Shelf storage stable iontophoresis reservoir-electrode and iontophoretic system incorporating the reservoir-electrode

摘要

A reservoir-electrode for an iontophoretic delivery device of the present invention includes an electrode; and a hydrophilic reservoir situated in electrically conductive relation to the electrode. The reservoir is formed from a bibulous hydrophilic cross-linked polymeric material having a substantially uniform concentration of an alkali metal chloride salt therein thereby substantially eliminating concentration gradients of the salt with respect to the electrode. The polymeric material has a first surface and a second surface that is adhesively adherent to the electrode. The first surface of the polymeric material is releasably adhesive to an applied area of a patient's skin. The polymeric material has a cohesive strength, wherein a bond strength of an adhesive bond between the second surface of the polymeric material to the electrode is greater than the cohesive strength of the polymeric material and an adhesive bond strength of the first surface of the polymeric material to the applied area of the patient is less than the cohesive strength of the polymeric material so that upon removal of the reservoir-electrode from the applied area of the patient, substantially no polymeric material remains on the applied area and the reservoir remains substantially intact and adhesively adherent to the electrode.