Abstract: Water-soluble pressure-sensitive adhesives include a water-soluble polymer that is made tacky at room temperature by addition of a water-soluble plasticizer that is miscible with the polymer. Suitable polymers are solid at room temperature; and have a hydrophilicity as measured by water uptake greater than about 25%; they are liquid at room temperature and have a boiling point higher than about 80.degree. C. The adhesives according to the invention may conveniently be provided in dry film form. Preferred water-soluble pressure-sensitive adhesives of the invention adhere both to mucosal surfaces and to a variety of materials that may constitute a part of a device or prosthesis to be held in a body cavity that has a mucosal lining. Also, a laminated device for the controlled release of a substance within a mucosa-lined body cavity includes the substance dissolved or dispersed in either or both of a water-soluble pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and optionally one or more water-soluble polymer layers.

Abstract: A delayed onset transdermal drug delivery device exhibiting a delay period of at least eight hours comprising a laminated composite of (12) a top backing layer; (13) a pressure rupturable layer underlying (12); (14) a reservoir of a solution of drug in al liquid vehicle between (12) and (13); (16) a wick layer underlying (13) for dispersing the drug once (13) is ruptured; (17) a first adhesive layer underlying (16) that is permeable to the drug; (18) a first polymer membrane that is permeable to drug but substantially impermeable to the adhesive of (17); (19) a microporous membrane underlying (18) which is itself impermeable to the drug and whose pores are unfilled; (20) a second polymer membrane that underlies the microporous membrane that is permeable to drug but substantially impermeable to the adhesive of (21) below; and (21) a second adhesive layer underlying (20) that is permeable to the drug.

Abstract: Improved transdermal drug delivery systems are provided which contain an occlusive, elastomeric backing layer which is preferably liquid-resistant. The systems contain as a backing layer a single homogeneous sheet of an elastomeric material having a moisture vapor transmission rate ("MVTR") in the range of about 0.1 to 20 g/m.sup.2 /hr and a Young's modulus in the range of about 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.9 dynes/cm.sup.2. Methods for making and using transdermal drug delivery devices containing such backing layers are provided as well.

Abstract: The present invention provides curable gel compositions and also cured gel compositions which possess unexpectedly superior combinations of physical properties and aging resistance. These compositions are particularly useful for environmentally protecting substrates especially electrical conductors, connectors and splices and for sealing around jacketed cables, for example, where they enter splice cases.