Details for Patent: 6,090,095
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Title: | Electrotransport delivery device |
Abstract: | An electrotransport delivery device (410) includes control circuitry for discontinuously delivering a beneficial agent (eg, a drug) through a body surface (eg, skin 400). For example, the device may be the type which is manually activated by the patient or other medical personnel to activate electrotransport drug delivery. Once electrotransport delivery has been activated, a timer (221) counts a transition interval, typically about one minute, during which the device is allowed to operate and the impedance of the body surface (400) is allowed to stabilize. Thereafter, the electrotransport current and voltage are then monitored and compared to predetermined limits. Allowing for the transition interval permits tighter tolerances in monitoring the applied current. |
Inventor(s): | McNichols; Larry A. (Coon Rapids, MN), Badzinski; John D. (Coon Rapids, MN), Haak; Ronald P. (Menlo Park, CA) |
Assignee: | ALZA Corporation (Mountain View, CA) |
Filing Date: | Jun 24, 1997 |
Application Number: | 08/881,529 |
Claims: | 1. A method of controlling operation of a device for delivering an agent through a body surface of a patient by electrotransport, the device including a pair of electrodes for contacting the body surface, at least one of the electrodes containing the agent to be delivered, a source of electrical power, and a drive circuit for applying electrotransport current to the electrodes, the method comprising: activating the drive circuit to initiate delivery of the electrotransport current; monitoring the operation of the drive circuit after a transition time period, said transition time period starting with the initiation of delivery and said monitoring delayed until the end of the transition period; and deactivating the drive circuit only if the monitoring determines that the drive circuit is operating outside a predetermined operating limit after said transition period. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes monitoring output electrotransport current and deactivating delivery if the current is below a predetermined value after said transition time period. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes monitoring output voltage and deactivating said delivery if the voltage is below a predetermined value after said transition time period. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes monitoring output electrotransport current and deactivating said delivery if the current is greater than a predetermined value after said transition time period. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes monitoring output voltage and deactivating said delivery if the voltage is above a predetermined value after said transition time period. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive circuit delivers electrotransport current to the electrodes in a discontinuous manner. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive circuit, when activated, applies electrotransport current to the electrodes for a predetermined delivery interval. 8. The method of claim 7 further including preventing the initiation of a delivery of electrotransport current during a lockout interval following the delivery interval. 9. The method of claim 1 including manually activating the drive circuit. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the body surface is human skin and the transition time period is at least about 40 to 60 seconds. |