Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A controlled release drug formulation in the form of a cylindrical rod having an axial length comprising: (a) a nondisintegrating inner layer having a cross-sectional diameter and a circumference wherein said inner layer is comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamino acids, silicones, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and polyvinyl alcohols that contains at least one uniformly dispersed water-soluble drug as the only active agent(s), and (b) an outer layer comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic polymer wherein said outer layer surrounds the circumference of the inner layer and the outer layer is impermeable to water and is capable of controlling the swelling of the inner layer; wherein the ratio of the axial length of the drug formulation to the cross-sectional diameter of the inner layer is one or more and at least one end of the inner layer is open so as to come into contact with any external environment, and wherein the drug is released at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time exclusively through said open end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A controlled release drug formulation in the form of a cylindrical rod having an axial length comprising: (a) a nondisintegrating inner layer having a cross-sectional diameter and a circumference wherein said inner layer is comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamino acids, silicones, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and polyvinyl alcohols that contains at least one uniformly dispersed water-soluble drug as the only active agent(s), and (b) an outer layer comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic polymer wherein said outer layer surrounds the circumference of the inner layer and the outer layer is impermeable to water and is capable of controlling the swelling of the inner layer; wherein the ratio of the axial length of the drug formulation to the cross-sectional diameter of the inner layer is one or more and at least one end of the inner layer is open so as to come into contact with any external environment, and wherein the drug is released at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time exclusively through said open end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 which is of a type for intracorporeal implantation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner layer is comprised of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamino acids, silicones, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and polyvinyl alcohols.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner layer is comprised of a silicone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer layer is comprised of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, hydrophobic polyamino acids, polyanhydrides, silicones, polytetrafluoroethylenes, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner layer is comprised of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamino acids, silicones, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and polyvinyl alcohols, and the outer layer is comprised of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, hydrophobic polyamino acids, polyanhydrides, silicones, polytetrafluoroethylenes, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outer layer is comprised of a silicone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the inner and outer layers are comprised of silicone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the axial length of the drug formulation to the cross-sectional diameter of the inner layer is two or more.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the axial length of the drug formulation to the cross-sectional diameter of the inner layer is five or more.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of peptides, proteins, glyco-proteins, polysaccharides and nucleic acids.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of cytokines, hematopoietic factors, hormones, growth factors, cell adhesion factors, immunosuppressants, enzymes, blood coagulating factors, proteins involved in bone metabolism, antibodies, anticancer agents, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and alkylating agents.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of cytokines, hematopoietic factors, hormones, growth factors, adhesion factors, immunosuppresants, enzymes, blood coagulating factors, proteins involved in bone metabolism, and antibodies.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein a swelling agent is additionally present in the inner layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 14 wherein the swelling agent is selected from the group consisting of albumin, gelatin, salts, and amino acids.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 15 wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of cytokines, hematopoietic factors, hormones, growth factors, cell adhesion factors, immunosuppressants, enzymes, blood coagulating factors, proteins involved in bone metabolism, and antibodies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drug formulation has a cross-sectional diameter of less than or equal to 5 mm and an axial length of less than or equal to 50 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drug formulation has a cross-sectional diameter of 0.5 mm to 3 mm and an axial length of 5 to 35 mm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer layer has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 3 mm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 17 wherein the outer layer has a thickness of 0.10 mm to 1 mm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 17 wherein the outer layer has a thickness of 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A drug formulation as claimed in claim 1 wherein both ends of the inner layer are open so as to come into contact with the external environment.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for controlling the rate of release of a drug from a drug formulation in the form of a cylindrical rod by controlling water infiltration into the drug formulation wherein said drug formulation has an axial length and comprises (a) a nondisintegrating inner layer having a cross-sectional diameter and a circumference wherein said inner layer is comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamino acids, silicones, ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymers and polyvinyl alcohols that contains at least one uniformly dispersed water-soluble drug as the only active agent(s), and (b) an outer layer comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic polymer wherein said outer layer surrounds the circumference of the inner layer and the outer layer is impermeable to water and is capable of controlling the swelling of the inner layer; wherein the ratio of the axial length of the drug formulation to the cross-sectional diameter of the inner layer is one or more and at least one end of the inner layer is open so as to come into contact with any external environment, and wherein the drug is released at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time exclusively through said open end.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for controlling the rate of release of a drug from a drug formulation in the form of a cylindrical rod by controlling water infiltration into the drug formulation wherein said drug formulation has an axial length and comprises (a) a nondisintegrating inner layer having a cross-sectional diameter and a circumference wherein said inner layer is comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamino acids, silicones, ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymers and polyvinyl alcohols that contains at least one uniformly dispersed water-soluble drug as the only active agent(s), and (b) an outer layer comprised of a biocompatible hydrophobic polymer wherein said outer layer surrounds the circumference of the inner layer and the outer layer is impermeable to water and is capable of controlling the swelling of the inner layer; wherein the ratio of the axial length of the drug formulation to the cross-sectional diameter of the inner layer is one or more and at least one end of the inner layer is open so as to come into contact with any external environment, and wherein the drug is released at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time exclusively through said open end.