Abstract: This invention relates to an electrotransport device, which incorporates a flexible conductive element within the reservoir housing of the device, which permits electrical communication from within the housing to outside of the housing without the use of opening, which require various methods of sealing the opening against leaks and moisture.

Abstract: The transdermal assay apparatus includes first, second, and third members. The first member has one or more sample surfaces, each of which is configured to receive a sample thereon. The second member defines one or more reservoirs, each of which has an opening on a surface of the second member. Each sample surface is substantially the same size as each opening. The transdermal assay apparatus also includes a magnetic clamp configured to clamp a tissue specimen between the sample surface and the opening. The magnetic clamp preferably includes a magnet having a strength that is selected based on the clamping force required between the first member and the second member. The invention also provides a method for using a transdermal assay apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for manipulating small amounts of solids. Specific embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for the automated transfer of small amounts of solids. In one embodiment, a uniform powder bed is lightly compressed into plugs of powder and dispensed. In another embodiment, the solid is placed in a liquid carrier to form a slurry, dispensed, and the liquid component is subsequently removed. In yet another embodiment, solids are manipulated using adhesive surfaces.

Abstract: The assay plate includes a substrate having an substrate surface and at least one raised pad extending from the substrate surface. The raised pad includes a substantially planar sample receiving surface configured for holding a sample thereon for in situ experimentation. The sample receiving surface preferably has at least one sharp edge at the junction between a sidewall coupling the sample receiving surface to the substrate surface. The sample receiving surface is preferably a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon shape that is sized to hold a predetermined volume of the sample. A method of using the above described assay plate is also provided. Once a raised pad extending from a substrate is formed, a sample is deposited on the raised pad. Experiments are subsequently performed using the sample on the raised pad.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high-throughput systems and methods to prepare a large number of component combinations, at varying concentrations and identities, at the same time, and high-throughput methods to test tissue barrier transfer, such as transdermal transfer, of components in each combination. The methods of the present invention allow determination of the effects of inactive components, such as solvents, excipients, enhancers, adhesives and additives, on tissue barrier transfer of active components, such as pharmaceuticals. The invention thus encompasses the high-throughput testing of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations in order to determine the overall optimal composition or formulation for improved tissue transport, such as transdermal transport.

Abstract: The assay plate includes a substrate having an substrate surface and at least one raised pad extending from the substrate surface. The raised pad includes a substantially planar sample receiving surface configured for holding a sample thereon for in-situ experimentation. The sample receiving surface preferably has at least one sharp edge at the junction between a sidewall coupling the sample receiving surface to the substrate surface. The sample receiving surface is preferably a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon shape that is sized to hold a predetermined volume of the sample. A method of using the above described assay plate is also provided. Once a raised pad extending from a substrate is formed, a sample is deposited on the raised pad. Experiments are subsequently performed using the sample on the raised pad.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high-throughput systems and methods to prepare a large number of component combinations, at varying concentrations and identities, at the same time, and high-throughput methods to test tissue barrier transfer, such as transdermal transfer, of components in each combination. The methods of the present invention allow determination of the effects of inactive components, such as solvents, excipients, enhancers, adhesives and additives, on tissue barrier transfer of active components, such as pharmaceuticals. The invention thus encompasses the high-throughput testing of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations in order to determine the overall optimal composition or formulation for improved tissue transport, such as transdermal transport.

Abstract: An apparatus for the electrically assisted delivery of therapeutic agent is described. An apparatus of the invention has rigid zones or regions which are physically connected by flexible means such as a web. The flexible means permits the rigid zones to move independently with respect to each other while remaining physically connected or coupled. In a preferred embodiment, the rigid zones are physically and electronically coupled by the flexible means. In another preferred embodiment, the skin side of the rigid zones has a radius of curvature which approximates that of the body site to which the device is to be attached. A method of increasing the body or surface conformability of a rigid electrotransport device is described. The method involves the step of intentionally placing rigid subcomponents of the device in physically separate zones within the device. The rigid zones are separate and are coupled by flexible connector means.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrotransport device, which incorporates a conductive element within the reservoir housing of the device, which permits electrical communication from within the housing to outside of the housing without the use of opening, which require various methods of sealing the openings against leaks and moisture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high-throughput systems and methods to prepare a large number of component combinations, at varying concentrations and identities, at the same time, and high-throughput methods to test tissue barrier transfer, such as transdermal transfer, of components in each combination. The methods of the present invention allow determination of the effects of inactive components, such as solvents, excipients, enhancers, adhesives and additives, on tissue barrier transfer of active components, such as pharmaceuticals. The invention thus encompasses the high-throughput testing of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations in order to determine the overall optimal composition or formulation for improved tissue transport, such as transdermal transport.

