A patch system for use on the skin of a human or animal subject for predictive testing, diagnostic testing and to serve as a dermal delivery system for drugs. The patch system comprises an open, one-piece, inverted dish-shaped housing of non-toxic, inert, soft and flexible material. About its periphery the chamber terminates in a pair of parallel, spaced, continuous skin-contacting edges. The housing may contain an absorbent pad. The housing is mounted on a piece of adhesive coated tape by which it is affixed to the skin. Prior to use, the adhesive tape and the housing of the patch system may be provided with a protective release paper.

The present invention relates to an application unit to be used for epicutaneous testing to clarify the etiology and diagnosis of allergic contact eczema and for the administration of therapeutically active substances for topical treatment of skin diseases, and comprising a carrier which consists a number of application devices each one of said devices is supplied with an application surface for one substance. The application device is composed of a nonabsorbent material. The said application surface is essentially located at the same level with the carrier's adhesive surface and is surrounded by an annular groove. The application units are covered by a covering layer which is provided with domes located above each application device and encompass the substances hermatically.

A patch system for use on the skin of a human or animal subject for predictive testing, diagnostic testing and to serve as a dermal delivery system for drugs. The patch system comprises an open, one-piece, inverted dish-shaped housing of non-toxic, inert, soft and flexible material. About its periphery the housing terminates in at least one and preferably a pair of parallel, spaced, continuous, skin-contacting edges. The housing may contain an absorbent pad. About its periphery and spaced slightly upwardly from the one or more skin-contacting edges, the housing has a planar flange extending outwardly from its exterior surface. The bottom surface of the flange is adhesive coated. The adhesive coated flange affixes the housing to the skin. Prior to use, the housing and its peripheral flange may be provided with a protective release paper.

A composition and method for testing and evaluating a person's sensitivity to metals, such as mercury and nickel includes an inorganic salt of that metal carried by a mixture of propylene glycol and deionized water. In the case of mercury, a base solution having 5% by weight of mercury chloride in deionized water is mixed with propylene glycol so that the resulting composition has between 0.1% and 2.5% by volume of the base solution. For nickel, between 4% and 7% by weight of nickel sulfate is mixed with a 50-50 mixture of propylene glycol and deionized water. The method includes the steps of measuring first values of the person's vital signs, applying the mercury or nickel composition to the skin by way of a bandage, measuring second values of the vital signs after a lapse of time, and comparing the first and second values.

A drug delivery system for the removal of dermal lesions which includes a pad of viscoelastic rubber and oil gel, perfused with a pharmacologically active substance, which is partially encapsulated between a first layer of oil and water impermeable material and a second layer of oil and water impermeable material. The second layer includes an aperture, corresponding to the dimension of the dermal lesion, which is smaller than, and located within, the periphery of the adjacent medicated viscoelastic rubber and oil gel pad. The two layers of oil and water impermeable material are bonded together to form a seal about the periphery of the viscoelastic rubber and oil gel pad. The surface of the patch which is affixed to a wearer's skin is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The viscoelastic rubber and oil pad and the encapsulating layers preferably are transparent.