IE83316B1 - Device for reducing sensation during iontophoretic drug delivery - Google Patents

Abstract

abstract of their paper presented to the Controlled Release Society Meeting of August. 1989 describe the effect of "extraneous" ions, that is, ions having the same charge of the drug to be delivered, on the delivery of hydromorphone. The presence of extraneous ions may reduce the efficiency of drug delivery from an iontophoretic delivery device since the extraneous ions compete with the drug ions for carrying current into the body. Phipps et al. accordingly teach the desirability of minimizing the amount of extraneous ions available to compete with the species or agents to be delivered. Extraneous ions whose effect was described in the Phipps et al. paper include lithium, calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium. Phipps et al. make no mention of stinging or other skin sensationlsl, encountered in the delivery of the desired or extraneous ions.

Description

DEVICE FOR REDUCING SENSATION DURING IONTOPHORETIC DRUG DELIVERY Technical Field The present invention generally concerns devices for the electrically assisted administration or delivery of therapeutic agents or species. Yet more specifically, this invention relates to electrically assisted devices for delivering agents or drugs with reduction or elimination of skin sensation.

Background of the Invention The present invention concerns devices for transdermal delivery or transport of therapeutic agents, typically through iontophoresis.

Herein the terms "iontophoresis" and "iontophoretic" are used to refer to methods and apparatus for transdermal delivery of IS therapeutic agents, whether charged or uncharged, by means of an applied electromotive force to an agent-containing reservoir. The particular therapeutic agent to be delivered may be completely charged (i.e., 100% ionized), completely uncharged, or partly charged and partly uncharged. The therapeutic agent or species may be delivered by electromigration, electroosmosis or a combination of the two. Electroosmosis has also been referred to as electrohydrokinesis, electro-convection, and electrically-induced osmosis. In general, electroosmosis of a therapeutic species into a tissue results from the migration of solvent, in which the species is contained, as a result of the application of electromotive force to the therapeutic species reservoir.

As used herein, the terms "iontophoresis" and "iontophoretic" refer to (1) the delivery of charged drugs or agents by electromigration, (2) the delivery of uncharged drugs or agents by so the process of electroosmosis, (3) the delivery of charged drugs or agents by the combined processes of electromigration and electroosmosis, and/or (4) the delivery of a mixture of charged and uncharged drugs or agents by the combined processes of electromigration and electroosmosis.

Iontophoresis, according to Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary, is defined to be "the introduction, by means of electric current, of ions of soluble salts into the tissues of the body for therapeutic purposes." lontophoretic devices have been known since the early 1900's. British patent specification No. 410,009 (1934) describes an iontophoretic device which overcame one of the disadvantages of such early devices known to the art at that time, namely the requirement of a special low tension (low voltage) source of current which meant that the patient needed to be immobilized hear such source. The device of that British specification was made by forming a galvanic cell from the electrodes and the material containing the medicament or drug to be transdermally delivered. The galvanic cell produced the current necessary for iontophoretically delivering the medicament. This ambulatory device thus permitted iontophoretic drug delivery with substantially less interference with the patient’s daily activities.

More recently, a number of United States patents have issued in the iontophoresis field, indicating a renewed interest in this mode of drug delivery. For example, Vernon et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,991,755; Jacobsen et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,141,359; Hilson U.S. I Patent No. 4,398,545; and Jacobsen U.S. Patent No. 4,250,878 disclose examples of iontophoretic devices and some applications thereof. The iontophoresis process has been found to be useful in the transdermal administration of medicaments or drugs including lidocaine hydrochloride, hydrocortisone, fluoride, penicillin, dexamethasone sodium phosphate and many other drugs. Perhaps the most common use of iontophoresis is in diagnosing cystic fibrosis by delivering pilocarpine salts iontophoretically. The pilocarpine stimulates sweat production; the sweat is collected and analyzed for its chloride content to detect the presence of the disease.

In presently known iontophoresis devices, at least two electrodes are used. Both of these electrodes are disposed so as to be in intimate electrical contact with some portion of the skin of the body. One electrode, called the active or donor electrode, is the electrode from which the ionic substance, agent, medicament, drug precursor or drug is delivered into the body via the skin by iontophoresis. The other electrode, called the counter or return electrode, serves to close the electrical circuit through the body.

In conjunction with the patient’s skin contacted by the electrodes, the circuit is comoleted by connection of the electrodes to a source of electrical energy. e.g., a battery. For example, if the ionic substance to be driven into the body is positively charged, then the positive electrode (the anode) will be the active electrode and the negative electrode (the cathode) will serve to complete the circuit.

