APPARATUS FOR THE ENDERMIC APPLICATION OF MEDICINES

Abstract: Disclosed is an endermic application kit for external medicines, which comprises a drug-containing layer (3) as provided near an ultrasonic oscillator (2). The kit includes a cylindrical fixed-type or portable-type and a flat regular-type or adhesive-type, and the adhesive-type may be flexible and elastic. The drug absorption is ensured by the action of the ultrasonic waves from the oscillator and the drug release can be controlled by varying the ultrasonic wave output from the oscillator.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for the endermic application of medicines, with which drugs can be administered into a human body through the skin thereof with high absorption efficiency by the utilization of the function of ultrasonic oscillation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Means for administration of medicines to human bodies for remedy and prevention of human diseases include a method of peroral or parenteral administration by the use of an injection, a pill, a capsule, a suppository, etc. and a method of endermic administration by the use of an ointment, a drug-containing adhesive plaster, etc. Among them, the endermic administration method has almost been disregarded up to the present except the direct application of external medicines, since the endermic absorption of a drug is extremely low. (This is especially because a skin physiologically has a biological barrier function against microorganisms, chemical substances, radioactive substances, heat, etc.) Recently, however, various external medicines for endermic application are being developed through recent progress of pharmaceutical technique. In the conventional drug-administration method by the use of peroral medicines, injections, suppositories, etc., in general, the drug concentration rapidly achieves its peak and then decreases with the lapse of time, and therefore, it is difficult to maintain a constant concentration of the drug in the blood. Even the most conventional peroral medicines have various difficult problems including the induction of gastroenteric disorders, the inactivation of the drug during the initial passage through liver after the absorption thereof from the intestine, the induction of hepatopathy, etc., and the drugs which may fully satisfy the conditions for use as a medicine are extremely limitative. In addition, the injection also has various difficult problems including the use of a needle, the induction of immunoreaction which would be caused by the direct injection of a foreign substance, etc. Furthermore, this may bring on shock or the like dangerous state, since the removal of the drug once injected into a body by injection is almost impossible. Under the circumstances, particular attention is recently being riveted to an endermic application method, which is free from the above-mentioned defects in the case of peroral or parenteral administration methods and which can maintain the relatively constant drug concentration in blood without any dangerous immunoreaction, and an ointment or a drug-containing adhesive plaster is used for the endermic application method. From the US-A-4309989 and the US-A-4372296 there are already known apparatuses for external treatment of body portions. In the endermic application method by the use of such ointment, drug-containing adhesive plaster or the like, the drug is required to be transferred from the skin to the capillary bed. Since the possibility of the passage of the drug through the corneal layer or keratin layer of epidermis depends upon the various properties of the drug, including the oil-solubility, the water-solubility, the drug concentration, the pH value, the molecular weight, etc., it was difficult to maintain the sufficient drug concentration in blood by the endermic administration method. In order to solve these difficult problems, a study on the base compositions for introducing the drug into the inside of the skin by means of chemical techniques has predominantly been carried out, which resulted in success of limited base compositions for only several kinds of medicines. This has been achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1. The present inventors earnestly studied so as to attain the possibility of facilitating the introduction of a drug into the inside of a skin by the utilization of a physical energy in such extent that would not traumatize the skin treated, so that the drug thus introduced can pass through the corneal layer or keratin layer of epidermis with high efficiency and that the drug concentration in blood can be sufficiently maintained, and as a result, have found that the application of a drug to the surface of a skin in the presence of an ultrasonic oscillation can lead to the remarkable introduction of the drug through the skin whereby the thus-introduced drug can be absorbed into the capillary bed to cause the elevation of the drug concentration in blood. On the basis of such an unexpected discovery, the present inventors have achieved the endermic application for external medicines of the present invention with high endermic availability. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an endermic application apparatus for external medicines, which is characterized by the provision of a drug-containing layer near an ultrasonic oscillator. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 (a) and (b) each show a cross-sectional view of an adhesive-type apparatus of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a graph to show the results of the absorption test No. 2 in which the endermic absorption of various drugs was tested in the presence of an ultrasonic oscillation. Fig. 3 is a graph to show the results of the absorption test in which the endermic absorption of a drug was tested by the use of the apparatus of the present invention. In Fig. 1, (2) is an ultrasonic oscillator,(3) a drug-containing layer, (5) an adhesive layer, (6) a protective film and (7) a terminal. In Fig. 2, (a) denotes the case of dipping in water only, (b) the case of dipping in water in the presence of an ultrasonic wave (5000 to 7000Pa), (c) the case of dipping in water in the presence of an ultrasonic wave (3000 to 5000Pa), (d) the case of dipping in 20U/ml of insulin, (e) the case of dipping in 20U/ml of insulin solution in the presence of an ultrasonic wave (3000 to 5000Pa), and (f) the case of dipping in 20 U/ml of insulin solution in the presence of an ultrasonic wave (5000 to 7000 Pa). In Fig. 3, (A) denotes the case of endermic application of an insulin gel in the presence of an ultrasonic wave (1750Pa), and (B) the case of endermic application of an insulin gel in the absence of the ultrasonic wave. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION By selecting type of ultrasonic oscillator devices and the electric sources, various endermic application kits can be adopted with the present invention, including fixed-type, portable-type, regular-type and adhesive-type kits, etc. The ultrasonic oscillator for use in the kits of the present invention is to be electrically insulated. One embodiment of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 1(a), where the drug-containing layer (3) is provided below the disc-like ceramic ultrasonic oscillator (2), with laminating the drug-permeable adhesive layer (5) below the said layer (3), and the whole is covered with a plastic cover. The oscillator (2) has the terminal (7) to be connected to an external oscillator device. In case the adhesive-type apparatus is required to be flexible or elastic, another embodiment is provided as shown in Fig. 1(b), in which the drug-containing layer (3) is provided on the flexible ultrasonic oscillator such as ultrasonic oscillator film (2), with laminating the drug-permeable adhesive layer (5) below the said film (2). The flexible ultrasonic oscillator (2) has the terminal (7) to be connected to an external oscillator device. For the formation of the apparatus of this type, an oscillator device can be applied to the conventional disc-type or tape-type drug-containing adhesive plaster which has generally been used in these days. Accordingly, the release rate of the drug from the apparatus can be controlled by the decrease or increase of the output energy of the ultrasonic oscillation and thus the drug concentration in the blood can freely be varied. The terminal (7) can be connected to a variable oscillator device with the possibility of the free control of the drug release rate and the drug concentration in blood, and said ultrasonic oscillator device can be connected to a battery or a general electric source, and thus, the drug-containing layer of the apparatus is applied to the skin while the ultrasonic oscillation is imparted thereto. The apparatus being thus constituted, is suitable for application to such diseases that require an exact adjustment of the drug concentration in blood. In addition, the apparatus or kit being flexible or elastic, the absorption of the drug from a fairly broad skin area is possible. A self-exciting system can also be adopted for these endermic application kits, in place of the use of the oscillator device. Various kinds of drugs which have heretofore been used for external application, such as for ointments or drug-containing adhesive plasters, can be used in the kits of the present invention, including various slow-release drugs such as scopolamine, nitroglycerin, indomethacin, ketoprophene, calpronium chloride, etc. In addition, other drugs which were difficult to use in the form of ointments or drug-containing adhesive plasters for endermic application in the past can be used in the kits of the present invention, including, for example, a high molecular insulin, various kinds of hormones, antibiotics, carcinostatics, depressors, etc. Accordingly, the continuous slow release of the said drugs is possible by the use of the kits of the present invention. Moreover, the kits of the present invention can suitably be used for administration of a hypertensor to serious and emergent state patients who are difficult to ensure the blood vessel. The administration of drugs by the use of the kits of the present invention is an endermic application by a physical technique and is therefore free from the problems in the endermic application by a chemical technique which would be limited because of the solubility and size of the molecules of the drug to be administered. Accordingly, the utility value of the kits of the present invention is extremely high. As mentioned above, in the use of the kit of the present invention, the drug can be applied to the skin while an ultrasonic oscillation is applied thereto, and therefore, the introduction of the drug into the skin is good and the endermic administration of the drug through the skin can be carried out with extremely high efficiency. In addition, the control of the drug concentration in blood can rapidly be carried out by the control of the release rate of the drug from the kit. Two experiments No. 1 and No. 2 were carried out, where the endermic absorption of various drugs was tested in the presence of an ultrasonic oscillation. The results are shown hereinafter. Experiment No. 1 : Experiment with calpronium chloride solution (MTB) for observation of the permeation-accelerating effect by ultrasonic oscillation to drug which is known to be adequate for endermic application: Hairless mice were used as experiment animals. They were dipped in 0.5%, 1% or 2% MTB solution, whereupon no mice died even when dipped in the highest 2% solution for an unlimited long period of time. However, when the mice were dipped in the same MTB solution with the application of an ultrasonic oscillation of 48kHz and 2000Pa (Pa means Pascal unit) thereto, they died in 160 minutes in the 0.5% solution, in 