Abstract: An osmotically driven fluid dispenser for use in an aqueous environment comprising: a shape retaining canister having controlled permeability to water; an osmotically effective solute confined in the canister which, in solution, exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against the water in the environment; an outlet in the canister wall; and a flexible bag of relatively impervious material that holds the fluid to be dispensed and is housed in the canister with its open end in sealed contact with the canister such that the canister outlet communicates with the bag interior and the bag interior is closed to the solute and aqueous solution thereof with the remainder of the bag spaced from and generally unsupported by the canister wall.

Abstract: Method and therapeutic system in the form of a bandage that administer scopolamine base transdermally in an initial pulse of 10 to 200 .mu.g/cm.sup.2 of skin that quickly brings the concentration of scopolamine in the plasma to a level at which emesis and nausea are inhibited without intolerable side effects, followed by a substantially constant dosage in the range of 0.3 to 15 .mu.g/hr that holds said level. The bandage is a four-layer laminate of, from the top: a protective backing; a gelled, mineral oil-polyisobutene-scopolamine reservoir lamina that is the source of the constant dosage; a microporous membrane that controls the constant dosage rate; and a gelled, mineral oil-polyisobutene-scopolamine adhesive layer that is the source of the pulse dose and the means by which the bandage is attached to the skin.

Abstract: An apparatus for nonsurgically removing certain IUDs, such as 7- or T-shaped IUDs, from within the uterus via the cervical canal. The apparatus is composed of: a rod-shaped handle; a tube, one end of which slidably fits over one end of the handle such that the handle may slide within the tube from a first position to a second position; a hole in the other end of the tube; and a filament that extends between and is attached to the other end of the handle and the other end of the tube via the hole. The filament is wrapped snugly about the other end of the tube when the handle is slid to its first position and the filament defines an outwardly extending loop when the handle is slid to its second position, which loop is used to entrap the IUD.

Abstract: A package for an intrauterine device-intrauterine device inserter combination and a "pillow pack" carton for the package are disclosed. The package consists of three elements: (1) a thermoformed plastic tray having an elongated, relatively deep cavity for holding the combination, a convexly curved marginal ledge about the cavity, an end wall extending downwardly from each end of the ledge, and a flange extending outwardly from the bottom of each end wall; (2) a cover that fits over the cavity and has the same curvature as the marginal ledge; and (3) an adhesive coating on the inner side of the cover by which the cover is attached to the ledge over the cavity.

Abstract: Osmotically driven active agent dispenser for use in an aqueous environment that pumps a solution of active agent, such as a drug, at a predetermined, constant rate. The dispenser is in the form of a coated tablet comprising: a core of an osmotically effective active agent composition; and an inexpandable wall that encloses the core, has a controlled permeability to water and includes means, such as brittleness or sites of structural weakness, that is responsive to the pressure generated within the dispenser by imbibition of water from the environment by the core through the wall to form at least one, and usually many, passageways in situ in the wall through which the active agent composition in solution is pumped osmotically at a rate that is substantially dependent of the rate at which water is being imbibed into the dispenser.

Abstract: A method for treating dysmenorrhea is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the uterus of a warm blooded animal having dysmenorrhea controlled and continuous low dosage amounts of a progestational hormone to impart symptomatic relief from dysmenorrhea.

Abstract: Drug-delivery device for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time is comprised of a shaped body of polymeric material containing a pharmaceutically acceptable drug and permeable to passage of the drug by diffusion. The polymeric material is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of about 4 to 80% by weight and a melt index of about 0.1 to 1000 grams per 10 minutes.

Abstract: An osmotic system for delivering a beneficial agent to an environment of use is disclosed. The system comprises a laminate surrounding a compartment and has a passageway through the laminate for releasing agent from the compartment. The laminate comprises at least two laminae; one consisting of a semipermeable, polymeric material that is permeable to the passage of an external fluid and maintains its physical and chemical integrity in the environment of use, and one consisting of a semipermeable polymeric material that is permeable to the passage of the fluid, substantially impermeable to the passage of agent and maintains its physical and chemical integrity in the presence of agent.

Abstract: A method for treating hypermenorrhea is disclosed. The method comprises continuously administering controlled low dosage amounts of a progestational hormone to the uterus to impart relief from hypermenorrhea.

