Patent ID: 6064908
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
Iontophoresis device, for transcutaneous administration of an active principle to a subject, comprising (a) a first electrode assembly, called the donor electrode assembly, consisting of a first electrode called the active electrode, a primary reservoir element designed to contain a primary electrolyte medium containing the active principle in an at least partially ionized form or in a neutral form in order to ensure, when it is placed in contact with an area of the subject's skin, ionically conducting continuity between the said first electrode and the said area, and a membrane made of polymer material in contact, via one face, with the first electrode and, via another face, with the primary reservoir element, the said membrane being selectively permeable to ions and molecules of sizes smaller than a chosen threshold, (b) a second electrode assembly consisting either (i) of a second electrode, called the back electrode, or preferably (ii) of a second electrode of this type in contact with a reservoir element, called the back electrode, designed to contain at least one electrolyte medium and to ensure, when it is placed in contact with a portion of the subject's skin, ionically conducting continuity between the second electrode and the said portion and (c) an electric signal generator which can be connected to each of the said first and second electrodes in such a way that the first electrode has the same polarity as the ions of the active principle or a positive polarity if the said active principle is neutral and that the second electrode has a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode, wherein in the said device the polymer material constituting the selectively permeable membrane consists of at least one polyether block amide formed by identical or different units corresponding to the formula ##STR6## in which A is a polyamide sequence derived, by losing its COOH groups, from a dicarboxylic polyamide having a COOH group at each of the ends of its chain, and B is a polyoxyalkylene sequence derived, by losing two hydroxyl groups, from a polyoxyalkylene glycol whose chain is formed by oxyalkylene units having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and has an OH group at each of its ends, the said polyether block amide having a number-average molecular mass of between 10,000 and 300,000 and containing a proportion by weight of polyamide sequences A of between 35% and 90%.