If the ionic substance to be delivered is negatively charged, then the cathodic electrode will be the active electrode and the anodic electrode will be the counter electrode.

Alternatively, both the anode and the cathode may be used to deliver drugs of opposite charge into the body. In such a case, both electrodes are considered to be active or donor electrodes. For example, the anodic electrode can drive positively charged ionic substances into the body while the cathodic electrode can drive negatively charged ionic substances into the body.

Furthermore, existing iontophoresis devices generally require a reservoir or source of the ionized or ionizable species (or a precursor of such species) which is to be iontophoretically delivered or introduced into the body. Examples of such reservoirs or sources of ionized or ionizable species include a pouch as described in the: previously mentioned Jacobsen U.S. Patent No. 4,250,878, a pre-formed gel body as disclosed in Hebster U.S. Patent No. 4,382,529 and a generally conical or domed molding of United States Patent No. 4,722,726 to Sanderson et al. Such drug reservoirs are electrically connected to the anode or the cathode of an iontophoresis device to provide a fixed or renewable source of one or more desired species or agents.

Recently, the transdermal delivery of peptides and proteins, including genetically engineered proteins, by iontophoresis has received increasing attention. Generally speaking, peptides and proteins being considered for transdermal or transmucosal delivery have a molecular weight ranging between about 500 to 40,000 daltons.

These high molecular weight substances are usually too large to diffuse passively (i.e., without electromotive force) through skin at therapeutically effective rates. Since many peptides and proteins carry either a net positive or net negative charge and because of their inability to diffuse passively through skin, they are considered likely candidates for iontophoretic delivery as defined herein.

One of the technical hurdles that, heretofore, has not been overcome has been the problem of the patient feeling the electrical current applied by the iontophoretic delivery device. In severe ,.

In .; on cases (e g., at high current densities), the sensation can be painful. Particularly during the moments of drug delivery shortl after application of the iontophoretic drug delivery device to a patient’s skin, complaints of pain, stinging, itching, tingling, prickliness, burning, or other unwanted or undesired skin sensation have been voiced. All of these various responses are to be considered forms of sensation within the contemplation of the present invention.

This technical hurdle has been addressed in the art. In an early article, H. Molitor et al. in "Experimental Studies on the Causes and Prevention of Iontophoretic Burns", 198 Am. J. Med. Sci, 778-785 (1939) reported on the occurrence of burns caused by pH changes, and that there was a definite relationship between pain and irritation and such pH changes in the skin.

Tapper U.S. Patent 4,211,222 suggests that pain or tingling due to passage of current may be reduced by the use of a larger positive electrode. The method of the ‘Z22 Tapper patent employs a porous intervenor material between the electrode and the patient’s skin to reduce the irritating effect resulting from the iontophoretic process.

Tapper U.S. Patent 4,340,047 discloses a self-treatment iontophoretic treatment apparatus. The ’047 patent suggests the gradual imposition of a treatment period to reduce the possibility of electrical shock. A delay means is employed in the device of the ’047 patent to impose the drug treatment current gradually when the device is activated by placing a load across its terminals.

Lattin et al. U.S. Patent 4,406,658 discloses an iontophoretic device in which the polarity of the electrodes is reversible. As disclosed by Lattin et al. current is reduced prior to switching of polarities to avoid the possibly unpleasant sensation of having the polarities change while the device is operating at a therapeutic current level.

J. Bradley Phipps et al. in the abstract of their paper presented to the Controlled Release Society Meeting of August. 1989 describe the effect of "extraneous" ions, that is, ions having the same charge of the drug to be delivered, on the delivery of hydromorphone. The presence of extraneous ions may reduce the efficiency of drug delivery from an iontophoretic delivery device since the extraneous ions compete with the drug ions for carrying current into the body. Phipps et al. accordingly teach the desirability of minimizing the amount of extraneous ions available to compete with the species or agents to be delivered. Extraneous ions whose effect was described in the Phipps et al. paper include lithium, calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium. Phipps et al. make no mention of stinging or other skin sensationlsl, encountered in the delivery of the desired or extraneous ions.

PCT Application WO 86/03413 discloses the use of inorganic calcium salts to obtain painless intramuscular injection of drugs, vitamins or vaccines.

European Patent Application 0252732 discloses the general structure of a transdermal iontophoretic drug delivery device which uses a disposable electrode.

