Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A transdermal drug delivery system, which system comprises: (a) an impervious backing sheet; (b) the reservoir containing a transdermal drug delivery composition, which comprises: (i) a dermatologically-acceptable, semi-solid or solid base material, which base material is selected on application to the skin of the user to melt or liquefy and form a thin, liquid film and to occlude the skin of the user and to force hydration of the stratum corneum layer with water from the lower layers of the epidermis of the user in use; (ii) a plurality of solid polymeric microparticles generally uniformly dispersed and suspended in the base material in the reservoir, the microparticles having a particle size of less than about 1000 microns and containing an effective, therapeutic amount of a drug for transdermal delivery in a controlled release pattern, the active drug material for transdermal delivery and the base material being compatible to form a compatible transport relationship; and whereby, on application to the skin of a user the base material melts or liquefies to form a thin, liquid film on the skin of the user, while the drug is released at a controlled release rate from the suspended microparticles into the solid or semi-solid base material and through the liquid film directly into the skin of the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A transdermal drug delivery system, which system comprises: (a) an impervious backing sheet; (b) the reservoir containing a transdermal drug delivery composition, which comprises: (i) a dermatologically-acceptable, semi-solid or solid base material, which base material is selected on application to the skin of the user to melt or liquefy and form a thin, liquid film and to occlude the skin of the user and to force hydration of the stratum corneum layer with water from the lower layers of the epidermis of the user in use; (ii) a plurality of solid polymeric microparticles generally uniformly dispersed and suspended in the base material in the reservoir, the microparticles having a particle size of less than about 1000 microns and containing an effective, therapeutic amount of a drug for transdermal delivery in a controlled release pattern, the active drug material for transdermal delivery and the base material being compatible to form a compatible transport relationship; and whereby, on application to the skin of a user the base material melts or liquefies to form a thin, liquid film on the skin of the user, while the drug is released at a controlled release rate from the suspended microparticles into the solid or semi-solid base material and through the liquid film directly into the skin of the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base material melts and forms a liquid at about 34° C. to 37° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base material comprises a hydrophilic material and the drug to be delivered comprises a water soluble drug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base material comprises a hydrophobic material and the drug to be transdermally delivered comprises a hydrophobic drug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base material comprises a glycerol, water-containing, liquid-base material and wherein the drug to be transdermally delivered comprises a water soluble drug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base material comprises a hydrocarbon material and wherein the drug to be transdermally delivered comprises a hydrophobic drug soluble in the hydrocarbon base material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the active drug comprises a steroid hormone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The drug delivery system of claim 7 wherein the steroid hormone comprises norethindrone, norgestrel, estradiol, levonorgestrel and mestranol and combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base material comprises a mixture of a polyalkylene glycol and water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the base material comprises a mixture of polyethylene glycol and up to 20% by weight water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 which includes a means to seal the face of the reservoir prior to use; and means to secure the membrane face to the skin of the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the microparticle comprises a microparticle having a particle size of about 200 microns or less and wherein the active ingredient comprises a levonorgestrel or estradiol wherein the active drug is admixed with a lactide or glycolide polymer and wherein the microparticle has a wall composed of a lactide or glycolide polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the microparticles comprise a solid admixture of the drug and a biodegradable polymer and a thin outer layer of a biodegradable polymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
A composition for the accelerated transdermal controlled delivery of a drug to a user, which composition comprises: (a) a meltable semi-solid or solid base material, which, on application to the skin of the user, melts to form a thin liquid film and selected to occlude the skin of the user and to force hydration of the stratum corneum layer with water from the lower layers of the epidermis of the user in use; and (b) a plurality of solid polymeric microparticles generally uniformly dispersed and suspended in the base material, the microparticles having a particle size of less than about 1000 microns and containing an effective, therapeutic amount of a drug for transdermal delivery, the active drug material for transdermal delivery and the base material being compatible to form a compatible transport relationship; whereby, on application to the skin of a user of the transdermal drug composition the drug is released at a controlled rate from the suspended microparticles into the base material and into the skin of the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
170 words
A composition for the accelerated transdermal controlled delivery of a drug to a user, which composition comprises: (a) a meltable semi-solid or solid base material, which, on application to the skin of the user, melts to form a thin liquid film and selected to occlude the skin of the user and to force hydration of the stratum corneum layer with water from the lower layers of the epidermis of the user in use; and (b) a plurality of solid polymeric microparticles generally uniformly dispersed and suspended in the base material, the microparticles having a particle size of less than about 1000 microns and containing an effective, therapeutic amount of a drug for transdermal delivery, the active drug material for transdermal delivery and the base material being compatible to form a compatible transport relationship; whereby, on application to the skin of a user of the transdermal drug composition the drug is released at a controlled rate from the suspended microparticles into the base material and into the skin of the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the base material melts and forms a liquid of about 34° C. to 37° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the base material comprises a glycerol, water-containing, liquid base material and wherein the drug to transdermally delivered comprises a water soluble drug.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the base material comprises a hydrocarbon material and wherein the drug to be transdermally delivered comprises a hydrophobic drug soluble in the hydrocarbon base material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the active drug comprises a steroid hormone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition of claim 18 wherein the steroid hormone comprises norethindrone, norgestrel, estradiol, levonorgestrel and mestranol and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the base material comprises a mixture of a polyalkylene glycol and water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the base material comprises a mixture of polyethylene glycol and up to 20% by weight water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the microparticle comprises a microparticle having a particle size of about 200 microns or less, wherein the active ingredient comprises a levonorgestel or estradiol wherein the active drug is admixed with a lactide or glycolide polymer and wherein the microparticle has a wall composed of a lactide or glycolide polymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 14 wherein the microparticles comprise a solid admixture of the drug and a biodegradable polymer and a thin outer layer of a biodegradable polymer.