Medication administering device

Claim 2

A medication administering device, comprising: a housing of a size enabling it to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject; a displaceable member in the interior of the housing and defining first and second expansible-contractible chambers therein; said first chamber including an opening and being adapted to receive medication to be delivered through said opening when said device is in the body cavity; gas generating means for supplying a gas to said second chamber to expand it and thereby to force medication from said first chamber out through said opening into the body cavity, said gas generating means including electrically-controlled means for generating a gas when energized; and a sensor within said housing for sensing a condition in the body cavity and for controlling said electrically-controlled means in response thereto.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1, wherein said displaceable member is a diaphragm.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 1, wherein said opening is initially closed by a material which is soluble in the body cavity fluids.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically-controlled means includes an electrolytic cell having an electrolyte generating a gas in accordance with the electrical current passed through the electrolyte.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 4, wherein said device further includes a pre-programmable microprocessor for controlling the electrical current to said electrolytic cell and thereby the time and rate at which medication is forced out of said first chamber.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing further includes a radio frequency receiver for receiving a radio frequency signal for controlling said electrically-controlled means.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing further includes an electrical switch manually actuatable from externally of the housing for actuating said electrically-controlled means.

Claim 9

The device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically-controlled means includes an electrical switch magnetically actuated by a magnetic field externally of the subject.

Claim 10

The device according to claim 1, wherein said gas generating means is in said second chamber.

Claim 11

The device according to claim 1, wherein said gas generating means is included in a second housing which is attached to the first-mentioned housing when introduced into the body cavity of a subject and which is also of a material insoluble in the body cavity fluids, the two housings being formed with aligned openings for feeding gas generated in said second housing into said second chamber of the first-mentioned housing.

Claim 12

A medication administering device, comprising: a housing of a size enabling it to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject; a displaceable member in the interior of the housing and defining first and second expansible-contractible chambers therein; said first chamber including an opening and being adapted to receive medication to be delivered through said opening when said device is in the body cavity; and gas generating means for supplying a gas to said second chamber to expand it and thereby to force medication from said first chamber out through said opening into the body cavity, said gas generating means including electrically-controlled means for generating a gas when energized; the outer surface of the housing including spaced, diverse metal elements which are bridged by the body cavity fluids to generate an electromotive force for supplying current to the electrically-controlled means.

Claim 13

A medication administering device, comprising: a housing of a size enabling it to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject; a displaceable member in the interior of the housing and defining first and second expansible-contractible chambers therein; said first chamber including an opening and being adapted to receive medication to be delivered through said opening when said device is in the body cavity; and gas generating means for supplying a gas to said second chamber to expand it and thereby to force medication from said first chamber out through said opening into the body cavity, said gas generating means including electrically-controlled means for generating a gas when energized; the outer surface of the housing including spaced, diverse metal elements which are bridged by the body cavity fluids to generate an electromotive force for supplying current to the electrically-controlled means.

Claim 14

The device according to claim 11, wherein said diverse metal elements are in the form of spaced strips wound on the outer surface of said housing.

Claim 15

The device according to claim 11, wherein said housing includes a battery for supplying current to the electrically-controlled means.

Claim 16

The device according to claim 11, wherein said housing includes a sensor for sensing a condition in the body cavity and for controlling said electrically-controlled means in response thereto.

Claim 17

A medication administering device, comprising: a housing of a size enabling it to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject; a displaceable member in the interior of the housing and defining first and second expansible-contractible chambers therein; said first chamber including an opening and being adapted to receive medication to be delivered through said opening when said device is in the body cavity; and gas generating means for supplying a gas to said second chamber to expand it and thereby to force medication from said first chamber out through said opening into the body cavity, said gas generating means including electrically-controlled means for generating a gas when energized; said housing including an outer sheath of a liquid-swellable material which swells when in contact with body cavity fluids and disintegrates over a period of time in the body cavity, to thereby control the residence time of the device in the body cavity.

Claim 18

A medication administering device, comprising: a housing of a size enabling it to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject; a displaceable member in the interior of the housing and defining first and second expansible-contractible chambers therein; said first chamber including an opening and being adapted to receive medication to be delivered through said opening when said device is in the body cavity; and gas generating means for supplying a gas to said second chamber to expand it and thereby to force medication from said first chamber out through said opening into the body cavity, said gas generating means including electrically-controlled means for generating a gas when energized; said housing including an outer sheath of a liquid-swellable material which swells when in contact with body cavity fluids and disintegrates over a period of time in the body cavity, to thereby control the residence time of the device in the body cavity.

Claim 19

A medication administering device, comprising: a first housing of a size enabling it to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject, said housing being of a material insoluble in body cavity fluids but being formed with an opening; a plug which is soluble in the body cavity fluids closing said opening; a displaceable diaphragm in the interior of the housing and defining first and second expansible-contractible chambers therein; said first chamber including said opening and being adapted to receive medication to be delivered through said opening when said device is in the body cavity; and gas generating means in said second chamber for supplying a gas to said second chamber to expand it and thereby to force medication from said first chamber out through said opening into the body cavity; said has generating means in included in a second housing which is attached to said first housing when introduced into the body cavity of a subject and which is also of a material insoluble in the body cavity fluids, the two housing being formed with aligned openings for feeding gas generated in said second housing into said second chamber of the first-mentioned housing.

Claim 20

A medication administering device, comprising: a first housing of a size enabling it to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject, said housing being of a material insoluble in body cavity fluids but being formed with an opening; a plug which is soluble in the body cavity fluids closing said opening; a displaceable diaphragm in the interior of the housing and defining first and second expansible-contractible chambers therein; said first chamber including said opening and being adapted to receive medication to be delivered through said opening when said device is in the body cavity; and gas generating means in said second chamber for supplying a gas to said second chamber to expand it and thereby to force medication from said first chamber out through said opening into the body cavity; said has generating means in included in a second housing which is attached to said first housing when introduced into the body cavity of a subject and which is also of a material insoluble in the body cavity fluids, the two housing being formed with aligned openings for feeding gas generated in said second housing into said second chamber of the first-mentioned housing.

Claim 21

The device according to claim 16, wherein said first housing is bio-degradable, and said second housing is not bio-degradable.

Claim 22

The device according to claim 16, wherein said device further includes a pre-programmable microprocessor for controlling the time and rate of gas generating by said gas generating means, and thereby the time and rate at which said medication is forced out of said first chamber.