None of the above references, alone or in combination, disclose or suggest the present invention.

Disclosure of the Invention Briefly, in one aspect, the present invention is an iontophoretic drug delivery device, and a method of using same, which reduces, minimizes or eliminates skin sensation of electrical current applied by the device during iontophoretic drug delivery. A multivalent ion other than the drug or agent which is to be delivered is selected and intentionally added or provided to a component of the electrotransport or iontophoresis device from which drug or agent is to be delivered, i.e., to a reservoir adjacent the donor electrode, to a reservoir adjacent the counter electrode, or to both reservoirs. The device delivers the selected drug or agent and the intentionally added multivalent ion through the patient’s skin by electrically assisted means, with discernable mitigation or elimination of sensation. In a preferred practice of this invention, the multivalent ion is positive and divalent and the mode of electrotransport or electrical assist is iontophoresis. in yet a more preferred practice of this invention, the multivalent ion is selected from the group consisting of calcium, zinc, phosphate, or magnesium. ln another practice, the present invention is utilized to reduce sensation during the first few seconds, to several minutes, after the start of electrically-assisted administration of a therapeutic agent (and multivalent ion) to a patient. During this initial time period, it is many times desirable to establish a therapeutic level or concentration of iontophoretically delivered species in the patient’s blood stream. In order to quickly establish a therapeutic blood concentration of delivered species (i.e. drug) in the patient, it is sometimes desirable to operate an iontophoretic device at a higher than normal current density when the device is first placed on the body surface (e.g., the skin) of the patient, and later to operate the device at a lower or maintenance current density once the desired therapeutic blood concentration level has been achieved. This initial higher current density phase or time period is sometimes referred to as the "bolus period" or "bolus phase". The current density during the first or earlier bolus period is generally higher than the second or later, lower current density phase, when blood concentration of delivered species is held near a therapeutic or maintenance level. It is also during the bolus period when the patient is likely to be most sensitive to current—induced sensation because the patient, generally speaking, has not been acclimated, accommodated, or accustomed to the sensation of iontophoretic drug delivery. Thus, while the continued practice of this invention after the bolus period is contemplated, that is by the continued delivery, of the intentionally added multivalent ion or ions during the maintenance phase, it is sensation reduction during the bolus period for which the advantage of this invention is most dramatic.

Brief Description of the Figgrgs A better understanding of the present invention as well as its objects and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, especially when taken with the accompanying figures,_wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout and wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a patient with gel patch test devices attached to his forearms for sensation comparison purposes as described in the examples; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an iontophoretic delivery device useable in the method of this invention; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a gel patch as described in the examples; FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the device used for comparison testing of the gel patches shown in FIG. 3; flodes of the Invention Thus there is shown in FIG. I, a schematic depiction of a test subject 10 showing the forearm location of gel patch iontophoretic delivery devices 17. Return or counter electrodes (not shown) also would be attached to the patient’s body to complete the electronic circuit when patches 17 are activated. The test protocol employed is more completely described below.

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of an iontophoretic delivery device 20 useable in the present invention. Device 20 has a top layer 21 which contains an electrical power supply (e g., a battery or a series of batteries) as well as optional control circuitry such as a current controller (e.g., a resistor or a transistor-based current control circuit), an on/off switch, and/or a microprocessor adapted to control the current output of the power source over time.

The details of this electronic circuitry and power source are conventional and are omitted so as not to unnecessarily complicate this description of the invention.

Device 20 comprises electrode assemblies indicated by brackets 18 and 19. Electrodes assemblies 18 and 19 are separated from one another by an electrical insulator 26, and form therewith a single self-contained unit. For purposes of illustration, the electrode assembly 18 will be referred to as the "donor" electrode assembly while electrode assembly 19 will be referred to as the "counter" electrode assembly. These designations of the electrode assemblies are not critical and may be reversed in any particular device or in operation of the device shown. _ In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the donor electrode 22 is positioned adjacent drug reservoir 24 while the counter electrode 23 is positioned adjacent the return reservoir 25 which contains an electrolyte. Electrodes 22 and 23 may be formed from metal foils, or a polymer matrix loaded with metal powder, powdered graphite, carbon fibers, or any other suitable electrically conductive material.

Reservoirs 24 and 25 can be polymeric matrices or gel matrices.

