BIOSYNCHRONOUS TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY
Systems and methods for synchronizing the administration of compounds with the human body's natural circadian rhythms and addiction rhythms to counteract symptoms when they are likely to be at their worst by using an automated and pre programmable transdermal or other drug administration system.
1 . A method for delivering a bioactive agent to a human or animal comprising:
providing a transdermal drug delivery device coupled to the human or animal, the delivery device having a source of the bioactive agent, a programmable timing mechanism, and a mechanism for causing the bioactive agent to be delivered transdermally in response to the timing mechanism; and
timing routines implemented by the timing mechanism, wherein the timing routines are selected to deliver the bioactive agent at a time, rate, sequence and/or cycle that is synchronized with a biological rhythm of the human or animal.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the bioactive agent comprises a stimulant and the timing routines are selected to deliver the stimulant immediately before the human or animal wakes up.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the bioactive agent comprises nicotine and the timing routines are selected to deliver the nicotine at times that are associated with nicotine cravings.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein at least one of the selected times corresponds to a time at which the human or animal experiences a morning nicotine craving.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the bioactive agent comprises an antihistamine and the timing routines are selected to deliver the antihistamine while the human or animal sleeps.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the bioactive agent comprises a stimulant and the timing routines are selected to deliver the stimulant immediately before the human or animal wakes up.
7 . A method for treating a symptom, condition, and/or disease comprising:
identifying a drug suitable for treating a particular symptom, condition and/or disease;
identifying a biologically superior time for administering a drug;
programming a time-programmable transdermal drug delivery system with a schedule selected to synchronize with the identified biologically superior time; and
causing the time-programmable transdermal drug delivery system to deliver the active ingredient according to the programmed schedule.
8 . A programmable transdermal drug delivery device comprising:
an interface for coupling to the skin of a host;
a reservoir storing a quantity of an active composition;
valve mechanism for supplying a quantity of the active composition from the reservoir to the interface in response to a control signal; and
a timing mechanism coupled to the valve mechanism and configured to generate the control signal according to a programmed administration schedule.
9 . The device of claim 7 wherein the valve mechanism controls a rate at which the active composition is supplied in response to the control signal.
10 . The device of claim 7 further comprising a mechanism for removing the active composition from the interface in response to the control signal.
11 . The device of claim 7 further comprising a mechanism for removing carrier materials from the interface.
12 . A kit comprising a first container comprising a pharmaceutical formulation of an active material, said formulation comprising an amount of active material effective to treat a symptom, condition, and/or disease, wherein said first container is adapted to coupled to a programmable transdermal drug delivery system.
13 . The kit of claim 11 wherein the first container includes a specification of an administration schedule that is used to program the programmable transdermal drug delivery system.
14 . A method for delivering a drug to a human or animal comprising:
providing a transdermal drug delivery device coupled to the human or animal, the delivery device having a source of the drug, a programmable timing mechanism, and a mechanism
for causing the drug to be delivered transdermally in response to the timing mechanism; and
timing routines implemented by the timing mechanism, wherein the timing routines are selected to deliver the drug at a time when the human or animal is expected to be asleep.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the timing routines initiate drug delivery at a time when the human or animal is expected to be asleep.
16 . The method of claim 13 wherein the timing routines terminate drug delivery at a time when the human or animal is expected to be asleep.
17 . The method of claim 13 wherein the timing routines increase the dosage of drug delivered at a time when the human or animal is expected to be asleep.
18 . The method of claim 13 wherein the timing routines decrease the dosage of drug delivered at a time when the human or animal is expected to be asleep.