Abstract: This invention relates to an active agent delivery device. More particularly, the invention relates to a delivery device that includes a sleeve to protect the delivery device from transient mechanical forces. The delivery device of the invention is robust and resistant to transient mechanical forces. The invention provides a fluid-imbibing delivery device comprising a housing enclosing an internal compartment, said housing having a first wall section that substantially restricts the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is substantially fluid-impermeable, and that contains a beneficial agent; a second wall section that permits the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is fluid-permeable, and that contains at least one expandable driving member; and exit means; with a protective sleeve means extending from the first wall section of the housing to cover and protect the second wall section of the housing and the junction of the first and second sections.

Abstract: A dispenser for use in a fluid environment which is capable of delivery of a plurality of discrete drug-containing units in any desired delivery pattern or profile.

Abstract: Compositions and dosage forms for administering abusable substances are disclosed which have a reduced potential for abuse without diminishing the therapeutic or beneficial effects of the abusable substance. Topical compositions for application to the skin or mucosa contain the abusable substance in a form which is permeable to the skin or mucosa to which it is to be applied and an antagonist for the abusable substance is present in the composition in an abuse negating amount and in a form that is impermeable to the skin or mucosa to which the composition is to be applied. Controlled release dosage forms which release the abusable substance from a drug reservoir composition confined behind a release rate controlling barrier have the abusable substance and its antagonist in the drug reservoir. The abusable substance is present in a form that is releasable from the dosage form and the antagonist is present in an abuse negating amount in a form that is not releasable from the dosage form.

Abstract: An improved osmotic engine is disclosed. The osmotic engine is adapted to be used with an osmotically driven syringe which can be used to deliver a beneficial agent, such as a drug, at a pre-determined rate over an extended period of time. The osmotic engine has an exterior wall defining a compartment which contains an osmotic solute. The wall comprises a thin permeable and/or microporous material which is permeable to an external fluid such as water but is impermeable to the solute. The wall also has a delivery orifice drilled therethrough. A rigid non-dissolving ring-shaped wall support is provided for maintaining the shape of the engine during use. The wall support also provides an open fluid flow path extending from the semipermeable wall portion toward the delivery orifice. The open fluid flow path minimizes the time required for the engine to begin pumping.

Abstract: This invention relates to an active agent delivery device. More particularly, the invention relates to a delivery device that includes a sleeve to protect the delivery device from transient mechanical forces. The delivery device of the invention is robust and resistant to transient mechanical forces. The invention provides a fluid-imbibing delivery device comprising a housing enclosing an internal compartment, said housing having a first wall section that substantially restricts the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is substantially fluid-impermeable, and that contains a beneficial agent; a second wall section that permits the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is fluid-permeable, and that contains at least one expandable driving member; and exit means: with a protective sleeve means extending from the first wall section of the housing to cover and protect the second wall section of the housing and the junction of the first and second sections.

Abstract: This invention relates to an active agent delivery device. More particularly, the invention relates to a delivery device that includes a sleeve to protect the delivery device from transient mechanical forces. The delivery device of the invention is robust and resistant to transient mechanical forces. The invention provides a fluid-imbibing delivery device comprising a housing enclosing an internal compartment, said housing having a first wall section that substantially restricts the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is substantially fluidimpermeable, and that contains a beneficial agent; a second wall section that permits the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is fluid-permeable, and that contains at least one expandable driving member; and exit means; with a protective sleeve means extending from the first wall section of the housing to cover and protect the second wall section of the housing and the junction of the first and second sections.

Abstract: This invention relates to an active agent delivery device. More particularly, the invention relates to a delivery device that includes a sleeve to protect the delivery device from transient mechanical forces. The delivery device of the invention is robust and resistant to transient mechanical forces. The invention provides a fluid-imbibing delivery device comprising a housing enclosing an internal compartment, said housing having a first wall section that substantially restricts the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is substantially fluid-impermeable, and that contains a beneficial agent; a second wall section that permits the passage of fluid into the delivery device, i.e. is fluid-permeable, and that contains at least one expandable driving member; and exit means; with a protective sleeve means extending from the first wall section of the housing to cover and protect the second wall section of the housing and the junction of the first and second sections.

Abstract: An adhesive composition suitable for use as an in-line contact adhesive for electrotransport drug delivery systems.

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: A dispensing device is disclosed for delivering a beneficial agent. The device comprises (1) a semipermeable housing defining a internal space, (2) an optional and presently preferred in the space, (3) a heat responsive composition comprising a beneficial agent in the space, (4) a space consuming member in the device, (5) a non-toxic compound blended with the heat responsive composition for enhancing its viscosity; (6) an exit port in the wall for increasing the internal pressure of the dispenser and for simultaneously letting the beneficial agent exit through said port from the device, and (7) an embodiment comprising a prehydrating fluid for fastening the start-up of delivery from the delivery system.

