Patent ID: 7438203

Claim:
An apparatus for appying a metered dose of a non-occlusive percutaneous or non-occlusive transdermal drug delivery system comprising a physiologically active agent or prodrug thereof to a dermal surface of an animal, comprising: (A) a container, (B) a metered dose applicator selected from the group consisting of a metered dose aerosol, a stored energy metered dose pump, and a manual metered dose pump, wherein said container contains (C) a non-occlusive percutaneous or non-occlusive transdermal drug delivery system that comprises: (1) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one physiologically active agent or prodrug thereof and at least one dermal penetration enhancer, which is present in an amount of from 10 to 10,000 wt % based on the weight of the active agent or prodrug thereof; and (2) at least one volatile liquid present in an amount to act as a vehicle for the active agent and penetration enhancer, wherein the dermal penetration enhancer (i) is adapted to transport the physiologically active agent across a dermal surface of an animal, when the volatile liquid evaporates, to form a reservoir or depot of a mixture comprising the penetration enhancer and the physiologically active agent within said surface and (ii) is of low toxicity to and is tolerated by the dermal surface of the animal, and wherein, after application of the system to an area of the dermal surface, the area becomes touch-dry within three minutes of application, and wherein the physiologically active agent is a hormone for contraception or hormone replacement therapy.