Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
An agent formulator for use in a parenteral fluid delivery system, the formulator comprising: (a) a chamber having fluid inlet and outlet means to maintain a continuous flow of the parenteral fluid therethrough, the chamber having a wall portion comprised of a material that (1) is permeable to a beneficial agent to be delivered into the fluid and (2) prevents convective flow of parenteral fluid therethrough, the wall portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface which is accessible from the exterior of the formulator; (b) a flow distributor within the chamber for distributing the flow of parenteral fluid along the interior surface of the wall portion; and (c) a transdermal-type agent delivery device attached to the exterior surface of the wall portion, the delivery device comprising a reservoir containing the beneficial agent, the reservior being releasably attached to the exterior surface of the wall portion; wherein in operation, the fluid flowing through the chamber is distributed by the flow distributor along the interior surface of the wall portion, causing the agent to be delivered from the device through the wall portion and into the flowing fluid, the agent being delivered at a rate which is controlled substantially by the formulator and which is substantially independent of volumetric flow rate of the fluid flowing through the chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
An agent formulator for use in a parenteral fluid delivery system, the formulator comprising: (a) a chamber having fluid inlet and outlet means to maintain a continuous flow of the parenteral fluid therethrough, the chamber having a wall portion comprised of a material that (1) is permeable to a beneficial agent to be delivered into the fluid and (2) prevents convective flow of parenteral fluid therethrough, the wall portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface which is accessible from the exterior of the formulator; (b) a flow distributor within the chamber for distributing the flow of parenteral fluid along the interior surface of the wall portion; and (c) a transdermal-type agent delivery device attached to the exterior surface of the wall portion, the delivery device comprising a reservoir containing the beneficial agent, the reservior being releasably attached to the exterior surface of the wall portion; wherein in operation, the fluid flowing through the chamber is distributed by the flow distributor along the interior surface of the wall portion, causing the agent to be delivered from the device through the wall portion and into the flowing fluid, the agent being delivered at a rate which is controlled substantially by the formulator and which is substantially independent of volumetric flow rate of the fluid flowing through the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the delivery device comprises a laminate including: (1) a backing member, (2) a middle reservoir containing the beneficial agent, and (3) an adhesive surface adapted to releasably adhere to the exterior surface of the wall portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the agent is a drug and the parenteral fluid is an intravenously acceptable fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the delivery device includes a membrane interposed between the beneficial agent reservoir and the wall portion, the membrane controlling the rate at which the delivery device delivers the beneficial agent into the chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the chamber is cylindrically shaped and said wall portion extends around the entire circumference of the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The formulator of claim 5, wherein the flow distributor comprises a cylindrically shaped member fixedly positioned within the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the flow distributor channels the IV fluid flow into a constricted space between the flow distributor and the wall portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the rate at which the agent is delivered into the chamber is controlled by the wall portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the wall portion is comprised of a solution-diffusion membrane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the wall portion is comprised of a microporous membrane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the wall portion has a size and shape enabling a plurality of agent delivery devices to be attached to the exterior surface thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the delivery device is releasably adhered to the wall portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the agent is osmotically active.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The formulator of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises a drug and an osmotically active solute.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for the controlled parenteral administration of beneficial agent to an animal, which method comprises: (a) allowing a pharmaceutically acceptable parenteral fluid, which is a carrier for the agent, to flow through an agent formulator with a chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with a container of the parenteral fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the animal, the chamber also having a wall portion that (1) is permeable to the beneficial agent and (2) prevents convective flow of parenteral fluid therethrough, the wall portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface which is accessible from the exterior of the formulator; (b) a distributing the flow of parenteral fluid along the interior surface of the wall portion; and (c) releasably attaching a transdermal type agent delivery device to the exterior surface of the wall portion, the delivery device including a reservoir containing the beneficial agent; wherein in operation, the fluid flowing through the chamber is distributed along the interior surface of the wall portion, causing the agent to be delivered from the device through the wall portion and into the flowing fluid, thereby administering the agent to the animal in a beneficially effective amount over a prolonged period of time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for the controlled parenteral administration of beneficial agent to an animal, which method comprises: (a) allowing a pharmaceutically acceptable parenteral fluid, which is a carrier for the agent, to flow through an agent formulator with a chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with a container of the parenteral fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the animal, the chamber also having a wall portion that (1) is permeable to the beneficial agent and (2) prevents convective flow of parenteral fluid therethrough, the wall portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface which is accessible from the exterior of the formulator; (b) a distributing the flow of parenteral fluid along the interior surface of the wall portion; and (c) releasably attaching a transdermal type agent delivery device to the exterior surface of the wall portion, the delivery device including a reservoir containing the beneficial agent; wherein in operation, the fluid flowing through the chamber is distributed along the interior surface of the wall portion, causing the agent to be delivered from the device through the wall portion and into the flowing fluid, thereby administering the agent to the animal in a beneficially effective amount over a prolonged period of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the agent is released at a rate which is controlled by the delivery device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the agent is released at a rate which is controlled by the wall portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the animal is a human and the agent is a drug.