Abstract: The invention provides a dispensing device comprising a loading dose (first agent delivery means) for short-term and continuous delivery of an agent having a high potency, retained together with a long-term dispensing device (second agent delivery means) capable of a long-term and continuous delivery of agent. The combination of first and second agent delivery means provides a device in which a substantially constant dose of beneficial agent may be delivered to the environment of use over time. A rapid initial delivery of beneficial agent is followed by continuous and prolonged delivery of agent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improvement in a delivery device, the device comprising a wall that surrounds an internal lumen or compartment which contains a beneficial agent or medicament formulation, an expandable driving member and an optional density member, and having an a exit means, and wherein the improvement comprises prehydrating the delivery device as a means for advancing the beginning or startup of agent delivery from the delivery system to give earlier release of beneficial agent to the environment of use. An embodiment of the invention concerns a fluid reservoir in contact with the expandable driving member to provide prehydration of the device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid-imbibing drug delivery device which is useful for the initial delayed delivery of an active agent formulation to a fluid environment of use, the initial delay period to startup or activation being of a predetermined length of time. The delivery of the agent formulation from the dispensing device, once begun, is continued over a predetermined prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A drug delivery capsule from which the delivery of the drug is driven by the osmotic infusion of moisture by the capsule from a physiological environment is provided with a delivery orifice which opens intermittently to achieve a pulsatile delivery effect. The wall in which the orifice is formed is constructed of an elastic material, preferably an elastomer, which stretches under a pressure differential caused by the pressure rise inside the capsule as the osmotic infusion progresses. The orifice is small enough that when the elastic wall is relaxed, the flow rate of drug through the orifice is substantially zero, but that when the elastic wall is stretched due to the pressure differential across the wall exceeding a threshold, the orifice expands sufficiently to allow the release of the drug at a physiologically beneficial rate.

Abstract: Osmotically driven delivery capsules which include a beneficial agent and a water absorptive osmotic engine in separate compartments separated by a movable partition are designed to deliver the beneficial agent in a pulsatile manner through an orifice. The pulsatile delivery is achieved by a series of stops along the inner wall of the capsule which obstruct the movement of the partition but which are overcome in succession as the osmotic pressure rises above a threshold level. The number of stops and their placement longitudinally along the length of the capsule establish the number and frequency of the pulses, and the configuration of the partition controls the pulse intensity.

Abstract: A corrosion resistent density element for use in ruminal delivery devices which fragments upon contact with the blades in grinding machinery without damage to the blades. The density element has density of at least about 1.5 g/ml and a transverse rupture strength no greater than about 30,000 psi.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery device (20) is provided having both an active drug reservoir (24) and a passive drug reservoir (26). Drug is actively delivered by iontophoresis from the active drug reservoir (24) by an electric field generated by a power source (21). Simultaneously, drug is delivered from passive reservoir (26) by passive (i.e., non-electrically assisted) diffusion. In one embodiment, the passive drug reservoir (26) is electrically insulated from the active drug reservoir (24). In a second embodiment, both the active and the passive drug are contained in the same reservoir (34). In the second embodiment, the active drug is ionizable while the passive drug is non-ionizable. Most preferably, the active drug is an ionizable form (i.e., a salt form) of the passive drug.

Abstract: An osmotic device (10) for delivering a beneficial drug, such as an anti-microbial drug, into the mouth of a human patient is disclosed. The device (10) has a size and shape adapting it to be comfortably retained in the mouth for extended periods of time. The device comprises a thin semipermeable membrane wall (12) surrounding a compartment (13) housing a beneficial agent (14) that has at least some degree of solubility in aqueous biological fluids, e.g., saliva, and a fibrous support material (15) composed of hydrophilic water-insoluble fibers. A passageway (17) in the wall (12) connects the agent 14) with the exterior of the device (10). The wall (12) is permeable to the passage of aqueous biological fluid but substantially impermeable to the passage of the fibrous support material (15).

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the transdermal administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a synthetic 19-nor-progesterone (ST-1435) and an estrogen, in combination, together with, optionally, a suitable permeation enhancer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid-imbibing drug delivery device having a first, low density such that it floats in the stomach contents for a predetermined prolonged period of time, during which prolonged period of time it dispenses a drug or other active agent to the stomach, and having a second, higher density such that the device exits the stomach at the end of the predetermined prolonged period of time.