Abstract: An ocular drug dispensing device for administering a drug at a controlled and continuous dosage unit rate to the eye to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a shaped body insoluble in tear fluid and comprised of a first wall, a third wall distant from the first wall, a second wall interposed between the first and third wall and extending around their peripheries for sealingly engaging the first and third wall, a reservoir defined by the inner surfaces of the walls and containing the drug or a mixture of the drug in a carrier and wherein at least one of the first and third walls is formed of an imperforate drug release rate controlling material permeable to the passage of drug or a microporous material containing in the micropores a drug release rate controlling medium permeable to the passage of drug for administering a therapeutically effective amount of drug over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A device for the controlled continuous administration of an active agent to an environment of use is disclosed. The device comprises a body of erodible agent release rate controlling material containing an agent dispersed therethrough; the rate controlling material is a hydrophobic poly(carboxylic acid) having one ionizable carboxylic hydrogen for each 8 to 12 carbon atoms, which material erodes at a controlled and continuous rate over a prolonged period of time in response to the environment by a process of carboxylic hydrogen ionization, thereby releasing the dispersed agent at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: An osmotic system for delivering an agent is disclosed. The system comprises a wall surrounding a compartment and has a passageway for delivering agent from the compartment. The wall is formed of a laminae comprising a lamina consisting of a multiplicity of materials in laminar arrangement with a lamina consisting of a material or of a multiplicity of materials to provide a laminated wall that is permeable to agents and maintains its integrity during the delivery of agent. The compartment contains an agent that is soluble in an external fluid and exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient across the wall against the fluid, or the agent has limited solubility in the fluid and is mixed with an osmotically effective compound soluble in the fluid and exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient across the wall against the fluid.

Abstract: This invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising cross-linked, stromal-free hemoglobin mixed with a physiologically acceptable carrier useful as a blood substitute for carrying and supplying oxygen to tissues and organs, and as a blood plasma expander.

Abstract: An ophthalmological bioerodible dosage form for ophthalmic drugs is disclosed. The dosage form comprises particles 10 to 300 microns made of drug dispersed within a drug release rate controlling material which bioerodes in the environment of the eye.

Abstract: This invention concerns polymerized, cross-linked, stromal-free hemoglobin useful as a blood substitute for carrying oxygen to tissues and organs, as a blood plasma expander and for supplying oxygen to oxygen-requiring environments.

Abstract: A bandage for continuously administering controlled quantities of systemically active drugs through the skin or mucosa is disclosed. This bandage has a backing member which defines one of its face surfaces and at least one reservoir containing the systemically active drug formulation which defines the other face surface. The reservoir can be a distinct layer of the bandage or can be a plurality of microcapsules distributed throughout a matrix. The material used to form the reservoir is drug release rate controlling and for a prolonged period continuously meters a controlled and predetermined flow of drug from the reservoir to the skin or mucosa of a patient.

Abstract: An osmotic active agent dispenser is comprised of a chamber having controlled permeability to an external fluid, i.e., water, and containing an osmotically effective solute which, in solution, exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against said external fluid, said chamber housing a flexible bag of relatively impervious material containing an active agent and provided with means or dispensing head for releasing said active agent to the exterior of the dispenser. The flexible bag is disposed within the said housing chamber such that as the, e.g., water permeates from the external environment through the permeable walls of the chamber and migrates or diffuses by osmosis into the solution contained therein, same increases in volume thereby generating mechanical compressing or deflating force on the flexible bag, which force in turn ejects the active agent out of the apparatus at an osmotically controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A drug-dispensing ocular insert containing a drug and suited for application to the eyeball to dispense said drug to the eye over a prolonged period of time, includes, for permitting facile insertion into and comfortable retention within the eye, and more importantly for preventing the accidental expulsion of the insert therefrom, first detent means adapted for insertion into the cul-de-sac of the conjunctiva between the sclera of the eyeball and the upper eyelid, and second, conjoint detent means, cooperative with said first detent means, adapted for insertion into the cul-de-sac of the conjunctiva between the said sclera of the eyeball and the lower eyelid.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a wall surrounding a reservoir containing a drug. The reservoir is formed of a solid drug carrier permeable to the passage of the drug. The wall is formed in at least a part of a microporous material the pores of which contain a drug release rate controlling medium also permeable to the passage of the drug, but the rate of passage of the drug through the medium is lower than the rate passage of the drug through the solid drug carrier so that drug release by the medium in the microporous wall is the drug release rate controlling step for releasing drug from the drug delivery device.

Abstract: Intrauterine device with a seeker and housing member is disclosed. The seeker is a curved-wall member positioned at the lead end of the device for finding, and guiding the device into the external cervical os. The housing member is positioned at the trailing end of the device and it has a smaller diameter than the device for receiving a thread and for presenting a smaller mass to an inserter.