Abstract: The present invention provides for topical adhesive patch that includes a backing having a front side and a back side; a formulation in contact with the front side of the backing, the formulation including an adhesive; and at least one antimicrobial. The antimicrobial is integrally bonded to the back side of the backing. The present invention also provides for a method of reducing the number of microbes located upon a topical skin surface of a mammal, as well as a method of preventing the transmission of a communicable disease capable of being transmitted by physical contact. The methods include topically contacting a skin surface of the mammal with the back side of the topical adhesive patch.

Abstract: An adhesive patch is provided wherein the patch includes a porous backing having a front side and a back side. The patch also includes a therapeutic formulation located on the front side of the backing. The backing includes a flexible sheet of water insoluble porous material. The therapeutic formulation includes a combination of a antiviral agent useful for treating a viral infection in a mammal (e.g., human), a medicament that relieves topical discomfort, an adhesive, and a solvent. The solvent can preferably include a fragrance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water insoluble, protective, adhesive skin patch useful for treating or preventing psoriasis, dermatitis, and/or eczema. The adhesive patch includes a backing that is treated with a sizing agent (e.g., a fluorocarbon solution, a silicone-containing compound, or a combination thereof). The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing at least one of psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema in a mammal (e.g., human) and a method for exfoliating the skin surface of a mammal.

Abstract: The invention provides a mixing and dispensing pouch for applying a wound dressing onto a wound. The pouch includes a pair of superimposed sheets, e.g., of plastic film, connected together at their edges. A pressure-rupturable seal is located between the super-imposed sheets and extends from one edge of the package to the other to form two compartments. The pressure-rupturable seal can be forced open manually by applying pressure on the exterior of the package with the hands so as to increase the hydrostatic pressure in a liquid, e.g., water contained in one compartment of the package causing the seal to rupture and the liquid to spurt through the ruptured seal, mixing with a dry wound dressing contained in the other compartment. If required, additional kneading of the package with the hands will mix the wound dressing for use as soon as it is expelled from the package.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-occlusive adhesive skin patch. The patch includes a woven or nonwoven porous backing having a front side and a back side. The patch also includes a therapeutic formulation located on the front side of the backing. The backing includes a flexible sheet of water insoluble porous material. The therapeutic formulation includes a medicament useful for relieving topical discomfort and a pressure sensitive adhesive. The therapeutic formulation optionally includes a solvent that can effectively dissolve the medicament. The present invention also provides a method for alleviating topical discomfort. The method includes applying an adhesive skin patch of the present invention to skin inflicted with a topical disorder.

Abstract: The skin disorder acne, as well as one or more isolated pimples, are treated by applying to the skin, over the skin disorder, a flexible moisture-containing hydrophilic hydrogel patch that includes a backing support such as paper, cloth or plastic and a water-based hydrogel layer applied to the backing. The hydrogel layer comprises a hydrophilic natural or synthetic polymer dispersed in water to provide body and can be a tacky adhesive. The polymer can comprise any high molecular weight hydrophilic carbohydrate such as karaya, cornstarch, or kelp and/or a synthetic hydrophilic polymer such as polyacrylamide or polyacrylic acid. A humectant such as an alcohol containing two or more hydroxyl groups, i.e., a polyhydric alcohol, keeps the adhesive layer moist. A solute such as salt, protein, sugar or an alcohol is dissolved in the water in a quantity sufficient to raise the osmotic pressure enough to maintain the adhesive hydrogel layer in a hypertonic state with respect to the underlying skin tissue.

Abstract: A solid elastic and pliable self-supporting wound dressing is formed by mixing dry hydrocolloid polymer powder with water. Preferably the dry polymer powder and water are contained in a sealed package having a temporary or manually-removable barrier so that the dry polymer and waster can be stored separately from each other while in the package. The wound dressing may be prepared by breaking or removing the barrier to allow intermixing of the polymer and water within the package so that a fluid, pourable and spreadable aqueous colloidal dispersion is initially formed within the package and which can be removed from the package and easily poured or spread onto the wound. The initially-formed dispersion then solidifies to form a solid or semi-solid elastic, pliable wound dressing containing water and hydrocolloid. The presence of water in the wound dressing provides desirable moisture during the healing process.

