Abstract: An osmotic device for releasing a useful agent at different release rate patterns from the device in a selected environment is disclosed. The device is comprised of a wall surrounding and forming a compartment as a means for containing a useful agent and having a passageway for releasing the agent. The wall is comprised in at least a part of a material permeable to an external fluid and impermeable to the agent. A layer of pattern rate controlling material that erodes in a selected environment for changing the release rate pattern of the device is carried on the semipermeable wall distant from the compartment. The agent is soluble in the fluid and exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient across the semipermeable wall against the fluid or the agent has limited solubility and is admixed with an osmotically effective solute soluble in the fluid that exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient across the semipermeable wall against the fluid.

Abstract: An osmotic device for releasing a useful agent at different release rate patterns from the device in a selected environment is disclosed. The device is comprised of a wall surrounding and forming a compartment as a means for containing a useful agent and having a passageway for releasing the agent. The wall is comprised in at least a part of a material permeable to an external fluid and impermeable to the agent. A layer of a pattern rate controlling material that erodes in a selected environment for changing the release rate pattern of the device is carried on the semipermeable wall distant from the compartment. The agent is soluble in the fluid and exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient across the semipermeable wall against the fluid, or the agent has limited solubility and is admixed with an osmotically effective solute soluble in the fluid that exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient across the semipermeable wall against the fluid.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the formulae: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.6 are hydrogen when Z.sub.2 is a single bond and when Z.sub.2 is a double bond R.sub.2 and R.sub.6 are absent; R.sub.3 is a keto, ##STR2## R.sub.7 is OH or OR.sub.9 ; R.sub.8 is H or OH; R.sub.9 is acyl or alkoxyalkyl; R.sub.10 is H or ##STR3## Z.sub.1 is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or cis --CH=CH--; Z.sub.2 is a single bond or a double bond; Z.sub.3 is a single bond or a double bond when R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are hydrogen; Z.sub.4 is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or trans --CH=CH--; Z.sub.5 is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or cis --CH=CH--; n is 2 to 5, m is 1 to 3, and x is 1 to 2. The compounds are useful for regulating blood pressure, for stimulating smooth muscles, for inhibiting gastric secretion and inhibiting platelet aggregation and they possess improved biological stability and enhanced membrane permeability to serve as an in vivo reservoir of the prostaglandin to ensure the biological availability of the prostaglandin.

Abstract: Nonnutritive flavor imparting compounds of the general formula (F--Z).sub.n C wherein F is an active flavor imparting agent, C is a controlling agent for transporting and essentially restricting absorption of the compound (F--Z).sub.n C in a biological environment, Z is a covalent bond for bonding F to C and n is at least one. The nonnutritive flavor imparting compounds are useful for imparting flavor and taste to foods, beverages, confections and medicinals without any substantial absorption of the flavor imparting compounds in the environment of use.

Abstract: A bandage for continuously administering controlled quantities of systemically active drugs through the skin or mucosa is disclosed. This bandage has a backing member which defines one of its face surfaces and at least one reservoir containing the systemically active drug formulation which defines the other face surface. The reservoir can be a distinct layer of the bandage or can be a plurality of microcapsules distributed throughout a matrix. The material used to form the reservoir is drug release rate controlling and for a prolonged period continuously meters a controlled and predetermined flow of drug from the reservoir to the skin or mucosa of a patient.

Abstract: Novel, nonabsorbable antioxidants of the general formula (An).sub.n R wherein An is a means for preventing oxidation of an oxidizable material, R is a means for essentially restricting the absorption of An in a biological environment, .about. is a means for covalently bonding An to R for a prolonged time, and n is at least one. The nonabsorbable antioxidants are useful as stabilizers in oxidizable materials without any substantial absorption of the antioxidant in the biological environment.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a wall surrounding a reservoir containing a drug. The reservoir is formed of a solid drug carrier permeable to the passage of the drug. The wall is formed in at least a part of a microporous material the pores of which contain a drug release rate controlling medium also permeable to the passage of the drug, but the rate of passage of the drug through the medium is lower than the rate passage of the drug through the solid drug carrier so that drug release by the medium in the microporous wall is the drug release rate controlling step for releasing drug from the drug delivery device.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a wall surrounding a reservoir containing a drug. The reservoir is formed of a drug carrier permeable to the passage of the drug and in which the drug has limited solubility. The wall is formed in at least a part of a drug release rate controlling material also permeable to the passage of the drug, but the rate of passage of the drug through the wall is lower than the rate passage of the drug through the drug carrier so that drug release by the wall is the drug release rate controlling step for releasing drug from the drug delivery device.

Abstract: An improved intrauterine device which delivers a predetermined therapeutically effective dosage of drug locally to the uterus over a defined period of time is disclosed. The device is initially of a uterine-retentive shape. The device is characterized by undergoing a structural biotransformation in the uterus such that at the completion of the defined period of drug delivery it has achieved a nonuterine-retentive configuration.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a wall surrounding a reservoir containing a drug. The reservoir is formed of a drug carrier permeable to the passage of the drug and in which the drug has limited solubility. The wall is formed in at least a part of a drug release rate controlling material also permeable to the passage of the drug, but the rate of passage of the drug through the wall is lower than the rate passage of the drug through the drug carrier so that drug release by the wall is the drug release rate controlling step for releasing drug from the drug delivery device.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a wall surrounding a reservoir containing a drug. The reservoir is formed of a drug carrier permeable to the passage of the drug and in which the drug has limited solubility. The wall is formed in at least a part of a drug release rate controlling material also permeable to the passage of the drug, but the rate of passage of the drug through the wall is lower than the rate passage of the drug through the drug carrier so that drug release by the wall is the drug release rate controlling step for releasing drug from the drug delivery device.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a wall surrounding a reservoir containing a drug. The reservoir is formed of a solid drug carrier permeable to the passage of the drug. The wall is formed in at least a part of a microporous material the pores of which contain a drug release rate controlling medium also permeable to the passage of the drug, but the rate of passage of the drug through the medium is lower than the rate passage of the drug through the solid drug carrier so that drug release by the medium in the microporous wall is the drug release rate controlling step for releasing drug from the drug delivery device.

Abstract: A delivery device for the controlled and continuous release of a useful agent at a functional rate is comprised of an erodible capsule housing a self monitored delivery device attached to a collapsed support. The device is comprised of a hollow container having a wall formed of a self-monitored release rate controlling material permeable to the passage of the agent by diffusion, or the wall is formed of a microporous material whose micropores are a means for holding a self-monitored release rate controlling medium permeable to the passage of the agent by diffusion. The device on its release from the bioerodible capsule in the environment of use releases an effective amount of agent at a functional rate over a prolonged and continuous period of time.