Natural or synthetic polymer matrices may be employed. Insulator 26 is composed of a non-electrical conducting and non—ion-conducting material which acts as a barrier to prevent short-circuiting of the device 20. Insulator 26 can be an air gap, a non-ion-conducting polymer or adhesive or other suitable barrier to ion flow. The device 20 optionally can be adhered to the skin by means of ion- conducting adhesive layers 27 and 28. The device 20 also includes a strippable release liner 29 which is removed just prior to application of the device to the skin. Alternatively, device 20 can be adhered to the skin by means of an adhesive overlay of the type which are conventionally used in transdermal drug delivery devices.

Generally speaking, an adhesive overlay would contact the skin around the perimeter of the device to maintain contact between reservoirs 24 and 25 and the patient’s skin.

In a typical device 20, the drug reservoir 24 contains a neutral, ionized, or ionizable supply of the drug or agent to be delivered and the counter reservoir 25 contains a suitable electrolyte such as, for example, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or mixtures thereof. Either or both of the drug reservoir and counter reservoir may contain, alone or in a mixture with other species, multivalent ions as contemplated in this invention.

Alternatively, device 20 can contain an ionizable, or neutral supply of drug in both reservoirs 24 and 25 and in that manner both electrode assemblies 18 and 19 would function as donor electrode assemblies. For example, positive drug ions could be delivered through the skin from the anode electrode assembly, while negative drug ions could be introduced from the cathode electrode assembly.

Generally, the combined skin-contacting area of electrode assemblies 18 and 19 can range from about 1 cm2 to about 200 cmz, but typically will range from about 5 cm; to about 50 cmz.

In accordance with the present invention, the drug reservoir 24 and return reservoir 25 of the iontophoretic delivery device 20 must be placed in agent or drug transmitting relation with the patient so as to iontophoretically deliver agent or drug. Usually this means the device is placed in intimate contact with the patient’s skin.

Various sites on the human body may be selected depending upon the physician's or the patient’s preference, the drug or agent delivery regimen or other factors such as cosmetic.

In accordance with one practice of the invention, a multivalent, preferably divalent, ion is intentionally added to drug reservoir 24. Device 20 then is applied to the patient’s skin (after removal of liner 29) and activated. Activation of device 20 causes agent and multivalent ion to be iontophoretically delivered with a perceptible (from the patient’s viewpoint) reduction in sensation as compared to delivery of just agent.

In a preferred practice, a positive, divalent ion, such as calcium ion, magnesium ion, or zinc ion (or a precursor or ion- generating neutral species such as a salt) is added. These preferred species, particularly in small amounts, have been found to reduce skin sensation of the applied current at the drug or agent delivery site. Calcium ion in particular has been found to reduce sensation, even if other ions, such as sodium ions which have been discovered to enhance the patient’s sensation, are present.

In accordance with another practice of this invention, a multivalent, preferably divalent, ion is intentionally added to the return reservoir 25. For example, if the therapeutic agent to be delivered is anionic, then the cation content of the return reservoir would be entirely or partly multivalent ion. The multivalent ion of choice for this purpose is calcium. If the therapeutic agent to be delivered is cationic, then the anionic content of the return reservoir would be entirely or partly multivalent. The multivalent ion of choice for this purpose would be phosphate (i.e., HPO,’, or 903' ) .

It is very surprising and unexpected that the addition of a multivalent ion would reduce sensation. None of the prior art references or patents mentioned above describe or in any way disclose or suggest that the addition of a multivalent ion to the drug reservoir or return reservoir and thus to the delivery process, especially in limited amounts, reduces sensation. In fact, the art, generally speaking, teaches away from the addition of non-drug or "extraneous" ions to the drug reservoir of the device. The reason for this teaching is very simple. The greater the number of non-drug ions capable of responding to generated electrical fields, the lower the overall drug delivery efficiency of the device. In other words, the intentional addition and delivery of multivalent ions having the same ionic charge as the drug ions, as described herein, reduces the amount of drug delivered per unit of electrical current. The non- drug multivalent ions carry a portion of the electrical current between the device and the patient which might otherwise be carried by drug agent or drug species. However, in order to achieve the advantage of reduced sensation during electrically-assisted, transdermal drug delivery, some reduction in overall device drug delivery efficiency can be tolerated, particularly during the bolus period. when delivering drugs transdermally by iontophoresis from a device having a current density greater than about 0.1 mA/cmz and, in O . particular, greater than about 0.5 mA/cmz, the patient feels the electric current applied by the device for the about first hour of operation of the device. Generally speaking, thereafter the patient’s ability to feel the applied current decreases. It has also been determined that the addition of extraneous multivalent ions beyond a certain content in the drug reservoir produces no significant additional sensation reducing effect. These two observed phenomena can be used to optimize the amount of extraneous multivalent ions loaded in the drug reservoir of the iontophoretic delivery device.