Abstract: A non-occlusive medication patch to be applied to the skin includes a porous self-supporting backing layer to give the patch the required integrity and strength by acting as a supporting framework for other components, and a flexible hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive reservoir comprising a natural or synthetic polymer for the sustained release of medication to be absorbed topically through the skin into the body of a patient. The reservoir has two portions: first, an external coating layer with an exposed lower skin-contacting surface that forms a pressure-sensitive bond with the skin, and second, an upper internal portion which infiltrates the porous backing and becomes solidified therein after being applied so that the reservoir and the backing are unified, enabling the backing itself to act as a storage location for the medication-containing reservoir.

Abstract: Blisters of the skin are treated by applying to the skin over the blister a flexible moisture-containing hydrophilic hydrogel patch that includes a backing support such as paper, cloth or plastic and a water-based hydrogel layer applied to the backing. The hydrogel layer comprises a hydrophilic natural or synthetic polymer to provide body dispersed in water and can be a tacky adhesive. The polymer can comprise any high molecular weight hydrophilic carbohydrate such as karaya, cornstarch, or a kelp gel and/or a synthetic hydrophilic polymer such as polyacrylamide or polyacrylic acid. A humectant such as a polyhydric alcohol, keeps the gel layer moist. A solute such as salt, protein, sugar or an alcohol is dissolved in the water in a quantity sufficient to raise the osmotic pressure enough to maintain the hydrogel layer in a hypertonic state with respect to the blister.

Abstract: A non-occlusive medication patch to be applied to the skin includes a porous self-supporting backing layer to give the patch the required integrity and strength by acting as a supporting framework for other components, and a flexible hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive reservoir comprising a natural or synthetic polymer for the sustained release of medication to be absorbed topically through the skin into the body of a patient. The reservoir has two portions: first, an external coating layer with an exposed lower skin-contacting surface that forms a pressure-sensitive bond with the skin, and second, an upper internal portion which infiltrates the porous backing and becomes solidified therein after being applied so that the reservoir and the backing are unified, enabling the backing itself to act as a storage location for the medication-containing reservoir.

Abstract: A non-occlusive medication patch to be applied to the skin includes a porous self-supporting backing layer to give the patch the required integrity and strength by acting as a supporting framework for other components, and a flexible hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive reservoir comprising a natural or synthetic polymer for the sustained release of medication to be absorbed topically through the skin into the body of a patient. The reservoir has two portions: first, an external coating layer with an exposed lower skin-contacting surface that forms a pressure-sensitive bond with the skin, and second, an upper internal portion which infiltrates the porous backing and becomes solidified therein after being applied so that the reservoir and the backing are unified, enabling the backing itself to act as a storage location for the medication-containing reservoir.

Abstract: A substance countering agent especially for an abused drug or alcohol or a contraceptive agent is contained in a flexible adherent sheet or patch used to achieve the transdermal delivery of the agent through the skin of a person. The patch is limp, fragile, and non-self-supporting. The patch has a weak structure and is sufficiently limp and fragile so that the patch cannot be removed from the skin and later reapplied to the skin as a smooth planar covering. A compliance verification method is also provided for compulsory drug administration. This novel method includes providing a flexible adhesive patch containing a substance countering agent to be administered transdermally to the patient and maintaining the patch sufficiently limp and fragile so that the patch cannot be removed from the skin and later reapplied to the skin as a smooth planar covering. Prior to being applied to the skin, a supporting sheet or carrier is provided for supporting the patch in an outstretched, wrinkle-free condition.

