초록 ▼

Bioactive agents are cutaneously delivered by a jet dispenser using inkjet technology, such as that used in printing. The dispenser propels precise volumes of bioactive agent toward the skin, where they exert a local or topical effect, or move through the skin for transdermal systemic delivery. Drug

Bioactive agents are cutaneously delivered by a jet dispenser using inkjet technology, such as that used in printing. The dispenser propels precise volumes of bioactive agent toward the skin, where they exert a local or topical effect, or move through the skin for transdermal systemic delivery. Drugs are either delivered directly to the skin, or are introduced into a transdermal patch, which may receive repeated dosages. A controller in the dispenser may control delivery of multiple different drugs, timing of drug administration, or change drug regimens in response to a changing medical condition of a patient, such as those monitored by a sensor in communication with the controller, for example to prevent an overdose. The dispenser may act as an electromechanical patch, capable of long term administration of drugs to the skin, to achieve local or systemic pharmaceutical effects. Administration methods are also provided, along with replacement kits.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough; and a spacer positioned to elevate the

We claim: 1. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target; a main body which supports said container; a dispensing head which supports said orifice; and a flexible link which couples together said main body and said dispensing head. 2. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is supported by the dispenser. 3. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is for attachment to the cutaneous target. 4. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive applicator patch for application to skin, wherein the adhesive applicator patch provides at least a portion of the cutaneous target. 5. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator which indicates a degree of depletion of the bioactive composition in the dispenser. 6. An applicator according to claim 5, wherein said indicator comprises an indicator light. 7. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a display which displays information about said composition. 8. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising an interface which receives a memory storage device containing dosage information concerning administration of said composition. 9. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a keypad input which receives dosage information concerning administration of said composition. 10. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising: a display which displays information about said composition, including various dosages; and a keypad input including scroll keys which when activated cause the display to selectively show said various dosages. 11. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a controller which is programmable. 12. An applicator according to claim 11, wherein said controller is programmable from a remote computer in communication with said controller. 13. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said flexible link is hollow and contains a fluid conduit which fluidically couples said container to said orifice. 14. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a main body which supports said container and said orifice. 15. An applicator according to claim 14, wherein said container is removable from the main body. 16. An applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a dermal patch configured to be interposed between said orifice and skin, wherein the dermal patch provides said target. 17. An applicator according to claim 16, wherein the dermal patch is of an absorbent material which receives said delivery of said composition. 18. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein: the container comprises plural containers; the jet dispenser comprises plural orifices, each orifice being fluidically coupled to a respective container. 19. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a pair of spacer bars flanking the orifice on generally opposing sides of a path that the bioactive composition travels from the orifice to the cutaneous target. 20. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target, wherein the spacer comprises a continuous elastomeric seal that selectively substantially seals the dispenser against the target to form a substantially closed chamber when the dispenser is in contact with the target. 21. An applicator according to claim 20, wherein the applicator is an applicator for transdermal delivery of a bioactive composition capable of transdermal flux. 22. An applicator according to claim 20, further comprising a bioactive composition in the container. 23. An applicator according to claim 22, wherein the bioactive composition is a pharmaceutical composition. 24. An applicator according to claim 23, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is capable of transdermal delivery. 25. An applicator according to claim 20, further comprising a controller which automatically ejects the bioactive composition from the dispenser orifice at selected times. 26. An applicator according to claim 25, wherein the controller is a microprocessor programmed to dispense the bioactive composition at predetermined intervals. 27. An applicator according to claim 20, further comprising an attachment member for selectively retaining the dispenser in prolonged contact with the cutaneous target. 28. An applicator according to claim 27, wherein the attachment member comprises a strap. 29. An applicator according to claim 27, wherein the attachment member comprises an adhesive. 30. An applicator according to claim 20, further including a reservoir containing said bioactive composition and a fluid conduit to convey the bioactive composition from the reservoir to the jet dispenser. 31. An applicator according to claim 30, wherein said fluid conduit comprises tubing. 32. An applicator according to claim 30, wherein said reservoir comprises a collapsible bladder. 33. An applicator according to claim 20, wherein the jet dispenser comprises plural orifices, each fluidically coupled to the container. 34. An applicator according to claim 20, wherein the cutaneous target faces the dispenser orifice during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target. 35. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough, wherein the container comprises multiple container modules, and at least two of the container modules contain different bioactive substances that combine after ejection to produce a bioactive effect; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target. 36. An applicator according to claim 35, wherein the multiple container modules are removable from the dispenser. 37. An applicator according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the container modules contains bioactive agent in powder form. 38. An applicator according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the bioactive substances is a penetration enhancer that improves cutaneous penetration of another bioactive substance. 39. An applicator according to claim 38, wherein the penetration enhancer is dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). 40. An applicator according to claim 35, wherein the bioactive composition is a nitrate, an anti-hypertensive drug, an analgesic, a hormone or an analogue thereof, or nicotine or an analogue thereof. 41. An applicator according to claim 40, wherein the anti-hypertensive drug is clonidine or minoxidil, the analgesic is fentanyl, or the hormone is estrogen or testosterone. 42. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for election therethrough; a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the tarciet during ejection of the bioactive composltion to the target; a bio-sensor which monitors a parameter of a subject and generates a signal in response thereto, wherein the bio-sensor comprises a pulse oximetry device; and a controller which automatically dispenses the bioactive composition from the dispenser orifice in response to said signal. 43. An applicator according to claim 42 wherein said parameter comprises pulse rate. 44. An applicator according to claim 42 wherein said parameter comprises blood oxygenation levels. 45. An applicator according to claim 42 wherein said bio-sensor communicates said signal to the controller by infrared communication. 46. An applicator according to claim 42 wherein said bio-sensor communicates said signal to the controller by radiowave communication. 47. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target; an optical sensor; and a controller in communication with said sensor; wherein said target changes color following delivery of the bioactive composition, and said optical sensor detects said color change and in response thereto, the controller ceases ejection of said composition. 48. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target; an optical sensor; and a controller in communication with said sensor; wherein said target changes color following absorption of the bioactive composition, and said optical sensor detects said color change and in response thereto, the controller causes said orifice to eject said composition. 49. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target an optical sensor; and a controller in communication with said sensor; wherein the container comprises two container modules each containing different bioactive substances, the target has indicia detectable by said optical sensor indicative of one of said different bioactive substances, and the controller causes said orifice to eject said one of said different bioactive substances. 50. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for ejection therethrough; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target; plural activation devices which may be manually triggered to elect said bioactive composition from the jet dispenser, each activation device bearing a label corresponding to an event, with different dosages of the bioactive composition being ejected from the jet dispenser according to which of the plural activation devices is triggered. 51. An applicator for cutaneous delivery of a bioactive composition to a cutaneous target, comprising: a jet dispenser comprising an orifice and a container which holds and delivers the bioactive composition to said orifice for election therethrough, wherein the jet dispenser contains plural bioactive compositions; and a spacer positioned to elevate the orifice above the cutaneous target such that an air gap is established that extends directly from the dispenser orifice to the cutaneous target, the bioactive composition traveling across the air gap between the dispenser orifice and the target during ejection of the bioactive composition to the target; and plural activation devices which may be manually triggered to eject said bioactive composition from the jet dispenser, with different bioactive compositions being ejected from the jet dispenser according to which of the plural activation devices is triggered.