In order to optimize the amount of multivalent ion present in the drug reservoir, it is most advantageous to add an amount of multivalent ion which will be completely delivered during about the initial hour (preferably about 1 to 20 minutes) after the start of delivery of agent or species. Such an amount reduces the patient’s ability to feel the electrical current during the critical "bolus" period. It also has minimal adverse effect on overall device drug delivery efficiency because there are fewer non-drug ions present to reduce delivery efficiency during the phase after "bolus" period. In this manner, the drug delivery efficiency of the device is only compromised during the initial "bolus" period, during which period the treatment of patient sensation is most critical.

In general, the amount of multivalent ion added to the reservoir can be determined on an experimental basis by those skilled in the art. The amount of multivalent ion needed to reduce sensation will vary depending upon a number of factors including the current density applied by the device, the particular drug being delivered, the content of ions in the reservoir, the degree of sensation reduction desired, as well as the acceptability of lower drug delivery efficiency from the device. In general, those skilled in the art can experimentally determine suitable multivalent ion content for the drug reservoir or the return reservoir (or both) following the teachings contained herein and especially the attached examples.

The terms "agent" or "drug" are used extensively herein. As used herein, the expressions "agent" and "drug" are used interchangeably and are intended to have their broadest interpretation as any therapeutically active substance which is delivered to a living organism to produce a desired, usually beneficial, effect. In general, this includes therapeutic agents in all of the major therapeutic areas including, but not limited to, anti-infectives such as antibiotics and antiviral agents, analgesics and analgesic combinations, anesthetics, anorexics, antiarthritics,' antiasthmatic agents, anticonvulsants, anti-depressants, antidiabetic agents, antidiarrheals, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, anti~migraine preparations, anti-motion sickness preparations, antinauseants, antineoplastics, antiparkinsonism drugs, antipruritics, antipsychotics, antipyretics, antispasmodics, including gastrointestinal and urinary, anticholinergics, sympathomimetrics, xanthine derivatives, cardiovascular preparations including calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, anti-arrhythmics, antihypertensives, diuretics, vasodilators, including general, coronary, peripheral and cerebral, central nervous system stimulants, cough and cold preparations, decongestants, diagnostics, hormones, hypnotics, immunosuppressives, muscle relaxants, parasympatholyticsfi parasympathomimetrics, proteins, peptides, polypeptides and other macromolecules, psychostimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers.

It is believed that, the method of the present invention can be used to deliver, with reduced sensation, the following drugs: baclofen, betamethasone, beclomethasone, buspirone, cromolyn sodium, dobutamine; doxazosin, droperidol, fentanyl, sufentanil, ketoprofen, lidocaine, metoclopramide, methotrexate, miconazole, midazolam, nicardipine, prazosin, piroxicam, scopolamine, testosterone, verapamil, tetracaine, diltiazem, indomethacin, hydrocortisone, terbutaline and encainide.

This invention is also believed to be useful in the iontophoretic delivery, with reduced sensation, of peptides, polypeptides and other macromolecules typically having a molecular weight of at least about 300 daltons, and typically a molecular weight in the range of about 300 to 40,000 daltons. Specific examples of peptides and proteins in this size range include, without limitation, LHRH, LHRH analogs such as buserelin, gonadorelin, naphrelin and leuprolide, GHRH, insulin, heparin, calcitonin, endorphin, TRH, NT-36 (chemical name: N-[[(s)oxo azetidinyllcarbonyl]-L-histidyl-L-prolinamide), liprecin, pituitary hormones (e.g., HGH, HMG, HCG, desmopressin acetate, etc.,), follicle luteoids, aANF, growth factor releasing factor (GFRF), 5MSH, it somatostatin, bradykinin, somatotropin, platelet-derived growth factor, asparaginase, bleomycin sulfate, chymopapain, cholecystokinin, chorionic gonadotropin, corticotropin (ACTH), erythropoietin, epoprostenol (platelet aggregation inhibitor), glucagon, hyaluronidase, interferon, interleukin-2, menotropins (urofollitropin (FSH) and LH), oxytocin, streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase, vasopressin, ACTH analogs, ANP, ANP clearance inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonists, antidiuretic hormone agonists, antidiuretic hormone antagonists, bradykinin, antagonists, CD4, ceredase, CSF’s, enkephalins, FAB fragments, IgE peptide suppressors, IGF-1, neurotrophic factors, parathyroid hormone and agonists, parathyroid hormone antagonists; prostaglandin antagonists, pentigetide, protein C, protein S, renin inhibitors, thymosin alpha-1, thrombolytics, TNF, vaccines, vasopressin antagonist analogs, alpha-1 anti-trypsin (recombinant).

