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.

Abstract: An improved performance appraisal system is disclosed which utilizes a visual scoring model which, utilizing visual simplicity, enables raters to capture complex, comparative, hierarchial performance information which is difficult to communicate in numbers or words.

Abstract: A nutritional system is disclosed, for delivering a colorant dye to a nutritional fluid that flows through the nutritional system.

Abstract: A delivery system is disclosed for delivering a fluid-sensitive active agent such as a somatotropin, or an analogue or derivative thereof, to an animal such as a bovine. The delivery system comprises a first wall section, a second wall section and a locking coupling therebetween. The coupled wall sections define a compartment, enclosing an active agent and an expandable driving member. Various embodiments of the locking coupling are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a composition comprising a matrix adapted to be placed in drug-and permeation-enhancing mixture-transmitting relation to a selected skin or other body site. The matrix contains sufficient amounts of drug, permeation enhancer(s) and poly-N-vinylamide to continuously administer to the site, the drug, in a therapeutically effective amount, and the permeation-enhancing mixture, in an amount effective to enhance the permeation of the skin to the drug. The device shows increased transdermal flux, as compared to the transdermal flux of the drug from a device containing no poly-N-vinyl amide. Incorporating poly-N-vinyl amide into the transdermal system also improves the adhesion and stability of the system.

Abstract: A device (10) for the electrically assisted delivery of a therapeutic agent is described. The device (10) has rigid zones or regions (12, 14) which are physically connected by a flexible means (16) such as a web. The flexible means (16) permits the rigid zones (12, 14) 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 embodiment, the device (500) comprises one or more rigid zones, the skin side of the rigid zone having a radius of curvature (520) which approximates that of the body site to which the device (500) is to be attached. A method of increasing the body surface conformability of an electrotransport device (50, 150, 170) is described. The method involves the step of intentionally placing rigid subcomponents (58, 36, 37) of the device in physically separate zones (52, 54; 152, 154, 156, 158; 172, 174, 176, 178) within the device.

Abstract: This invention relates to stable liquid aqueous formulations of peptide compounds at high concentrations. These stable formulations comprise at least about 10% peptide in water. 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.

Abstract: A hydromorphone composition, a hydromorphone dosage form and a method for administering hydromorphone are disclosed, indicated for the management of pain.

Abstract: A composition comprising oxybutynin, a device comprising oxybutynin, and a method for administering oxybutynin are disclosed for oxybutynin therapy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an oral active agent delivery system and method for delivering discrete units of an active agent to a patient. An elongate tubular member having first and second ends comprises first and second flow paths. Either or both of said flow paths contains an active agent. Liquid is drawn up into the first end of the member, and the liquid and active agent is drawn out of the second end of the member and into the patient's mouth.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed for delivering an antiepileptic drug, which dosage form comprises for maintaining the integrity of the dosage form and of the antiepileptic drug.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improving the delivery of a drug from a ruminal delivery device to give a consistent delivery of drug to the ruminal environment. Thus, the invention is directed to an improved ruminal drug delivery device comprising a semipermeable membrane having an exit orifice and defining a compartment, the compartment containing a swellable osmotic agent expandable driving member, a drug to be dispensed, a density element and, optionally, a partition layer between the osmotic expandable driving member and the drug formulation, wherein the improvement comprises an essentially gas-impermeable barrier means that separates the density element from the other components within the delivery device for isolating gases evolved from the density element from the other components within the delivery device. The barrier means further includes a coupling to transfer osmotic pressure to the semipermeable wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved compositions for improving the chemical and physical stability of peptides and proteins. The invention provides a liquid beneficial agent formulation containing a liquid suspension comprising at least 5% by weight beneficial agent and having a viscosity and beneficial agent size which minimizes settling of the agent in suspension over the extended delivery period.

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 of the device being of a predetermined length of time. The delivery of the agent formulation from the dispensing device is continued until essentially all of the active agent formulation is delivered as a result of the fluid inhibition into a fluid flow path in the housing of the device and the expansion of an expansion agent in the active agent delivery chamber.

Abstract: A composition of matter for application to a body surface or membrane to administer oxybutynin by permeation through the body surface or membrane, the composition comprising, in combination, the oxybutynin to be administered, in a therapeutically effective amount; and a permeation-enhancing mixture comprising a monoglyceride or a mixture of monoglycerides, and a lactic ester or a mixture of lactate esters; present in specific concentrations.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising means for lessening the tackiness and/or irritation of the components of the dosage form to mucosal tissue. The dosage form provides means for forming in the dosage form a floc comprising a drug, which floc, when delivered from the dosage form, lessens the tackiness and/or irritation of the mucosal tissue of a warm-blooded recipient.

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.14 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.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the transdermal administration of a drug together with a suitable amount of an acyl lactylate permeation enhancer. The invention includes a transdermal drug delivery device comprising a matrix adapted to be placed in drug- and- permeation enhancer-transmitting relation with a skin site. The matrix contains sufficient amounts of an acyl lactylate permeation enhancer and drug, in combination, to continuously administer drug to the systemic circulation of a patient at a therapeutically effective rate. The invention is also directed to compositions and methods for transdermal administration of a drug together with an acyl lactylate permeation enhancer, alone or in combination with other enhancers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transdermal drug delivery device (10) is disclosed wherein a component (32) and/or a subassembly (20) are intentionally adapted to be separable from the rest of the device for disposal which is more medically or environmentally acceptable. In one embodiment, device 10 comprises upper and lower housings (16, 20), with lower housing (20) being separable from upper housing (16) and foldable upon itself to minimize medically unacceptable contact with, e.g., a drug reservoir (26 or 28) contained therein. A device (10) made in accordance with the invention is included.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed for delivering an antiepileptic drug, which dosage form comprises a laminated wall for maintaining the integrity of the dosage form and of the antiepileptic drug.