Abstract: A membrane capable of inhibiting agent release from a delivery system when no electrical current is flowing and yet provide minimal impedance to electrically-assisted agent delivery, useful both for incorporating into electrotransport agent delivery systems and for use in measuring agent release rates in in vitro testing.

Abstract: The transdermal assay apparatus includes first, second, and third members. The first member has one or more sample surfaces, each of which is configured to receive a sample thereon. The second member defines one or more reservoirs, each of which has an opening on a surface of the second member. Each sample surface is substantially the same size as each opening. The transdermal assay apparatus also includes a magnetic clamp configured to clamp a tissue specimen between the sample surface and the opening. The magnetic clamp preferably includes a magnet having a strength that is selected based on the clamping force required between the first member and the second member. The invention also provides a method for using a transdermal assay apparatus.

Abstract: A device and method for enhancing skin piercing by microprotrusions involves pre-stretching the skin to enhance pathway formation when the microprotrusions are pressed into the skin. An expandable device includes skin engaging opposite ends that contact the skin surface so that when the device is expanded the skin is stretched. The skin is placed under a tension of about 0.01 to about 10 megapascals, preferably about 0.05 to 2 megapascals. The device has a plurality of microprotrusions which penetrate the skin while the skin is being stretched by the expanded device. Another stretching device employs suction for skin stretching.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high-throughput systems and methods to prepare a large number of component combinations, at varying concentrations and identities, at the same time, and high-throughput methods to test tissue barrier transfer, such as transdermal transfer, of components in each combination. The methods of the present invention allow determination of the effects of inactive components, such as solvents, excipients, enhancers, adhesives and additives, on tissue barrier transfer of active components, such as pharmaceuticals. The invention thus encompasses the high-throughput testing of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations in order to determine the overall optimal composition or formulation for improved tissue transport, such as transdermal transport.

Abstract: An iontophoretic delivery device (10) is provided. Device (10) has an electronic circuit (32) having electronic components such as batteries (30) mounted thereon. Device (10) also includes a pair of electrode assemblies (18, 19). The electronic circuit (32) is electrically connected to the electrode assemblies (18, 19) using an electrically conductive adhesive (34). The adhesive can also be used to electrically connect two or more electronic components within circuit (32) or to connect an electronic component to the electronic circuit (32). In one practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (44) functions as an electrode and electrically connects the circuit (32) to an agent-containing reservoir (24, 25). In a further practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (93) functions as an agent reservoir and contains the agent to be iontophoretically delivered.

Abstract: The invention relates to formulations for the electrically assisted transdermal delivery of lidocaine and epinephrine. The present invention further provides methods and devices for the electrically assisted delivery of local anesthetics, preferably lidocaine.

Abstract: An electrotransport apparatus using dispersed ion exchange material (19,83) is disclosed. The ion exchange material (19,83) may be dispersed in either the donor electrode assembly (10), the counter electrode assembly (10) or both electrode assemblies. The dispersed ion exchange material (83) comprises mobile ionic species (84-2) and substantially immobile ionic species (P). The dispersed ion exchange material (83, 84-2) interacts with competitive species (86) generated during electrotransport to render those species substantially immobile (87). Electrotransport devices exhibiting reduced polarization are also disclosed.

Abstract: An iontophoretic delivery device (10) is provided. Device (10) has an electronic circuit (32) having electronic components such as batteries (30) mounted thereon. Device (10) also includes a pair of electrode assemblies (18, 19). The electronic circuit (32) is electrically connected to the electrode assemblies (18, 19) using an electrically conductive adhesive (34). The adhesive can also be used to electrically connect two or more electronic components within circuit (32) or to connect an electronic component to the electronic circuit (32). In one practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (44) functions as an electrode and electrically connects the circuit (32) to an agent-containing reservoir (24, 25). In a further practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (93) functions as an agent reservoir and contains the agent to be iontophoretically delivered.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an improved electrotransport device. The improvement relates to a membrane assembly including a low porosity membrane adhered or sealed to one or two high porosity membranes. The high porosity membranes protect the low porosity membrane from being damaged by components or contaminates on the body surface and/or in the drug reservoir which can lead to undesirable passive flux and/or insufficient iontophoretic flux. As a result, the electrotransport device having the membrane assembly more reliably, precisely, and accurately delivers drug and/or therapeutic agent through the body surface by electrotransport.

Abstract: An electrotransport composition comprises at least one C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 lower alcohol, unsaturated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof, and at least one C.sub.8 -C.sub.4 higher alcohol, unsaturated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. An electrotransport device and a method of increasing transdermal electrotransport flux utilize the composition of the invention for delivering pharmaceutically-acceptable agents across a body surface such as skin.