Generally speaking, it is most preferable to use a water soluble salt of the drug or agent to be delivered. drug or agent . precursors, i.e., species which generate the selected species by physical or chemical processes such as ionization, dissociation, or dissolution, are within the definition of "agent" or "species" herein. "Drug" or "agent" is to be understood to include charged and _ uncharged species as described above.

In certain cases, it may be desirable to deliver the drug or agent with a one or more skin permeation enhancers. A skin permeation enhancer can be selected from any of a wide variety of known materials capable of enhancing transdermal drug flux. permeation enhancers include, for example, surfactants, alkyl substituted sulfoxides, alkyl polyethylene glycols, lower alcohols and the permeation enhancers disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,989,815; Known ,405,616; 4,415,563; 4,424,210; and 4,722,725.. _ Having thus generally described the invention, the following examples will further illustrate selected preferred embodiments.

Disclosure of the Invention for lndustrv; Examples A. Electrode Preparation Agar gel discs were prepared having a 2.5 cm diameter and a thickness of 0.3 cm. The gel discs were soaked in distilled water soaking in distilled water, the gel discs were placed in a one molar electrolyte solution (approximately 40 gel discs/liter) and soaked for at least three days to absorb the ionic electrolyte species. The following aqueous electrolyte solutions were used: sodium phosphate, sodium citrate, sodium acetate, sodium sulfate, magnesium chloride, lithium chloride, zinc chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium chloride.

Gel patches were prepared having the construction shown in Fig. 3. Gel patch 17 comprises a gel insert 40 prepared as described herein, a wire mesh, or current distribution member 42 having a silver tab 44 welded thereto, a medical grade polyethylene foam ring 46, and a medical grade polyethylene foam backing 48 with a slot 50, therein. Members used as anodes were composed of silver while those used as cathodes were composed of partially chloriodized silver. when assembled, silver tab 44 slides through slot 50 to provide a connection to external electronics.

The agar gel disks were removed from the solutions one day prior to testing and glued into the electrode housings using a small amount of hot agar.

. Experimental Set Up Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram 60 for an apparatus used to test gel patches 17. Circuit 60 comprises 12 volt batteries 62 coupled via leads 64 to a current source 66 which is, in turn, coupled to a multi-meter 68 used to monitor the voltage and also adjust the initial current setting. Current source 66 is connected to right and left leads 70 and 72, respectively. One of each of the right and left leads is connected (e g., by alligator clips 74) to patch 17, the remaining of each left and right lead being placed, by means of a conductive adhesive, on the subject's back. In this manner, the electrical circuit to the gel patches to be tested was completed.

Prior to applying the current, each arm was washed with distilled water and dried. The electrodes were placed on equivalent sites of each forearm, avoiding visible defects in the skin such as cuts, bites, scratches, etc. electrode .

The leads were then attached to each C. Experimental Design In brief, the sensation caused by a particular ion was systematically compared to that caused by each of several other ions by placing one patch on the left arm and one patch on the right arm of a subject and applying current. The subject was then asked to compare the sensation caused by one ion on one arm to that caused by the other ion on the other arm using the following scale: no difference = 0 slightly more - 1 moderately more - 2 considerably more - 3 All studies were performed in a double blind fashion to eliminate both subject and evaluator bias.

In a large study, patches containing 8 different ions (sodium, potassium, acetate, calcium, chloride, phosphate, sulfate, citrate) were applied to 8 subjects. Fifteen ion pairs, that is, 15 patches on the left arm and 15 patches on the right arm were administered to the subjects. Each subject, was tested with 6 of the 8 ions. The 15 pairs were applied, one pair at a time, in 3 testing sessions using 5 different patch sites on each forearm. At least 24 hours was allowed between testing sessions. No subject had the same set of ions administered to him or her. The overall consequence of this study design was that all ion combinations (e.g., sodium compared to calcium, acetate compared to potassium, etc.) were tested 4 times, twice left-right and twice right-left, on four different subjects.