39 minutes in the 1% solution, and in 15 minutes in the 2% solution. The results indicate the extreme reduction of the survival time in proportion to the increase of the concentration of the solution. In addition, when the ultrasonic oscillation was intensified three times up to 6000Pa, the time to death was further reduced such that the mice died in 19 minutes when dipped in the 0.5% solution, in 11.5 minutes in the 1% solution, and in 7.6 minutes in the 2% solution. Accordingly, the results further indicate the acceleration of the endermic absorption of the drug with the increase of the output power of the ultrasonic waves. Experiment No. 2 : Effect by the application of ultrasonic oscillation to drug which is known to be quite difficult in absorption from skin by endermic administration: Hairless mice were used like the above-mentioned Experiment No. 1 and the endermic application of insulin to the same mice was tried. The determination of the insulin absorption effect was carried out by the use of a dextrometer and the tail venous blood was measured for the determination. The mice were dipped in a 20U/ml aqueous-insulin solution (novoactorapit MC) for 5 minutes while an ultrasonic oscillation was imparted thereto. After taken out from the solution, the state of the decrease of the blood sugar value of the thus dipped mice was observed for 240 minutes so as to evaluate the insulin effect by the endermic application of the insulin solution for 5 minutes. As control, mice were dipped in the 20U/ml aqueous-insulin solution for 5 minutes in the absence of the ultrasonic oscillation, or mice were dipped in an insulin-free water in the presence of an ultrasonic oscillation for 5 minutes. These control mice were also observed, after taken out from the solution, in the same manner as above, to obtain the blood sugar value variation up to 240 minutes. The results obtained are shown in Fig. 2. The blood sugar variation curve obtained by the 5 minutes endermic absorption of the 20U/ml insulin solution in the presence of the 3000 to 5000Pa and 48kHz ultrasonic oscillation was almost the same as that obtained by the intradermal injection of the same insulin solution in an amount of 4U/kg. The blood sugar values in Fig. 2 are shown by the term of the percentage on the basis of the 100 percentage of the value just before the experiment. In this experiment, mice which had been fasting for 8 hours were used, and these were fed after 16 hours. Accordingly, the blood sugar value of the tested mice after 24 hours was higher than at the time of the beginning of the experiment. Experiment No. 3 : Experiment with antibiotics ABPC ointment (ampicillin phthalidyle HCl ointment) 2g of antibiotics ABPC (10%) ointment was applied to the shaved portion of rabbits which had been shaved on their backs (7×7cm) with an electric shaver. They were treated by an ultrasonic oscillation (100kHz, 5000Pa) in 20 minutes after the application. Then, after 20 minutes without the ultrasonic oscillation, the second treatment by the ultrasonic oscillation for 20 minutes followed and the ointment was then removed. Afterwards, the blood of the rabbits was gathered in 0 minute, 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes and 24 hours intervals, and the concentration (µg/ml) of ABPC in the blood was evaluated. Furthermore, using the same animals to which only ABPC applied without the treatment by the ultrasonic oscillation, the concentration of ABPC in the blood of the experimented animals (untreated) was evaluated. The results are shown in the following table 1. As apparent from the results shown above, with the treatment by the ultrasonic oscillation, the concentration in the blood peaked 40 minutes after the application; the amount of absorption was four times greater than those untreated by comparison. Experiment No. 4 : Experiment with ethyl loflazepate (EL) ointment tranquilizer belonging to benzo diagepine group (1) The five rats were employed in this experiment had their backs shaved with an electric shaver. 0.3g of EL (5%) ointment (100mg/kg approximately) was applied to the shaved portion of the back of each rat. Each rat was treated as follows: A. After application of the ointment and the ultrasonic oscillation treatment for 10 minutes, the blood was gathered in one hour. B. After application of the ointment and the ultrasonic oscillation treatment for 20 minutes, the blood was gathered in one hour. C. After application of the ointment and without the ultrasonic oscillation treatment, the blood was gathered in three hours. D. After application of the ointment without the ultrasonic oscillation treatment, the blood was gathered in one hour. Metabolic concentration of EL in serums in the gathered blood of the rats was evaluated. The ultrasonic oscillation treatment was carried out in 100kHg, 2000Pa with the ceramic oscillator (diameter: 20mm) on the ointment. The results are shown in Table 2. Samples Metabolic concentration of EL in serums (ng/ml) A 18.8 B 28.2 C 3.0 D 1.0 As apparent from the results shown above, with the treatment by the ultrasonic oscillation, the amount of absorption was eighteen times greater than those untreated when treated for 10 minutes and twenty-eight times greater when for 20 minutes. Experiment No. 5 : Experiment with EL ointment (2) 2g of EL ointment was applied to inner sides of the rabbits' ears. They were treated by the ultrasonic oscillation (100kHz, 6000Pa) in 10 minutes after the application. Then, after 10 minutes without the ultrasonic oscillation, the second treatment by the ultrasonic oscillation for 10 minutes followed and the ointment was then removed. Afterwards, the blood of the rabbits was gathered from the other side of the respective ear in 105 minutes and 265 minutes intervals, and the metabolic concentration of EL in the blood was evaluated. Furthermore, as contrast, using the same animals from which the ointment was removed 30 