GB845841A - Percutaneous administration of physiologically active agents - Google Patents

Abstract

845,841. Surgical dressings. MEYER, F. Dec. 17, 1958 [Dec. 19, 1957], No. 40804/58. Class 81 (2). A surgical dressing for administering measured doses of physiologically active agents percutaneously comprises an absorbent carrier layer 4 for for the active agent, an absorbent reservoir layer 6 for a transporting liquid separated from the carrier layer by a non- absorbent separator layer 3, and wicks 5 by-passing the separator layer and connecting the reservoir and carrier layers. The carrier and reservoir layers and the wicks are made of cotton, paper, cellulose, silk, linen or nylon and the separator layer is made of rubber, wax, paper or polyvinyl chloride film. The wicks either pass around the edge of the separator layer or extend through perforations in the separator layer and may be separated from the reservoir by an impermiable layer (not shown) which is removed before use. The dressing has a liquid and gas impermiable cover 2 e.g. polyvinyl chloride film, lacquer, rubber or glass. The dressing is secured to the skin by a bandage or adhesive strips or by an adhesive coating 1 on the edges of the outer cover. A protective layer 7 which is removed before use may cover the carrier layer. The reservoir layer may be filled by a pipette. In use the transporting liquid passes from the reservoir layer along the wicks to the carrier layer where it dissolves the active agent, the resulting solution being absorbed by the skin. Active agents which may be administered in this way are strophantin, convallatoxin, curare, adrenalin, acetyl choline, eserine, morphine, strychnine and barbiturates. The transporting liquid is selected from hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acid esters and ethereal oils or mixtures of these.