D. Data Collection The current was first adjusted to 0.5 mA (0.1 mA/cmz) (12%).

After 5 seconds the current was raised to 1 mA (0.2 mA/cmz) and the subject alerted to start concentrating on the difference in sensation caused by the two patches.‘ After 30 seconds the subject was asked to identify in which arm he or she felt more sensation and their response was recorded. The subject was then asked to rate the difference in sensation according to the scale described above.

The current was then gradually (i.e., over a 5 second period) raised in 0.5 mA increments. At each current level, the subject was. after 30 seconds, asked to rate differences, if any, in sensation.

The maximum current applied was 3mA (0.6 mA/cmz). The current was turned off after the 3 mA test and questions concerning the type of sensation were asked. The next pair of arm electrodes were placed on new forearm sites and the entire sequence repeated until all arm patches had been tested. - pairs of Smaller Studies A number of smaller studies comparing fewer than the original 8 ions were run. In these smaller studies, the compositions chosen for testing reflected various hypothesis about the factors involved in producing sensation. In two smaller studies, the effects of magnesium, zinc and lithium ion on sensation were evaluated.

From earlier work it was known that there was a relationship between current level and sensation experienced~- the higher the current, the higher the sensation rating. Also, at above 3 mA (0.6 mA/cmz) the sensation experienced for some ions became quite painful.

On the other hand, below about 0.5 mA (0.1 mA/cmz) the sensations produced by some ions were so slight that ions could not be reliably differentiated.

Discussion of Results The results of the first 8 ion study indicated that , iontophoretic delivery of these ions under identical test conditions: produced varying magnitudes of the sensation during DC stimulation.

Sodium ion was found to produce the greatest level of sensation while calcium ion was found to produce the lowest level of sensation. At a current density of 200 uA/cmz, the sensation-causing ranking, from least to most, was found to be: calcium, phosphate < chloride < acetate < citrate, sulfate < potassium < sodium.

At a current density of 600 uA/cmz, the ranking was: calcium < phosphate < acetate < sulfate, citrate, chloride < potassium, sodium.

As can be seen from the above rankings, multivalent ions, in general, caused less sensation than monovalent ions. In particular, divalent calcium caused much less sensation than the monovalent cations sodium and potassium.

Two other studies were run to compare sensation caused by monovalent ions with sensation caused by divalent ions. In one study, the divalent cations Zn2' and Ca" were compared to the monovalent ions Na" and Li". The results of this study clearly indicated that zinc and calcium caused less sensation than sodium and lithium.

In another four cation sensation study, the divalent ions Ca% and Mg2' were compared to the monovalent ions Na’ and K’. Electrodes were prepared and tested as described above. Current levels of 0.5 Ma, 1.0 mA, 2.0 mA, 3.0 mA and 4.0 mA were employed. The results of this study indicated that, in terms of increasing intensity of pain relative to each other, Ca < Mg << K < Na for currents less than 2.0 mA (0.4 mA/cmz) with sodium and potassium ions being reversed for currents greater than 3.0 mA (0.6 mA/cmz). Calcium ion was found to exhibit the least sensation, i.e., induced the least pain intensity, at all current levels, with magnesium ion only slightly more sensation-inducing. Potassium and sodium ion caused moderately to considerably more sensation than did calcium and magnesium.

A calcium-sodium sub-study was then conducted on mixtures of these two ions to see if a small amount of calcium (e.g., 10% Ca on a molar basis) would negate the effects of the more sensation- causing model drug ion, i.e., sodium ion. Four gel compositions were employed in this sub-study: 100% Ca, 90% Ca and 10% Na. 10% Ca and 90% Na, and 100% Na (all as chloride salts). The sensation caused by these formulations were systematically compared by each of four subjects using the methodology previously described. It was found that the 90 percent sodium with 10 percent calcium mixture gave ratings similar to that of the 100% calcium solutions. Thus, only a small quantity of calcium, e.g., 10 percent or less, is required to reduce sensation despite the presence of a much larger quantity of sensation-causing model drug ion (i.e., Na).

In general, using the data gathered from all studies; the ion ranking from least sensation to greatest sensation, was found to be: calcium < phosphate, magnesium, zinc < chloride, acetate, citrate, sulfate < lithium, potassium, sodium.

These results were substantially the same at all current levels tested. Moreover, rankings at 30 seconds and 60 seconds were found to be substantially the same.

