Patent ID: 7276246

Claim:
A transmucosal delivery device for delivering a drug or other active agent through a mucosal membrane while confining the drug or other active agent within a defined area during delivery, the delivery device comprising: an active layer comprising at least one drug or other active agent and having an outer perimeter; a water-dissolvable backing layer comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer, said backing layer extending over said active layer and beyond said outer perimeter of said active layer in order for an overlapping portion of the backing layer to circumscribe said active layer; and an adhesive layer adjacent to said backing layer comprising at least one mucoadhesive adapted to adhere to a mucosal surface, at least a portion of said adhesive layer extending beyond said outer perimeter of said active layer and being adapted to seal said overlapping portion of said backing layer against the mucosal surface; the backing layer being adapted to protect said adhesive layer from over-moistening when the transmucosal delivery device is placed against the mucosal surface so as to maintain a seal against the mucosal surface and confine the drug or other active agent within a defined area against the mucosal surface.