Details for Patent: 6,245,347

Title:	Methods and apparatus for improved administration of pharmaceutically active compounds
Abstract:	Methods and apparatus for improving administration of drugs through the use of heat and other physical means. The present invention relates to the use of heat and other physical means in conjunction with specially designed dermal drug delivery systems, conventional commercial dermal drug delivery systems, or drugs delivered into a sub-skin depot site via injection and other methods to alter, mainly increase, the drug release rate from the dermal drug delivery systems or the depot sites to accommodate certain clinical needs.
Inventor(s):	Zhang; Jie (Salt Lake City, UT), Zhang; Hao (Salt Lake City, UT)
Assignee:	Zars, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT)
Filing Date:	Sep 29, 1998
Application Number:	09/162,890
Claims:	1. A method of controlling the rate of absorption of a drug in a target area of a human body comprising: initiating the transdermal administration of a drug to a portion of the body; activating a controlled temperature modification apparatus proximate the drug being administered by exposing to oxygen an oxygen-activated exothermic medium disposed within the controlled temperature modification apparatus; and varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium is exposed to vary a rate of reaction of the exothermic medium and thereby adjusting the temperature of said target area of the body with said controlled temperature modification apparatus. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said target area of the body comprises a systemic bloodstream. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said target area of the body comprises an area of the body which can be reached by a systemic bloodstream of the body. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said target area of the body comprises the brain of the body. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said target area of the body comprises a body tissue region proximate a location of said administering of said drug. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said administration of said drug to said portion of the body includes applying said drug transdermally. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said applying said drug transdermally is effectuated by applying a dermal drug delivery system to the skin of said portion of the body. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said applying said controlled temperature modification apparatus proximate said administered drug comprises applying said controlled temperature modification apparatus to said dermal drug delivery system. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said administration of said drug to said portion of the body includes depositing said drug into the skin of the body. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said depositing said drug into the skin of the body comprises a delivery method selected from the group consisting of: injection, implantation, iontophoresis, electroportion, hitting said drug into portion of said patient's body with supersonic speed, ultrasound assist transdermal permeation, and embedding said drug. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said depositing said drug into the skin of the body comprises depositing a sustained release drug into the skin of the body. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said depositing said sustained release drug into the skin of the body comprises depositing said drug incorporated in a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is a polymer of lactic and glycolic acid. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(DL-lactide), poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(DL-lactide-co-.epsilon.-caprolactone), polycaprolactone, and combinations thereof. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said administration of said drug to said portion of the body includes depositing said drug into tissues under the skin of the body. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said depositing said drug into tissues under the skin of the body comprises a delivery method selected from the group consisting of: injection, implantation, iontophoresis, electroportion, hitting said drug into portion of said patient's body with supersonic speed, ultrasound assist transdermal permeation, and embedding said drug. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein said depositing said drug into tissues under the skin of the body comprises depositing a sustained release drug into tissues under the skin of the body. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said depositing said sustained release drug under the skin of the body comprises depositing said drug incorporated in a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is a polymer of lactic and glycolic acid. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(DL-lactide), poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(DL-lactide-co-.epsilon.-caprolactone), polycaprolactone, and combinations thereof. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said administration of said drug to said portion of said patient's body includes depositing said drug intramuscularly. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said depositing said drug intramuscularly comprises a delivery method selected from the group consisting of: injection and implantation. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein said depositing said drug intramuscularly comprises depositing a sustained release drug intramuscularly. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein depositing said sustained release drug intramuscularly comprises depositing said drug incorporated in a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is a polymer of lactic and glycolic acid. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(DL-lactide), poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(DL-lactide-co-.epsilon.-caprolactone), polycaprolactone, and combinations thereof. 27. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusting the temperature of skin proximate said portion of the body with said controlled temperature modification apparatus comprises heating said skin proximate said portion of the body. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said heating said skin proximate said portion of the body includes heating said skin up to a temperature of about 60.degree. C. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said heating said skin proximate said portion of the body includes heating said skin to a temperature of between about 36 and 46.degree. C. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said heating said skin proximate said portion of the body includes heating said skin to a temperature of between about 37 and 44.degree. C. 31. The method of claim 27, wherein said heating said portion of the body effectuates an increase in concentration of said drug in said target area of the body through increasing skin permeability for said drug being applied transdermally. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein applying said drug transdermally is effectuated by applying a dermal drug delivery system to the skin of said portion of the body. 33. The method of claim 27, wherein said heating said portion of the body is effectuated by applying said controlled temperature modification apparatus to a dermal drug system, including a rate limiting membrane, which is applied to the skin of said portion of the body; and wherein said heating said portion of the body effectuates an increase in concentration of said drug in said target area of the body by heating said rate limiting membrane which increases the permeability of said drug through said rate limiting membrane. 34. The method of claim 27, wherein said heating said portion of the body effectuates an increase in concentration of said drug in said target area of the body through increasing the permeability of blood vessel walls in sub-skin tissues. 35. The method of claim 27, wherein said heating said portion of the body effectuates an increase in concentration of said drug in said target area of the body through increasing the solubility of said drug in a formulation containing said drug. 36. The method of claim 27, wherein said heating said portion of the body effectuates an increase in concentration of said drug in said target area through increasing circulation of body fluid in tissues proximate said drug. 37. The method of claim 1, wherein said applying said controlled temperature modification apparatus proximate said administered drug comprises applying said controlled temperature modification apparatus proximate said administered drug when a clinical need for adjustment of said concentration of said drug in said target area is detected. 38. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusting said temperature of said portion of the body with said controlled temperature modification apparatus to achieve a desired concentration of said drug in said target area comprises adjusting said temperature of said portion of the body with said controlled temperature modification apparatus proximate said administered drug when a clinical need for adjustment of said concentration of said drug in said target area is detected to achieve a desired concentration of said drug in said target area. 39. The method of claim 1, further including removing said controlled temperature modification apparatus when said desired concentration of said drug in said target area is achieved. 40. The method of claim 1, further including discontinuing said adjustment of said temperature of said portion of the body with said controlled temperature modification apparatus when said desired concentration of said drug in said target area is achieved. 41. A method of controlling the rate of absorption of a drug in a target area of a human body comprising: initiating the transdermal administration of a drug to a portion of the body activating an apparatus capable of generating heat by exposing oxygen-activated exothermic medium disposed within the apparatus to oxygen proximate said drug being administered; and varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed to vary a rate of reaction of the exothermic medium thereby heating skin proximate said portion of the body to a temperature of between about 38 and 45.degree. C. with said apparatus to achieve a desired concentration of said drug in said target area. 42. A method of adjusting the concentration of insulin in a human body comprising: injecting insulin in a sustained release form into a portion of said human body; applying a temperature modification apparatus proximate said injected, sustained release insulin prior to the intake of food; and increasing the temperature of skin proximate said portion of said human body with said temperature modification apparatus by exposing oxygen-activated exothermic medium disposed within the apparatus to oxygen and varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed to oxygen and rate of reaction of the exothermic medium to achieve a desired increased concentration of said insulin in said human body. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein said adjusting said temperature of said portion of said human body is effected for a duration of time between about 5 minutes and 3 hours. 44. The method of claim 42, wherein said adjusting said temperature of said portion of said human body is effected for a duration of time between about 15 minutes and 2 hours. 45. The method of claim 42, wherein said insulin in said sustained release form is said insulin in a crystalline form. 46. The method of claim 42, wherein said sustained release insulin comprises said insulin incorporated in a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is a polymer of lactic and glycolic acid. 48. The method of claim 46, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid. 49. The method of claim 46, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(DL-lactide), poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(DL-lactide-co-.epsilon.-caprolactone), polycaprolactone, and combinations thereof. 50. A method of adjusting the concentration of testosterone in a human body comprising: administering testosterone in a sustained release formulation into a portion of said human body within about 3 centimeters from a skin surface; applying a temperature modification apparatus proximate said injected, sustained release testosterone; and increasing the temperature of skin proximate said portion of said human body with said temperature modification apparatus by exposing oxygen-activated exothermic medium disposed within the apparatus to oxygen and varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed to vary a rate of reaction of the exothermic medium to achieve a desired increased concentration of said testosterone in said human body. 51. The method of claim 50, wherein said applying a temperature modification apparatus proximate said injected, sustained release testosterone formulation comprises applying a temperature modification apparatus proximate said injected, sustained release testosterone each morning to mimic natural circadian pattern concentrations of testosterone. 52. The method of claim 50, wherein said applying a temperature modification apparatus proximate said injected, sustained release testosterone formulation is effected for a duration of time between about 2 hours and 14 hours. 53. The method of claim 52, wherein said applying a temperature modification apparatus proximate said injected, sustained release testosterone formulation is effected for a duration of time between about 4 hours and 10 hours. 54. The method of claim 50, wherein said sustained release formulation is selection form the group of formulations consisting of testosterone enanthate, testosterone cypionate, testosterone incorporated into a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer, and a testosterone ester incorporated into a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer. 55. The method of claim 54, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is a polymer of lactic and glycolic acid. 56. The method of claim 54, wherein said biodegradable, biocompatible polymer is a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid. 57. A method of controlling the rate of absorption of a drug in a target area of the human body comprising: initiating the transdermal administration of a drug to a portion of the body activating a controlled temperature apparatus capable of generating heat by exposing oxygen-activated exothermic medium disposed within the apparatus to oxygen and varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium is exposed to vary a rate of reaction of the exothermic medium and thereby adjusting the temperature the portion of the body proximate said drug being administered to provide a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time. 58. The method of claim 57, further comprising titrating the amount of drug delivered by varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed. 59. The method of claim 57, further comprising titrating the rate of delivery by varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed. 60. The method of claim 57, wherein said exothermic medium are exposed to oxygen through a membrane having limited permeability to oxygen. 61. The method of claim 57, wherein said exothermic medium are exposed to oxygen through selectively uncoverable holes in air impermeable membrane. 62. The method of claim 57, wherein said exothermic medium are exposed to oxygen through a selectively uncoverable air permeable membrane. 63. A method of controlling the rate of absorption of a drug in a target area of a human body comprising: initiating the transdermal administration of a drug to a portion of the body; activating a controlled temperature modification apparatus proximate the drug being administered to a provide steady rate of drug delivery by exposing oxygen-activated exothermic medium disposed within the controlled temperature modification apparatus to oxygen; and increasing the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed to increase a rate of reaction of the exothermic medium and thereby increase the temperature of said portion of the body with said controlled temperature modification apparatus to provide a therapeutic dose of said drug to treat a breakthrough pain episode. 64. The method of claim 63, further comprising titrating the amount of drug delivered by varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed. 65. The method of claim 63, further comprising titrating the rate of drug delivery by varying the amount of oxygen to which the exothermic medium are exposed. 66. The method of claim 63, wherein said exothermic medium are exposed to oxygen through a membrane having limited permeability to oxygen. 67. The method of claim 63, wherein said exothermic medium are exposed to oxygen through selectively uncoverable holes in air impermeable membrane. 68. The method of claim 63, wherein said exothermic medium are exposed to oxygen through a selectively uncoverable air permeable membrane.