The results of the above studies suggest that when selecting an electrolyte for the return reservoir, one should select salts comprising multivalent ions. when the return reservoir is in contact with the cathode, then a preferred electrolyte would comprise a divalent cation, preferably calcium. Also inherent in the results of our studies, is the realization that one should avoid the use of monovalent ions, particularly monovalent cations such as potassium. sodium, and lithium. when the use of a sensation-causing ion is unavoidable (e.g. use of a therapeutic agent), then the addition of a small amount of a multivalent ion may considerably reduce the amount of sensation experienced by the patient as was shown by adding 10% calcium to the sodium model drug ions.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS:

1. An iontophoretic delivery device (20) for delivery of a therapeutic agent through a body surface which is capable of experiencing sensation, including an electrode assembly (18, 19) having a. reservoir (24, 25) which contains the agent to be delivered; the device (20) being characterized by the reservoir (24, 25) containing a sensation reducing amount of an intentionally selected, physiologically acceptable, multivalent ion other than the agent.

2. The device of claim 1 characterised in that the multivalent ion is divalent.

3. The device of claim 1 characterised in that the multivalent ion is positive.

4. The device of claim 1 characterised in that the multivalent ion is divalent and positive.

5. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the multivalent ion is selected from calcium, zinc, magnesium, and phosphate.

6. The device of claim 1 characterised in that the multivalent ion is calcium.

7. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the multivalent ion is present at a concentration of 10 mole percent.

8. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the body surface is the skin of a patient.

9. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the therapeutic agent is a drug.

10. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the device includes an iontophoretic delivery device (20) for delivering a drug transdermally, including a power source (21), a first electrode assembly (18) electrically coupled to the power source (21) and adapted to be placed in ion transmitting relationship with skin which is capable of experiencing sensation, a second electrode assembly (19) electrically coupled to the power source (21) and adapted to be placed in ion transmitting relation with the body surface, at least one of the electrode assemblies (18, 19) having a reservoir (24, 25) containing the therapeutic agent to be delivered; the device (20) being characterized by at least one of the electrode assemblies (18, 19) having a reservoir (24, 25) l0 containing a sensation reducing amount of physiologically acceptable multivalent ion; wherein during operation of the device, the power source (21) delivers an electrical current at a current density which can normally be sensed by the body surface, thereby delivering both the drug and the multivalent ions through the body surface, the multivalent ion being delivered at a rate sufficient to reduce sensation by the body surface of the electric current applied by the device (20).

11. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the electrode assembly (24, 25) contains an anodic electrode (22, 23) whereby operation of the device (20) causes calcium ions to be co-delivered with the drug, the calcium ions being delivered at a rate sufficient to reduce sensation of electrical current applied by the device (20) during the drug delivery process.

12. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that reservoirs (24, 25) are in electrical contact with the power source (21) containing the drug ions to be delivered; the device (20) being characterized by the reservoir (24, 25) containing an adjuvant amount of a multivalent ion, said multivalent ion having the same charge sign as the drug ions and being present in a 21 concentration sufficient to reduce skin sensation of the electrical current.

13. The device of claims 1, 10 or 12 characterised in that the therapeutic agent to be iontophoretically delivered is in an ionized form and the device (20) being characterized by the reservoir (24, 25) also containing an amount of a physiologically acceptable multivalent ion sufficient to reduce sensation by the body surface during iontophoretic therapeutic agent delivery from the device (20).

14. The device of claim 1, 10, 12 or 13 for iontophoretic delivery of a therapeutic agent through a body surface which is capable of sensing an electrical current applied by the device (20), said current being in the form of ions moving through the body surface, the device (20) including two electrode assemblies (18, 19), at least one electrode assembly containing the agent to be delivered and a controller (21) for operating the device (20); (i) in a first operating mode characterized by a first current density for delivery a bolus dose of the agent; and (ii) in a second operating mode characterized by a 22 second current density which is less than said first current density for delivery a maintenance dose of the agent.

15. The device of claim 14 characterised in that the first operating mode begins at the start of operation of the device (20) and extends for a period of time up to about 60 minutes thereafter.

16. The device of claim 14 characterised in that the first operating mode lasts for about 5 to 20 minutes after start of operation of the device (20).

17. The device of claim 1, 10, 12, 13 or 14 characterised in that the second electrode assembly (19) is placed at a site distant from the first electrode assembly (18).

18. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the drug and the multivalent ion are contained in different electrode assemblies (18, 19).

19. The device of any preceding claim characterised in that the drug and the multivalent ion are contained in the same electrode assembly (18, 19). 23

20. An iontophoretic delivery device as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as herein described in the Examples and/or with reference to and as shown in