Portable Transdermal Patch with Iontophoresis for Skin-Sparing Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transdermal administration methods face challenges such as limited drug penetration due to the skin barrier, inconvenience for patients, and potential skin damage, especially for long-term administration of chronic medications.
Innovation Solution
A portable, remotely controlled transdermal administration patch apparatus using a communication control device with a micro-battery, micro-controller, and wireless control, combined with medicinal and non-medicinal patches, to facilitate controlled drug delivery through the skin without causing harm, utilizing a combination of physical and chemical methods to enhance absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If chemical methods (penetration enhancers) are used to promote transdermal absorption, then drug penetration is improved, but skin damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical penetration enhancers with a physical method (iontophoresis) that uses electrical current to drive drug delivery through the skin. This substitution eliminates the need for chemical agents that cause skin irritation while maintaining effective drug penetration through the use of electrical fields to transport charged or ionizable drugs across the stratum corneum barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrical field as an intermediary mechanism to facilitate drug transport. Instead of relying on chemical enhancers that directly interact with and potentially damage skin tissues, the electrical field acts as a mediator to drive drug ions through the skin barrier, reducing direct chemical interaction and associated skin damage.
2Quantity of substance
If physical methods (iontophoresis, ultrasonic penetration) are used to enhance transdermal delivery, then drug absorption is improved, but device complexity and ease of home use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single portable device: iontophoresis delivery, ultrasonic enhancement, micro-needle application, and wireless communication all within one patch apparatus. This multi-functionality allows the device to achieve effective drug delivery through multiple mechanisms while maintaining portability and ease of use at home, as the patient only needs to apply the self-contained patch without requiring separate equipment for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines iontophoresis, ultrasonic penetration, and micro-needle technologies into a single integrated transdermal patch system. By merging these physical methods into one device, the patent simplifies the user experience (patients apply one patch rather than multiple separate devices) while maintaining the enhanced drug absorption capabilities of each individual method.
3Reliability
If the skin barrier is intact to protect from infection, then safety is improved, but drug penetration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the approach to skin penetration by using multiple distinct mechanisms (iontophoresis for electrical transport, ultrasonic waves for mechanical disruption, and micro-needles for physical channels) rather than relying on a single method. This segmentation allows the intact skin barrier to remain protective while multiple pathways are created or enhanced for drug delivery, with each mechanism contributing differently to overcome the barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic mechanisms that temporarily alter skin permeability during drug delivery. The micro-needles create transient channels, ultrasonic waves temporarily increase permeability through cavitation and mechanical stress, and iontophoresis dynamically transports drugs through the skin. After delivery, the skin barrier returns to its intact protective state, maintaining both drug penetration capability and ongoing protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus allows for safe, painless, and controlled transdermal administration, increasing bioavailability and the number of drugs that can be delivered, with improved administration speed and dosage, suitable for both systemic and local applications, particularly beneficial for elderly patients and inpatient care.
Implementation Method 1
a micro-battery, a wireless control device and a micro-controller a, wherein the micro-battery, the wireless control device and the micro-controller a are electrically connected
Implementation Method 2
The physical method comprises: iontophoresis, ultrasonic penetration, high pressure gas flow, exothermic promotion, laser energy promotion, etc.
Implementation Method 3
The physical method comprises: iontophoresis, ultrasonic penetration, high pressure gas flow, exothermic promotion, laser energy promotion, etc.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a portable transdermal administration patch apparatus and a preparation method thereof. The patch apparatus comprises a communication control device and a pharmaceutical device, wherein the pharmaceutical device is fixed to and arranged at a lower end of the communication control device; the communication control device and the pharmaceutical device are electrically connected; and the communication control device is formed of a micro-battery, a wireless control device and a micro-controller a, wherein the micro-battery, the wireless control device and the micro-controller a are electrically connected. The preparation of the portable transdermal administration patch apparatus is achieved by means of the following steps: the preparation of medicinal patches, the preparation of non-medicinal patches, the mounting of electrodes, interfacing with a micro-controller b, interfacing with the communication control system, and starting administration. The transdermal apparatus is wearable and can be remotely controller, and is convenient for administration, in particular, for the situations of daily administration for elderly patients with chronic illness and when there are a larger number of admitted inpatients, where a nurse can pre-set the administration time and dose according to the prescription requirements of doctors, so as to administer patients with the medicine at a fixed time and with a fixed dose, thus saving time and efforts of medical staff.