Patents Represented by Attorney Steven F. Stone
  • Patent number: 6210712
    Abstract: A dosage form comprising a composition comprising a drug surrounded by a first coat and a second coat with an exit for administering the drug to a patient; and a method of using the dosage form are disclosed for an indicated therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Edgren, Robert R. Skluzacek
  • Patent number: 6203817
    Abstract: Transdermal compositions, devices, and methods for the administration of a drug at reduced skin irritation levels are disclosed. More particularly, this invention relates to novel methods, compositions, and devices for the reduction or elimination of irritation or sensitization caused by an irritating or sensitizing drug when it is delivered transdermally. According to a preferred embodiment, transdermal administration of a drug salt of a non-zwitterionic drug is disclosed wherein the drug salt comprises a combination of surface activity and a low octanol-water partition coefficient. Such drug salts have been found to reduce irritation or sensitization to the drug being delivered while achieving therapeutically effective transdermal fluxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. N. Cormier, Peter E. Daddona, Juanita A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6195582
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an electrotransport device for transdermally or transmucosally delivering a beneficial agent (e.g., a drug) to the body surface of a patient or for transdermally or transmucosally sampling a body analyte. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a configured and electrochemically reactive electrode assembly having improved start-up electrical performance and improved lag time to compliant agent delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventor: Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 6190350
    Abstract: An implanter for inserting subcutaneous implants includes a handle for grasping the implanter during implantation, a hollow cannula receiving the implant, and a rod for releasing the implant from the cannula. The rod is longitudinally fixed within the handle while the cannula slides over the rod to release the implant. The cannula is moved over the rod by a sliding actuator mounted in a track of the handle. The actuator is locked in an extended position to prevent unintended release of the implant. Preferably, the implanter is a single-use device having a actuator locking feature preventing reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Craig R. Davis, John R. Peery
  • Patent number: 6190351
    Abstract: A nutritional system is disclosed, for delivering a colorant dye to a nutritional fluid that flows through the nutritional system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Weyers, Atul D. Ayer, Brenda J. Pollock, Brian L. Barclay, Ernest S. Quan
  • Patent number: 6183466
    Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising a wall that defines an injection-molded compartment housing a capsule comprising a drug formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S. L. Wong, Felix Theeuwes, Vincent J. Ferrari, Liang C. Dong
  • Patent number: 6180129
    Abstract: A delivery system is disclosed for delivering a beneficial agent to an animal. The delivery system comprises a wall that surrounds a lumen, said wall comprising a composition that limits the passage of fluid into the system and a composition that permits the passage of fluid into the system. The lumen comprises a beneficial agent and an expandable member. The delivery system comprises an exit means for delivering the beneficial agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Judy A. Magruder, James B. Eckenhoff, Richard Cortese, Jeremy C. Wright, John R. Peery
  • Patent number: 6181963
    Abstract: A transdermal electrotransport drug delivery device having an anode, a cathode and a source of electrical power electrically connected to the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a cathodic electrode and a cathodic reservoir comprised of a housing composed of a polymeric material and an aqueous medium in contact with the housing. The aqueous medium includes i) a drug or an electrolyte salt or a mixture thereof and ii) a cetylpyridinium salt in an amount sufficient to inhibit microbial growth in the aqueous medium. The polymeric material is compatible with the cetylpyridinium salt. A process is also provided wherein when electric current flows from the source of electrical power so that the drug is transdermally delivered to the patient by electrotransport from the anodic reservoir, the cetylpyridinium salt is not transdermally delivered to the patient by electrotransport from the cathodic reservoir. A process for preparing a transdermal electrotransport drug delivery device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan W. Chin, Thomas O. Murdock, Michel J. N. Cormier
  • Patent number: 6175763
    Abstract: An electrotransport system (20) for delivery of a drug through the skin (63) of a patient includes a tactile signal generator (36) for generating and transmitting a tactile signal to the skin of a patient upon the occurrence of an event associated with the operation of the system. The tactile signal may be an electric AC signaling current (Sr, Sp) applied through the skin, ie, an electric current different from the therapeutic electrotransport drive current. The electric signaling current is preferably a pulsed current of sufficient frequency and amplitude to allow the patient to feel it. The tactile signal may alternatively be generated by an electromechanical device in contact with the skin such as a piezoelectric vibrating element or magnetodynamic element such as a solenoid driven pin. The waveform of the tactile signaling current preferably has a zero average current component such that no net therapeutic drug is delivered by the tactile signal current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Sorenson, Gary A. Lattin, Larry A. McNichols
