Implant for directed infusion of biologically active substances

Claim 2

An implant for the infusion of efficient substances comprising a hollow body formed of a physiologically inert elastic hydrophilic material, said body being formed of a cupped portion comprising a continuous substantially impermeable thick wall defining an interior chamber for receipt and storage of said substance and an opening, a permeable membrane integrally secured to said body and covering said opening to enclose said chamber, said membrane permitting directed diffusion of said substance stored within said chamber outwardly of said opening and at least one channel extending through said thick wall portion from said interior chamber to the outside of said body for access to said interior chamber for supplying said substance to said chamber.

Claim 3

The implant according to claim 1 wherein the inert material is a sparingly cross-linked polymer with the linear swelling capacity in the range from 10 to 45 percent.

Claim 4

The implant according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic material is a copolymer of glycol methacrylate or acrylate, respectively, containing up to 2 weight percent of glycol dimethacrylate or acrylate, respectively, and up to 3 weight percent of free methacrylic or acrylic acid, respectively.

Claim 5

The implant according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is reinforced with textile.

Claim 6

The implant according to claim 1 wherein the membrane is formed from a material different from the implant body.

Claim 7

The implant according to claim 1 wherein the body is cup shaped, and wherein the rim of said cup shaped body is formed with a groove and the edges of said membrane are anchored therein.

Claim 8

The implant according to claim 1 wherein said body is reinforced with an inner core of hydrophobic material.

Claim 9

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adapted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completing the surrounding of said chamber, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic biocompatible polymer of a hydroxy lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 10

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adapted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completing the surrounding of said chamber, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic biocompatible polymer of a hydroxy lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 11

A body implant device according to claim 8 including a medicament.

Claim 12

A body implant device according to claim 8 wherein said first and second conduit means both pass through said wall means to said chamber.

Claim 13

A body implant device according to claim 8 having a single membrane means.

Claim 14

A body implant device according to claim 8 having a plurality of spaced apart membrane means.

Claim 15

A body implant device according to claim 8 wherein the hydroxy lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate is hydroxyethyl methacrylate.

Claim 16

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adopted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough at least partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completely surrounding both said chamber and said wall means, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a biologically incompatible material and an extremely thin coating of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic, biocompatible polymer of a hydroxy lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate surrounding all externally exposed portions of said wall means and said membrane means, said coating being sufficiently thin that it does not interfere with fluid transport through said membrane means, a first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and a second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 17

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adopted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough at least partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completely surrounding both said chamber and said wall means, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a biologically incompatible material and an extremely thin coating of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic, biocompatible polymer of a hydroxy lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate surrounding all externally exposed portions of said wall means and said membrane means, said coating being sufficiently thin that it does not interfere with fluid transport through said membrane means, a first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and a second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 18

A body implant device according to claim 14 including a medicament.

Claim 19

A body implant device according to claim 14 wherein said first and second conduit means both pass through said wall means to said chamber.

Claim 20

A body implant device according to claim 14 wherein said wall means partially surrounds said chamber and said membrane means completes the surrounding of said chamber.

Claim 21

A body implant device according to claim 17 having a single membrane means.

Claim 22

A body implant device according to claim 14 wherein the hydroxy lower alkyl acrylate or methacrylate is hydroxyethyl methacrylate.

Claim 23

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adapted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completing the surrounding of said chamber, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic polymer of a member of the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl methacrylates, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-lower alkyl acrylamide, N-lower alkyl methacrylamide N-hydroxy lower alkyl acrylamide and N-hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylamide first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 24

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adapted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completing the surrounding of said chamber, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic polymer of a member of the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl methacrylates, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-lower alkyl acrylamide, N-lower alkyl methacrylamide N-hydroxy lower alkyl acrylamide and N-hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylamide first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 25

A body implant device according to claim 20 including a medicament.

Claim 26

A body implant device according to claim 20 wherein said first and second conduit means both pass through said wall means to said chamber.

Claim 27

A body implant device according to claim 20 having a single membrane means.

Claim 28

A body implant deVice according to claim 23 wherein the wall means and the membrane means are made of a member of the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl acrylates and hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylates.

Claim 29

A body implant device according to claim 24 wherein the wall means and the membrane means are made of hydroxy-ethyl methacrylate.

Claim 30

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adopted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough at least partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completing the surrounding of said chamber, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a biologically incompatible material and an extremely thin coating of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic, biocompatible polymer of a member of the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl methacrylates, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-lower alkyl acrylamide, N-lower alkyl methacrylamide, N-hydroxy lower alkyl acrylamide and N-hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylamide surrounding all externally exposed portions of said wall means and said membrane means, said coating being sufficiently thin that it does not interfere with fluid transport through said membrane means, a first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and a second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 31

A body implant device for delivery of a medicament over a long period of time comprising a chamber adopted to receive a medicament, body wall means sufficiently thick to be resistant to fluid flow therethrough at least partially surrounding said chamber, relatively thin fluid permeable membrane means engaging said wall means and completing the surrounding of said chamber, said membrane means permitting transport of fluids between the body and said chamber, said membrane means being not over one-half the thickness of said wall means, said wall means and said membrane means being made of a biologically incompatible material and an extremely thin coating of a water insoluble hydrophilic non toxic, biocompatible polymer of a member of the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl acrylates, hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl methacrylates, vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-lower alkyl acrylamide, N-lower alkyl methacrylamide, N-hydroxy lower alkyl acrylamide and N-hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylamide surrounding all externally exposed portions of said wall means and said membrane means, said coating being sufficiently thin that it does not interfere with fluid transport through said membrane means, a first conduit means for feeding medicament to said chamber and a second conduit means for rapid removal of medicament from said chamber.

Claim 32

A body implant device according to claim 26 including a medicament.

Claim 33

A body implant device according to claim 26 wherein said membrane means completely surrounds said wall means.

Claim 34

A body implant device according to claim 26 wherein said wall means partially surrounds said chamber and said membrane means completes the surrounding of said chamber.

Claim 35

A body implant device according to claim 29 having a single membrane means.