophoretic drug delivery apparatus and a corresponding method is provided. The apparatus includes a switched-capacitor DC--DC voltage converter to step up a supply voltage, and a current control circuit that draws current from the stepped-up voltage.

Iontophoresis system with voltage step-up circuit

An iontophoretic drug delivery device of the present invention includes a power source and an electrode assembly containing at least two electrodes, in electrical contact with a first reservoir and a second reservoir. The present invention also includes at least three electrodes in a three electrode embodiment, with the third electrode in electrical contact with a third reservoir. In either embodiment, the first reservoir and the second reservoir contain an active agent to be delivered to an applied area of a patient. The present invention also includes in its two electrode embodiment a switch for reversing the flow of current or in its three electrode embodiment a switch for switching the flow of current, so as to reduce sensation. The devices also include a timer for controlling the amount of time the electrical current flows in each direction. In this way, the devices are suitable for use to deliver an active agent to the applied area approximate the first reservoir when the electrical current flows in one direction for a first period of time and to deliver an active agent to the applied area approximate the second reservoir when the electrical current flows in the other direction during a second period of time. Thus, reversing polarity or switching the flow of current between electrodes, and iontophoresing thereunder below the sensation threshold results in sensation anesthesia so that the current can be raised to deliver the drug without sensation.

Iontophoretic drug delivery system and method for using same

An apparatus and method of delivering drugs from multiple sites on a patients body is provided. A controller is used at each site, and these controllers communicate with each other to coordinate drug delivery from the multiple sites. In a preferred embodiment, the drugs are delivered using iontophoresis.

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Vernon, NJ, United States of America

Ronald J Flower