Abstract: A vaporizable decongestant is supported and stabilized on a flexible foraminous carrier composed typically of open-cell plastic foam, cloth or other fibrous material such as nonwoven fabric. The term "foraminous" herein is intended to refer to a substance or medium containing minute openings or perforated by many minute apertures. The decongestant is placed on the surfaces within the interstices and minute apertures or on fibers from which the foraminous carrier is formed. Vaporization of the inhalable decongestant is facilitated by providing the potential for greatly increasing its exposed surface area. Distributing the decongestant composition over the large, expanded surface within the foraminous carrier is beneficial in enhancing both the volatilization and evaporation of the decongestant agent. It also prolongs the useful life of the product.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating schizophrenia, Tourette's Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse or substance addiction including drug or alcohol addiction, manic-depression syndrome, anexoria or bulimia comprising administering an amount of cotinine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which amount is effective to reduce or alleviate at least one of the symptoms of schizophrenia, Tourette's Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse or substance addiction including drug or alcohol addiction, manic-depression syndrome, anexoria or bulimia in a human or other mammal.

Abstract: A smoking material is provided that is useful to alleviate the symptoms of the tobacco withdrawal syndrome comprising an amount of continine or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof in combination with a non-toxic vegetable material, which amount is effective to reduce or eliminate at least one of the symptoms of tobacco withdrawal syndrome in a human when the smoking material is smoked by a human.

Abstract: A perforated medical adhesive tape has a tape backing layer formed from flexible sheet material, e.g., plastic film, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for bonding the adhesive tape to the skin of a patient. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is flexible, deformable, elastic and has a permanently tacky surface. The backing layer has a planar outer surface with a multiplicity of upwardly extending protrusions, i.e., minute mounds which are upward deflections in the tape with corresponding upwardly extending, downwardly opening concavities or indentations in its lower surface below each of the protrusions. Each of the protrusions has a pierced opening located at its approximate center. The openings are elevated above the planar surface of the tape, and each opening extends through both the tape backing and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to facilitate the diffusion of air and moisture vapor through the tape. The tape is pierced with a multiplicity of heated needles, each having a tapered point.

Abstract: The invention provides a prepackaged dressing including dry particulate solids for forming a pourable, water-based natural or synthetic hydrocolloidal polyemeric gel to dress wounds. The gel contains a biologically active constituent. Liquid and dry, solid particulate components are separate and are mixed just before use. One dry constituent is the hydrocolloid which is contained in a compartment of a sealed container separate from moisture. After mixing with water, the dry hydrocolloid does not become fully hydrated immediately. The liquid component (water) provides a fluid consistency initially. At this stage, the admixture is sufficiently fluid in consistency to allow it to be poured or spread into a wound. Following application to the wound, the hydrated hydrocolloidal dispersion begins to solidify to form a solid, self-supporting flexible dressing structure consisting primarily of water, the hydrocolloid, as well as the biologically active constituent, e.g.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is provided that is useful in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's Syndrome and schizophrenia comprising an amount of cotinine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which amount is effective to reduce or alleviate at least one of the symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia in a human or other mammal.

Abstract: A medication patch to be applied to the skin includes a self-supporting backing layer to give the patch the required integrity and strength by acting as a supporting framework for other components, and a flexible hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive reservoir comprising a natural or synthetic polymer for the sustained release of medication to be absorbed topically through the skin into the body of a patient. The reservoir has two portions: first, an external coating layer with an exposed lower skin-contacting surface that forms a pressure-sensitive bond with the skin, and second, an upper internal portion which infiltrates the porous backing and becomes solidified therein after being applied so that the reservoir and the backing are unified, enabling the backing itself to act as a storage location for the medication-containing reservoir.

Abstract: A dual purpose biomedical device has a solid flexible ultrasonic couplant sheet or pad formed from an electrically conductive hydrogel. The hydrogel sheet has an upper surface that is exposed during use for allowing direct contact between an ultrasonic generator and the hydrogel sheet and a lower surface that is placed during use against the skin of a patient whereby the hydrogel sheet transmits ultrasonic waves to and from the body of the patient. An adhesive is operatively associated with the hydrogel sheet for adhering the sheet to the skin. A removable and replaceable electrically conductive flexible sheet is supported upon the upper surface of the hydrogel sheet for establishing electrical contact with the patient through the hydrogel sheet when lowered into contact with the hydrogel sheet. The conductive sheet is removable therefrom for allowing the ultrasonic generator to contact the hydrogel sheet.