Therapeutic agent delivery system and method

Claim 2

A therapeutic agent delivery system comprising: housing means defining a cavity divided by a semipermeable membrane into a donor chamber of substantially constant volume adapted to hold the therapeutic agent and a receiving chamber adapted to receive the therapeutic agent from the donor chamber through the membrane; an anode and a cathode in communication with the cavity with at least one of the anode and cathode being in communication with the donor chamber such that the therapeutic agent remains in the donor chamber until an electromotive force of a sufficient amount is applied between the anode and cathode whereby at least a portion of the therapeutic agent passes from the donor chamber to the receiving chamber; and delivery means for delivering the therapeuric agent from the receiving chamber to a patient.

Claim 3

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the anode is in communication with the donor chamber and the cathode is in fluid communication with the receiving chamber.

Claim 4

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the anode and cathode are in communication with the donor chamber.

Claim 5

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 3 wherein the membrane is made of a hydrophobic material.

Claim 6

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the membrane is made of material which is permeable to cations but is substantially impermeable to anions.

Claim 7

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 5 wherein the membrane is made of an anionic polymer.

Claim 8

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the delivery means includes an outlet in fluid communication with the receiving chamber.

Claim 9

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 7 wherein the delivery means further includes an inlet in fluid communication with the receiving chamber such that a flow of liquid from the inlet to the outlet mixes with the therapeutic agent in the receiving chamber before delivery to the patient.

Claim 10

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 including power source means for generating the electromotive force.

Claim 11

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 9 including control means for controlling the electromotive force generated by power source means over time.

Claim 12

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 10 wherein the system is adapted for implantation in a living body.

Claim 13

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the donor chamber is defined within the receiving chamber.

Claim 14

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the receiving chamber is defined within the donor chamber.

Claim 15

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 1 including a therapeutic agent received in the donor chamber.

Claim 16

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 14 wherein the therapeutic agent is a drug.

Claim 17

A therapeutic agent delivery system comprising: (a) a first housing defining a donor chamber adapted to hold the therapeutic agent; (b) a second housing defining a receiving chamber adapted to receive the therapeutic agent; (c) a semipermeable membrane in fluid contact with and separating the donor chamber and the receiving chamber, the membrane being of a material which is ion selective; (d) a first electrode exposed within the donor chamber; (e) a second electrode exposed within the receiving chamber such that the therapeutic agent remains in the donor chamber until an electromotive force of a sufficient amount is applied between the first and second electrodes and when the electromotive force is no longer applied between the electrode, no further therapeutic agent is delivered to the receiving chamber; (f) an inlet on the second housing in fluid communication with the receiving chamber; and (g) an outlet on the second housing in fluid communication with the receiving chamber.

Claim 18

A therapeutic agent delivery system comprising: (a) a first housing defining a donor chamber adapted to hold the therapeutic agent; (b) a second housing defining a receiving chamber adapted to receive the therapeutic agent; (c) a semipermeable membrane in fluid contact with and separating the donor chamber and the receiving chamber, the membrane being of a material which is ion selective; (d) a first electrode exposed within the donor chamber; (e) a second electrode exposed within the receiving chamber such that the therapeutic agent remains in the donor chamber until an electromotive force of a sufficient amount is applied between the first and second electrodes and when the electromotive force is no longer applied between the electrode, no further therapeutic agent is delivered to the receiving chamber; (f) an inlet on the second housing in fluid communication with the receiving chamber; and (g) an outlet on the second housing in fluid communication with the receiving chamber.

Claim 19

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 16 wherein the semipermeable membrane is made of a material that is permeable to cations but is substantially impermeable to anions and the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.

Claim 20

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 17 wherein the membrane is made of an anionic polymer.

Claim 21

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 18 wherein the polymer is chosen from the group consisting of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers carboxylic acid polymers, and phosphoric acid polymers.

Claim 22

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 16 including power source means for generating the electromotive force.

Claim 23

The therapeutic agent delivery system of claim 20 including control means for controlling the electromotive force generated by power source means over time.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22 wherein the anode and cathode are exposed within the chamber and the membrane is made of a hydrophobic material.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22 wherein the electromotive force changes the therapeutic agent from its ionized state to a neutral state.

Claim 28

The method of claim 22 wherein the membrane is made of an ion selective material and the anode and cathode are located on opposite sides of the membrane to generate a driving electromotive force across the membrane.

Claim 29

The method of claim 22 wherein the electromotive force varies over time.

Claim 30

The method of claim 22 wherein the agent passing through the membrane is delivered to the patient by a flow of a physiologically tolerable liquid.