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: 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: 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: 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: Cotinine is prepared from nicotine or nicotine sulfate by mixing a solution thereof with compounds having the formula XBr, YBrO.sub.3 where X is hydrogen or an alkali metal and Y is an alkali metal to produce an intermediate product: dibromocotinine hydrobromide perbromide, which is reduced and de-brominated to produce cotinine.

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 hydrocolloidal gel 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 solid, multipurpose, flexible, ultrasonic biomedical couplant hydrogel in sheet form is applied to the skin of a patient to facilitate the transfer of ultrasound energy between a standard ultrasound instrument and the body. The couplant sheet has broad upper and lower surfaces and a narrow peripheral edge which is usually circular, square or rectangular but can have other shapes such as the shape of the part of the body being monitored. During use, the lower surface of the sheet is applied to the skin of a patient and remain in place throughout use. The ultrasound instrument is then passed back and forth, usually in contact with the exposed upper surface of the hydrogel sheet while ultrasound energy is transmitted through the hydrogel which serves as a transmission path for the sonic energy passing to and from the body of the patient. The hydrogel sheet of the present invention is a flexible, self-supporting solid sheet which holds its form during storage and when placed on the body.

Abstract: A hydrogel matrix is provided for a multipupose medical electrode having an electrically conductive backing. The matrix comprises a dispersion of a natural or a synthetic hydrophilic polymer, e.g., polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, modified starch, or gum karaya, gum acacia, locust bean gum or the like, water, and a humectant such as triethylene glycol or glycerol. The matrix is a flexible sheet having a tacky lower surface for establishing a bond to provide electrical contact with the skin of a patient. The matrix has a resistivity greater than the resistivity of the electrical conductive backing and includes a gelation inhibitor such as a salt of a weak acid, e.g., Mg(OAc).sub.2 uniformly distributed within the matrix in an amount sufficient to retard gelation of the matrix prior to forming the matrix into a flexible sheet.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preserving the life of girdled plants, such as trees, shrubs or flowering plants, comprising applying to the girdled area a wrap composed of a flexible tape backing formed from a water insoluble polymeric sheet, e.g., nonwoven fabric, suited for being wound into a roll or dispensed as cut sheets. To the backing is applied a homogeneous, hydrophilic, stable matrix. The matrix is hydratable by atmospheric moisture, has a bonding surface which conforms to the contours of the plant, and is sufficiently tacky to hold the tape in place after being wrapped around the plant. The matrix includes (a) a liquid phase comprising a hydrophilic, polar, water-miscible liquid for plasticizing the matrix and (b) a water soluble or water swellable hydrophilic film-forming polymer uniformly admixed with said liquid to form a flexible matrix.

Abstract: A multipurpose medical stimulating electrode is described for use in external cardiac pacing, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and neuromuscular stimulation which includes a protective cover layer at the top extending over and bonded to the upper surface of an electrically conductive layer, e.g. carbon filled silicone rubber having a resistivity of about 100 ohm centimeters on the lower surface of which is coated a selfsupporting skin contacting hydrogel layer comprising a matrix having a sticky surface adapted to make a good electrical contact with the skin and having a resistivity of greater than 1,000 and less than 10,000 ohm centimeters. The matrix is composed of natural or synthetic hydrocolloid, e.g. polyacrylamide, and/or natural gum such as karaya gum, water and a humectant comprising a polyhydric alcohol and optionally with Mg(OAc).sub.2 as a gelation inhibitor and electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides a protective wrap for plants, such as trees, shrubs or flowering plants, comprising a flexible tape backing composed of a water insoluble polymeric sheet suited for being wound into a roll or dispensed as cut sheets. To the backing is applied a homogeneous, hydrophilic, stable matrix. The matrix is hydratable by atmospheric moisture, has a bonding surface which conforms to the contours of the plant, and is sufficiently tacky to hold the tape in place after being wrapped around the plant. The matrix includes a) a liquid phase comprising a non-aqueous polar organic water miscible liquid for plasticizing the matrix, b) a water soluble or water swellable hydrophilic film-forming polymer uniformly admixed with said liquid to form a flexible matrix, and c) a biologically active composition dispersed in the matrix.

Abstract: A medical electrode is provided which includes a flexible tin backing coated with a flexible hydrated gel matrix adapted to contact and conform to the skin. The matrix is composed of a hydrated polysaccharide gum, a liquid hydrating agent such as a polyhydric alcohol and water, an electrolyte including one or more tin salts dissolved in the liquid and preferably a stabilizer present in sufficient quantity to prevent the tin salts from forming insoluble reaction products.