Thomas F Murdock

US Patent:

61819638, Jan 30, 2001

Filed:

Nov 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/433615

Inventors:

Ivan W. Chin - Belmont CA
Thomas O. Murdock - Vadnais Heights MN

Assignee:

Alza Corporation - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

A61N 130

US Classification:

604 20

Abstract:

A transdermal electrotransport drug delivery device having an anode, a cathode and a source of electrical power electrically connected to the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a cathodic electrode and a cathodic reservoir comprised of a housing composed of a polymeric material and an aqueous medium in contact with the housing. The aqueous medium includes i) a drug or an electrolyte salt or a mixture thereof and ii) a cetylpyridinium salt in an amount sufficient to inhibit microbial growth in the aqueous medium. The polymeric material is compatible with the cetylpyridinium salt. A process is also provided wherein when electric current flows from the source of electrical power so that the drug is transdermally delivered to the patient by electrotransport from the anodic reservoir, the cetylpyridinium salt is not transdermally delivered to the patient by electrotransport from the cathodic reservoir. A process for preparing a transdermal electrotransport drug delivery device is also provided.