CLOSED LOOP DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM AND REMOTE MANAGEMENT THEREOF

• US 20020133196A1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Thompson, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,453,195 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

A transdermal drug delivery device in communication with at least one IMD is externally mounted to deliver pain analgesics and/or threshold reduction medicants prior to or contemporaneous with a shock associated with a pacer, a defibrillator and similar therapy device. The drug delivery device includes an attachable strip with a storage for medicants and is epidermally mounted. The medicants are released into the bloodstream in response to an indication that the IMD is about to deliver a shock. The drug delivery device is adapted for use with various drugs. Further, the delivery of drugs could be controlled by the patient to provide a semi-automatic use and/or to terminate delay shock. The transdermal drug delivery device and the IMD include system status indicators to provide real-time operational data of the drug delivery device and the IMD individually and in combination. The drug delivery device is also implemented with a CHF monitor to treat CHF patients.

Claims

1. A drug delivery strip in communication with an implanted medical device (IMD), the combination comprising:

means for monitoring at least one pretherapy event in the IMD;

means for communicating to the drug delivery strip that said at least one pretherapy event is eminent; and

means for activating the delivery of drugs from the drug delivery strip prior to or contemporaneous with a therapy resulting from said at least one pretherapy event.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said therapy event includes the delivery of cardioversion defibrillation energy.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said therapy event includes the delivery of energy shock to the heart.

4. A transdermal drug delivery device in wireless communications with at least one implanted medical device (IMD) wherein the drug delivery device is externally mounted to deliver pain analgesics and/or threshold reduction medicants prior to a shock associated with a pacer, a defibrillator and similar therapy device, the drug delivery device comprising:

means for storing the medicants;

means for mounting epidermally to a patient;

means for communicating with at least one IMD; and

means for releasing the medicants transdermally responsive to at least one indication that the at least one IMD is about to deliver the shock.

5. A transdermal drug delivery device in combination with an IMD to deliver medicants to a CHF patient, the combination comprising:

the drug delivery device externally mounted on a patient;

the IMD being a CHF monitoring device; and

a communication system between the drug delivery device and the IMD to enable the delivery of the medicants prior to or contemporaneous with CHF signals from the IMD.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said signals include parameters that lie outside a pre-selected range of cardiac events.

7. A drug delivery device in communication with an IMD to deliver specialty drugs responsive to signals from the IMD relating to cardiac conditions and/or therapy, the drug delivery device having storage for the specialty drugs, the drugs comprising:

opiates;

non-opiates;

defibrillation threshold reducing agents; and

agents for treatment of CHF.

8. The drug delivery device of claim 7 wherein said opiates include morphine sulfate and hydromorphine.

9. The drug delivery device of claim 7 wherein said non-opiates include alpha-2 adreneorgic agonists and neuron specific calcium channel blocking agents.

10. The drug delivery device of claim 7 wherein said defibrillation threshold reducing agents include D-salotol, Procainamade or Quinidine as alternatives or in combination with one or both said opiates and said non-opiates.

11. The drug delivery device of claim 7 wherein said agents for treatment of CHF includes captopril, enalapril, lisinopril and quinapril.

12. The drug delivery device of claim 7 wherein said specialty drugs include drugs designed to overcome pain and threshold associated with cardiac shock.

13. The drug delivery device of claim 7 wherein said specialty drugs include drug types designed to treat CHF conditions.

14. The drug delivery device of claim 13 wherein the drug types are suited to treat pain, threshold, and CHF conditions in combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a semi-automatic means for discharging is implemented to enable the patient to activate the drug discharge on an as-needed basis.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein a semi-automatic means for terminating the discharge is implemented to enable the patient to terminate the drug discharge on an as-needed basis.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the communication link includes system status indicators.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said system status indicators include visual displays.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein said system status indicators include audible signals.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein said system status indicators include tactile interfaces.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the communication link includes override means to enable the patient to terminate or delay shock using the drug delivery device as a controller.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the communication link includes remote monitoring and programming means to enable remote patient management.

15. A drug delivery device in cooperation with an IMD forming a system in which one or more drugs are discharged into a patient based on signals received from the IMD, the system comprising:

a communication link between the drug delivery device and the IMD;

automatic means for discharging the one or more drugs into the patient when the signals are received from the IMD via said communication link; and

automatic means for terminating the discharge of the one or more drugs.