Transdermal drug delivery devices having coated microprotrusions

摘要

A device ( 12 ) and method are provided for percutaneous transdermal delivery of a potent pharmacologically active agent. The agent is dissolved in water to form an aqueous coating solution having an appropriate viscosity for coating extremely tiny skin piercing elements ( 10 ). The coating solution is applied to the skin piercing elements ( 10 ) using known coating techniques and then dried. The device ( 12 ) is applied to the skin of a living animal (e.g., a human), causing the microprotrusions ( 10 ) to pierce the stratum corneum and deliver a therapeutically effect dose of the agent to the animal.