Medicine delivery system
First Claim
1. A medicine delivery system, adapted to be implanted into a human or animal body, comprising:
- a control unit adapted to generate a control signal; and
a medicine delivery unit including;
a plurality of compartments, each compartment adapted to contain a predetermined amount of a medicine and having a delivery opening permitting delivery of the medicine;
a membrane adapted to seal the delivery opening of each compartment; and
a plurality of release elements, each release element being associated with a respective one of the compartments and adapted to rupture the membrane along a predetermined rupture pattern responsive to the control signal to permit a first membrane portion to partially separate from a second membrane portion along the predetermined rupture pattern while remaining attached to the second membrane portion at a connection area, whereby the rupture of the membrane permits body fluids of the human or animal to mix with the medicine so that the medicine is released in admixture with the body fluids through the delivery opening into the human or animal body.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medicine delivery system (10) implantable into a human or animal body includes a medicine delivery unit (14) and a control unit (12). A membrane (26) seals the delivery opening (22) of a medicine compartment (18) and is pre-stressed by an amount less than the predetermined elastic deformation and rupture point limits of the membrane (26). A release element (28) associated with compartment (18) causes the membrane (26) to be stressed beyond the deformation and rupture point limits in response to a control signal (78). Release element (28) ruptures the membrane (26) along a predetermined rupture pattern to permit a first membrane portion (35), forming a hinged lid, to separate from a second membrane portion (37) along the predetermined rupture pattern while remaining attached to the second membrane portion at a hinge (39).
50 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A medicine delivery system, adapted to be implanted into a human or animal body, comprising:
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a control unit adapted to generate a control signal; and
a medicine delivery unit including;
a plurality of compartments, each compartment adapted to contain a predetermined amount of a medicine and having a delivery opening permitting delivery of the medicine;
a membrane adapted to seal the delivery opening of each compartment; and
a plurality of release elements, each release element being associated with a respective one of the compartments and adapted to rupture the membrane along a predetermined rupture pattern responsive to the control signal to permit a first membrane portion to partially separate from a second membrane portion along the predetermined rupture pattern while remaining attached to the second membrane portion at a connection area, whereby the rupture of the membrane permits body fluids of the human or animal to mix with the medicine so that the medicine is released in admixture with the body fluids through the delivery opening into the human or animal body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A medicine delivery system, adapted to be implanted into a human or animal body, comprising:
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a control unit adapted to generate a control signal; and
a medicine delivery unit including;
a substrate having a wafer-shape body;
a compartment formed in the substrate for containing a predetermined amount of a medicine, the compartment having a charging opening permitting the filling of the compartment with medicine and a delivery opening permitting delivery of the medicine from the compartment;
a cap adapted to seal the charging opening of the compartment;
a membrane adapted to seal the delivery opening of the compartment, the membrane having a predetermined elastic deformation limit and a predetermined rupture point, and the membrane being pre-stressed by an amount less than the predetermined elastic deformation limit and the predetermined rupture point; and
a release element associated with the compartment, the release element being adapted to cause the membrane to be stressed beyond the predetermined elastic deformation limit and the predetermined rupture point to rupture the membrane along a predetermined rupture pattern responsive to the control signal to permit a first membrane portion, forming a lid, to separate from a second membrane portion along the predetermined rupture pattern while remaining attached to the second membrane portion at a connection area, forming a hinge, whereby the rupture of the membrane permits body fluids of the human or animal to mix with the medicine so that the medicine is released in admixture with the body fluids through the delivery opening into the human or animal body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification