SINGLE USE APPLICATOR CARTRIDGE FOR AN ELECTROKINETIC DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELF ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAMENTS

1 . An applicator cartridge for use with a device for electrokinetically delivering a medicament to a treatment site, the cartridge comprising:

an applicator head including an active electrode, and a conductive path extending between a pair of electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts electrically engage respective contacts on the device when the cartridge is inserted into the device;

a matrix support surface of said applicator head adjacent the active electrode;

a matrix attached to the matrix support surface and in contact with the active electrode, the matrix having an exposed surface adapted to be applied to the treatment site;

a medicament or a medicament and an electrically conductive carrier carried by said matrix;

a removable lid covering the exposed surface of the matrix and sealed to the applicator head, the lid is coupled to the applicator head, wherein removal of the lid breaks the conductive path.

2 . The applicator as in claim 1 wherein the lid includes a tab of the lid sealed to the conductive path, as the lid peels off the applicator head the removal of the tab breaks the conductive path.

3 . The applicator as in claims 1 wherein the matrix is attached in a recess of the head, the head includes a rim at the periphery of the recess, and the lid is sealed to the rim.

4 . The applicator as in claim 1 wherein the lid includes a tab sealed to a side surface of the rim and the conductive path includes conductive strips on the side surface, wherein the tab is secured to the conductive strips while the lid is sealed to the applicator head.

5 . The applicator as in claim 1 wherein the lid includes a conductive tab that adheres to the side surface and forms part of the conductive path while the lid is secured to the cartridge.

6 . The applicator as in claim 1 wherein said lid comprises layers including a metallic material, and the metallic material layer includes tab is electrically connected to the conductive path.

7 . The applicator as in claim 1 wherein said lid is heat sealed to the applicator head.

8 . The applicator as in claim 1 wherein the contacts on the applicator head are metallic strips adhering to the applicator head on at least one side of prongs extending from the lid.

9 . An applicator cartridge for use with a device for electrokinetically delivering a medicament to a treatment site comprising:

an applicator head including an active electrode and a conductive path extending between contacts of the head wherein the contacts electrically contact the device when the cartridge is inserted in the device;

a matrix support surface of said applicator head adjacent the active electrode;

a matrix attached to the matrix support surface and in contact with the active electrode, the matrix having an exposed surface adapted to be applied to the treatment site;

a medicament or a medicament and an electrically conductive carrier carried by said matrix;

a removable lid covering the exposed surface of the matrix and sealed to the applicator head, wherein the lid is coupled to the applicator head and completes the conductive path of the applicator head, wherein removal of the lid breaks the conductive path.

10 . The applicator as in claim 9 where the lid includes a tab sealed to the applicator head and engaging the conductive path extending between contacts on the applicator head, wherein removal of the lid breaks the conductive path.

11 . The applicator as in claim 10 wherein the tab is fixed to the conductive path and the tab is releasably attached to the applicator head.

12 . The application as in claim 9 wherein the conductive path is a metallic foil strip.

13 . A method of preventing reuse of an applicator cartridge for use with a device for electrokinetically delivering medicament to a treatment site on skin, the method comprising:

mounting a medicament pad in the applicator cartridge wherein the medicament pad is in electrical contact with an active electrode and has an exposed front surface to be applied to the treatment site;

sealing a lid to the applicator cartridge to cover the front surface of the medicament pad;

establishing a conductive path on the applicator cartridge that extends between contacts on the cartridge;

inserting the applicator cartridge in the device and making electrical connections between the device and the cartridge;

applying an electrical current from the device through the conductive path on the cartridge;

if the electrical current passes through the conductive path, authorizing the applicator cartridge to deliver the medicament to the treatment site;

removing the lid from the applicator cartridge;

applying the exposed front surface to the treatment site and electrokinetically delivering the medicament through the treatment site, and

by the removal of the lid, breaking the conductive path and disabling the device from delivering the medicament to the treatment site if the cartridge is reinserted into the device.

14 . A method as in claim 13 wherein the authorization of the applicator cartridge is for a single delivery of medicament to the treatment site.

15 . A method as in claim 13 wherein the authorization of the applicator cartridge is for a predetermined period of time.

16 . A method as in claims 13 includes determining whether the current passes through the conductive path within a predetermined period of time after the cartridge is inserted into the device.

17 . A method as in claim 13 including determining whether the current passes through the conductive path within three seconds after the cartridge is inserted into the device.

18 . A method as in claim 13 wherein removal of the lid creates a non-conductive gap in the conductive path.

19 . A method as in claim 13 wherein the lid includes a tab sealed to the conductive path, and removal of the lid includes removal of the tab to break the conductive path.

20 . A method as in claims 13 wherein insertion of the cartridge into the device automatically triggers the device to apply an electrical potential across the contacts to pass current through the conductive path.

21 . A method as in claim 19 wherein the conductive path extends between prongs of the applicator cartridge and the device applies an electric potential to contacts on the prongs.

22 . A method of preventing reuse of an applicator cartridge for use with a device for electrokinetically delivering medicament to a treatment site on skin, the method comprising:

mounting a medicament pad in the applicator cartridge wherein the medicament pad is in electrical contact with an active electrode and has an exposed front surface to be applied to the treatment site;

including an electronically readable indicia on the applicator cartridge, wherein the indicia identifies the cartridge;

inserting the applicator cartridge in the device and making electrical connections between the device and the active electrode and with the indicia;

electronically reading the indicia with a processor or logic circuit in the device to determine if the cartridge has been previously used to deliver a medicament;

applying the exposed front surface to the treatment site;

if the determination is that the cartridge has not been previously used, applying electrical current from the device to the active electrode on the cartridge, and

by the application of the electrical current to the active electrode, electrokinetically delivering the medicament to the treatment site.

23 . The method of claim 22 further comprising preventing the application of electrical current from the active electrode of the device upon a determination that the cartridge has been used previously.