minutes after application without the treatment by the ultrasonic oscillation, the concentration of EL in the blood of the experimented animals (untreated) was evaluated in 120 minutes and 290 minutes intervals. The results are shown in the following table 3. treated by the ultrasonic oscillation untreated time (minute) concentraiton in the blood (ng/ml) time (minute) concentraiton in the blood (ng/ml) 105 662.6 120 11.9 265 100.7 290 28.7 As apparent from the results shown above, the sufficient concentration of EL was evaluated such as 662.6ng/ml with the treatment by ultrasonic oscillation although little amount of concentration such as 28.7ng/ml in the absence of the treatment. As mentioned above, it is apparent that the absorption of the drug into blood is improved when the endermic application of the drug is carried out in the presence of an ultrasonic oscillation. The following examples are intended to illustrate the present invention but not to limit it in any way. EXAMPLE 1 (a) As shown in Fig. 1(a), this is an adhesive-type endermic application kit for external medicines. The drug-containing layer (3) is arranged below the disc-like ceramic oscillator (2) having the terminal (7), and the drug-permeable adhesive layer (5) is laminated below the said layer (3), and the whole is covered with the protective film (6). The terminal (7) of this kit is connected to a variable ultrasonic oscillator device to be connected to a general electric source in use. (b) As shown in Fig. 1(b), this is an adhesive-type endermic application kit for external medicines. The drug-containing layer (3) is arranged on the flexible ultrasonic oscillator film (polyvinylidene fluoride film) (2) which has a number of pores, the terminal (7) being arranged at one side of the film, and the surface of the said layer (3) is covered with the protective film (6). In addition, the drug-permeable adhesive layer (5) is laminated below the said flexible ultrasonic oscillation film (2). The terminal (7) of this kit is connected to a variable ultrasonic oscillator device to be connected to a general electric source in use. Next, one experimental example to show the endermic absorption effect of the drug by the use of the kit of the present invention is described hereinafter. Experimental Example : Novoactorapit MC (40U/ml purified neutral porcin insulin injection) was gelled with sodium polyacrylate, and the resulting gel was incorporated into the drug layer (3) of the kit of Fig. 1(a). The kit was applied to a Wistar rat at the groin (diameter: 15mm) for 10 minutes, while an ultrasonic wave (1750Pa, 20kHz) was applied thereto for 5 minutes. Afterwards, the kit was removed and the variation of the blood sugar value of the tested rat was observed. As a control, the kit was applied to a control rat in the same manner for 120 minutes without the application of the ultrasonic wave thereto, and the variation of the blood sugar value was also observed. The results obtained are shown in Fig. 3. The results apparently prove that in the case of the application of the kit of the present invention in the presence of the ultrasonic oscillation only for 5 minutes, the 25 % blood sugar value depression lasted 120 minutes, and afterwards, the value gradually recovered to the original value in 180 minutes. On the contrary, in the case of the application of the same kit in the absence of the ultrasonic oscillation, the blood sugar value increased after having once somewhat decreased. The effect of the present invention can be summarized as follows: According to the endermic application kits of the present invention, the drug as incorporated in the kit can surely be absorbed into the capillary bed through the surface of the skin, while the drug-release rate from the kit can be controlled by the control of the variation of the ultrasonic wave output from the kit. The endermic application kits of the present invention, which are characterized by such novel drug-delivery system, are advantageous for practical use.

Claims: An apparatus for the endermic application of medicines having an ultrasonic oscillator (2), characterized in that the ultrasonic oscillator (2) is provided with a terminal (7) at one end and is adapted to be connected to an oscillator device; in that a drug-containing layer (3) is provided on a drug-permeable adhesive layer (5) adjacent said ultrasonic oscillator (2); and in that a container is provided in which said ultrasonic oscillator (2) and said drug-containing layer (3) are enclosed, said drug-permeable adhesive layer (5) being arranged for applying the drug contained in said drug-containing layer (3) to the skin of a patient. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drug-containing layer is arranged at the bottom end of the container. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is a fixed-type. An apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, which is a portable-type. An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, in which said container is a substantially flat container. An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, in which the drug-containing layer (3) is provided below a disc-like ceramic ultrasonic oscillator and said drug-permeable adhesive layer (5) is laminated on said drug-containing layer (3), the whole being covered with a protective cover to form an adhesive kit. An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, in which said drug-containing layer (3) is provided below a flexible ultrasonic oscillator, the whole being covered with a protective cover to form a flexible adhesive kit. An apparatus according to claim 7, in which the flexible ultrasonic oscillator is a porous ultrasonic oscillator film.

Inventors: SHIBATA, UICHI, TACHIBANA, SHUNRO
Applicants: MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA LTD., TACHIBANA, SHUNRO
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61M35
IPC codes: A61M37