초록 ▼

An electrotransport agent delivery device for delivering a therapeutic agent through a body surface, and a method for increasing agent delivery efficiency, is provided. The device includes a current controller which delivers a pulsating electrotransport current and peak current density I.sub.max, I.

An electrotransport agent delivery device for delivering a therapeutic agent through a body surface, and a method for increasing agent delivery efficiency, is provided. The device includes a current controller which delivers a pulsating electrotransport current and peak current density I.sub.max, I.sub.max being greater than a critical current density level I.sub.c above which the body exhibits a non-transitory higher agent delivery efficiency. Methods for increasing electrotransport delivery efficiency (E) of an agent through a body surface by creation of a higher agent delivery efficiency state are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] In an electrotransport device for delivering a therapeutic agent through a body surface, the delivery device having a source of electrical power, a counter electrode, and a donor reservoir containing the agent, the reservoir having a delivery area through which the agent is deliver

[ We claim:] [1.] In an electrotransport device for delivering a therapeutic agent through a body surface, the delivery device having a source of electrical power, a counter electrode, and a donor reservoir containing the agent, the reservoir having a delivery area through which the agent is delivered through the body surface, the improvement comprising;an applied electrotransport current controller, the controller being adapted to apply a pulsating electrotransport current to the reservoir and in turn to the body surface, each pulse of the pulsating current being characterized by a frequency, a duty cycle, a peak width, and a peak current, the peak current when divided by the area of the delivery area providing a peak current density, I.sub.max, I.sub.max being greater than a critical current density level, I.sub.c, above which the body surface exhibits non-transitory higher agent delivery efficiency (E), the delivery efficiency (E) being equal to the rate of agent delivered through the body surface per unit of applied electrotransport current.