Abstract A drug delivery device for the continuous administration of a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged time is comprised of a drug delivery device attached to a support means for maintaining the device in the environment of use. The device is comprised of a housing with an internal space that acts as a reservoir for containing a drug and a discharge means communicating between the reservoir and the exterior of the device for releasing drug therefrom. The drug delivery device and the support are optionally contained in a container, and in the environment of use, the device is released from the container and the support inflated. Drug is discharged from the reservoir by the reservoir walls collapsing to exert an internal pressure against the drug to urge it through the discharge means. On completion of the drug discharge from the reservoir, the support collapses enabling the device to pass from the environment of use.
A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of a drug to an environment of use to produce a therapeutic effect comprising: a hollow expandable closed member having therein self-contained means for expanding the member and self-contained means for contracting the member after a given period of time of expansion, the member being affixed to drug delivering means for delivering a drug at a controlled rate over the given period of time, the delivering means comprising a drug, elastomeric container means defining a single compartment for enclosing the drug and applying an elastomeric pressure to the drug and discharge means communicating with the drug for discharging the drug at a controlled rate from the container by the elastomeric pressure, the delivering means thereby causing a therapeutically effective amount of drug to be released through the discharge means for the given period of time while the member is in an expanded state, thereafter the means for contracting causing the member to contract.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of a drug to an environment of use to produce a therapeutic effect comprising: a hollow expandable closed member having therein self-contained means for expanding the member and self-contained means for contracting the member after a given period of time of expansion, the member being affixed to drug delivering means for delivering a drug at a controlled rate over the given period of time, the delivering means comprising a drug, elastomeric container means defining a single compartment for enclosing the drug and applying an elastomeric pressure to the drug and discharge means communicating with the drug for discharging the drug at a controlled rate from the container by the elastomeric pressure, the delivering means thereby causing a therapeutically effective amount of drug to be released through the discharge means for the given period of time while the member is in an expanded state, thereafter the means for contracting causing the member to contract.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of drug according to claim 1 wherein the self-contained means for expanding the member comprises a liquid that vaporizes at physiological temperature to produce a gas which expands the hollow expandable closed member from a collapsed position to an expanded position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of a drug according to claim 2 wherein the self-contained means for contracting the member comprises means for venting the interior of the member to the environment of use.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of drug according to claim 3 wherein the means for venting the interior of the member to the environment of use comprises a bioerodible plug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of drug according to claim 3 wherein the means for venting comprises the hollow expandable closed member, thE member being formed of a material that lets the gas slowly diffuse through the material to the environment of use.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of drug according to claim 1 additionally comprising an outer bioerodible container.