  • Patent number: 6174547
    Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising a drug formulation that self-emulsifies in said dosage form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Liang-Chang Dong, Steven Espinal, Patrick S. L. Wong
  • Patent number: 6171294
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved electrotransport drug delivery system for analgesic drugs, namely fentanyl and sufentanil. The fentanyl/sufentanil is provided as a water soluble salt (eg, fentanyl hydrochloride) dispersed in a hydrogel formulation for use in an electrotransport device (10). In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the concentration of fentanyl/sufentanil in the donor reservoir (26) solution is above a predetermined minimum concentration, whereby the transdermal electrotransport flux of fentanyl/sufentanil is maintained independent of the concentration of fentanyl/sufentanil in solution. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the donor reservoir (26) of the electrotransport delivery device (10) is comprised of silver and the donor reservoir (26) contains a predetermined “excess” loading of fentanyl/sufentanil halide to prevent silver ion migration with attendant skin discoloration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Mary Southam, Keith J. Bernstein, Henk Noorduin
  • Patent number: 6165497
    Abstract: Rate controlled transdermal nicotine delivery systems are disclosed which utilize an in-line adhesive to maintain the systems on the skin. The initial equilibrated concentration of nicotine in the nicotine reservoir and the adhesive is below saturation, preferably at a thermodynamic activity no greater than 0.50, and the reservoir comprises the nicotine dissolved in a polymer with respect to which the rate controlling element of the device is substantially impermeable. In preferred embodiments the initial loading of nicotine in the reservoir is sufficient to prevent the activity of the nicotine in the reservoir from decreasing by more than about 75% and preferably no more than about 25% during the predetermined period of administration; and the thicknesses of the adhesive, rate controlling membrane and reservoir layers are selected so that at least 50% and, preferably at least 75% initial equilibrated nicotine loading is in the reservoir layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Osborne, Melinda Nelson, David J. Enscore, Su Il Yum, Robert M. Gale
  • Patent number: 6163720
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: J. Richard Gyory, Ronald P. Haak
  • Patent number: 6156331
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for delivering an active agent formulation for a predetermined administration period. An impermeable reservoir is divided into a water-swellable agent chamber and an active agent formulation chamber. Fluid from the environment is imbibed through a semipermeable plug into the water-swellable agent chamber and the active agent formulation is released through a back-diffusion regulating outlet. Delivery periods of up to 2 years are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Peery, Keith E. Dionne, James B. Eckenhoff, deceased, Felix A. Landrau, Scott D. Lautenbach, Judy A Magruder, Jeremy C. Wright
  • Patent number: 6153678
    Abstract: Polymeric compositions are disclosed comprising a poly(caprolactone), a poly(alkylene oxide), a poly(oxyethylenated fatty acid ester), or a poly(oxyethylenated fatty acid), or a poly(oxyethylene-co-oxypropylene).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Liang-Chang Dong, Crystal Pollock, Patrick S.-L. Wong, Keru O. Shafi, Vincent J. Ferrari, Ted Smith
  • Patent number: 6146662
    Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising means for delaying the delivery of drug from the dosage form following the administration of the dosage form to a patient in need of drug therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Jao, Patrick S.-L. Wong, Hoa T. Huynh, Kathy Mc Chesney, Pamela K. Wat
  • Patent number: 6136327
    Abstract: Preferential delivery via electrotransport of a preferred isomeric form of a pharmaceutically active chiral compound from a mixture of the isomeric forms of said compound is provided. A method of decreasing the delivery via electrotransport of a less preferred isomer of a drug is also provided. Drug delivery devices suitable for such preferential delivery and methods of making the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Suneel K. Gupta, Gayatri Sathyan, Rama Padmanabhan
  • Patent number: 6130200
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for systemically or locally administering by implantation a beneficial agent to a subject are described, and include, for example, compositions having burst indices of 8 or less for systemic applications and systems releasing 10% or less of the total dose of beneficial agent in the first 24 hours after implantation for local applications. The compositions include a biocompatible polymer, a biocompatible solvent having low water miscibility that forms a viscous gel with the polymer and limits water uptake by the implant, and a beneficial agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Brodbeck, Ann T. Gaynor-Duarte, Theodore Tao-Ian Shen
  • Patent number: 6124355
    Abstract: A composition comprising oxybutynin, a dosage form comprising oxybutynin, and a method for administering oxybutynin are disclosed for oxybutynin therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Inventors: George V. Guittard, Francisco Jao, Susan M. Marks, David J. Kidney, Fernando E. Gumucio
  • Patent number: 6124261
    Abstract: This invention relates to stable non-aqueous polar aprotic formulations of peptide compounds. These stable formulations comprise peptide in non-aqueous polar aprotic solvent. They may be stored at elevated temperatures for long periods of time and are especially useful in implantable delivery devices for long term delivery of drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Cynthia L. Stevenson, Steven J. Prestrelski