Spreading implement

Abstract

An implement for applying a volume of liquid to a treatment surface includes a support onto which is mounted a receptacle. The receptacle defines a reservoir space which receives the liquid. The receptacle includes a wall having a working surface that is used to spread the liquid over the treatment surface. The wall is resiliently deformable such that in use the working surface maintains contact with the treatment surface when spreading the liquid. The implement is used in applying a transdermal lotion to the axilla area of a user. A system for transdermal administration of a physiological active agent from a liquid composition and a method of conducting the same are also provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An implement for applying a volume of liquid to a treatment surface including a support means onto which is mounted, a receptacle defining a reservoir space which receives the volume of liquid, the receptacle having a base and a wall, the wall is substantially transverse to the base and has a working surface that is used to spread the liquid over the treatment surface, at least the wall is resiliently deformable so in use the working surface maintains contact with the treatment surface when spreading the liquid. 
     
     
         2 . An implement according to  claim 1  wherein the base is resiliently deformable and formed integrally with the base, the base and the wall being formed from a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         3 . An implement according to  claim 1  wherein the support means is releasably attached to the receptacle, and the support means is relatively rigid in comparison to at least the wall of the receptacle so that at least the wall is movable relative to the support means when applying the liquid. 
     
     
         4 . An implement according to  claim 3  wherein the wall includes a skirt portion a lower edge of which is attached to the support means. 
     
     
         5 . An implement according to  claim 1  wherein the support means is detachably connectable to a dispensing means that is operable to dispense the volume of liquid into the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . An implement according to  claim 5  wherein the wall includes an inner portion that is located between the skirt and the base, wherein the inner portion extends from the base at an angle greater than or equal to 90° and is continuous from the base to the working surface. 
     
     
         7 . An implement according to  claim 6  wherein the working surface includes the inner wall and the skirt. 
     
     
         8 . An implement according to  claim 7  wherein the working surface is substantially convex. 
     
     
         9 . An implement according to  claim 5  wherein the skirt is substantially parallel to the inner portion. 
     
     
         10 . An implement according to  claim 1  wherein the treatment surface is the users skin. 
     
     
         11 . An implement according to  claim 1  wherein the treatment surface is the axilla area of the user's skin. 
     
     
         12 . A system for transdermal administration of a physiologically active agent from a liquid composition, the system including
 a container containing the liquid composition including the physiologically active agent,   a dispensing means for delivering liquid from the container; and   an applicator for applying the liquid to an area of skin for transdermal administration said applicator including a receptacle defining a reservoir space which receives a volume of liquid from the container, the receptacle having a base and a resiliently deformable wall substantially transverse to the base having a working surface that is used to spread the liquid over the area of the skin surface.   
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the composition includes a penetration enhancer. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13  wherein the penetration enhancer is selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, glycols and glycol esters, 1,3-dioxolanes and 1,3-dioxanes, macrocyclic ketones containing at least 12 carbon atoms, oxazolidinones and oxazolidinone derivatives, alkyl-2-(N,N-disubstituted amino)-alkanoate esters, (N,N-disubstituted amino)-alkanol alkanoates, sunscreen esters and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 13  wherein the penetration enhancer is one or a mixture of octyl dimethyl-para-aminobenzoate, octyl para-methyoxycinnamate and octyl salicylate. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 13  wherein the composition includes from 1 to 15% by weight of the total composition of a penetration enhancer. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the composition includes from about 40-90% by weight of volatile solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, ethyl acetate, isopropanol, acetone, ethyl formate, methyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, pentane, chloroform, dimethyl ether, R134a and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the physiologically active agent includes at least one hormone selected from the group consisting of oestrogens, progestagens and androgens. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the physicologically active agent is an androgen selected from testosterone and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A method of transdermal administration of a physiologically active agent to a subject including
 providing an implement according to  claim 1 ;   applying a liquid including the physiologically active agent to the reservoir; and   deforming the wall of the receptacle containing the liquid against the skin of the subject and spreading the liquid over the area of the skin surface in at least one axilla.