Device and method for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity

• US 20040249364A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Nadler
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Nadler
• Inventors: Kaploun, Ilya
• Application Number:
  US10/452,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0031 Rectum, anus
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0036 Devices retained in the vagina or cervix for a prolonged period, e.g. intravaginal rings, medicated tampons, medicated diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0092 Hollow drug-filled fibres, tubes of the core-shell type, coated fibres, coated rods, microtubules or nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50

Abstract

A coil for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue is provided. The coil is formed from a length of flexible tubing sealed at opposite ends and containing a medication absorbable into tissue. The tubing walls are semi-permeable to the medication when the coil is in use, but impermeable during storage when the coil is not in use. The permeability of the coil tubing may be controlled either by the application and removal of a water-dissolvable surface coating or envelope, or by the control of an external condition such as temperature. The coil quickly and efficiently delivers a high concentration of medication to tissue in need of treatment, and is particularly useful in the treatment of prostatitis.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue, comprising:

A coil formed from a length of flexible tubing, said tubing being sealed at opposite ends and having an interior containing a medication absorbable into said mammalian tissue, and tubing walls that are semi-permeable to said medication when said coil is in use to treat said tissue but which are impermeable to said medication when said coil is not in use.

2. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 1, wherein said tubing is rendered impermeable to said medication upon the selective control of a condition that is external to said coil.

3. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 2, wherein said external condition is temperature.

4. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 2, wherein said external condition is pressure.

5. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 1, wherein said tubing is rendered impermeable by the application of a selectively removable coating.

6. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 1, further comprising a medication impermeable, water soluble envelope that covers and seals said coil, said tubing walls being impermeable to said medication until said envelope is dissolved.

7. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 6, wherein said envelope functions as a lubricant when in a state of dissolution.

8. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 1, wherein said coil is formed from a plurality of loops, each of which contacts at least one other loop.

9. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 8, wherein said loops are approximately the same diameter secured together by at least two ties to form a ring-shaped coil, and said coil is resiliently compressible across its diameter.

10. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 8, wherein said loops are arranged in a spiral configuration, and said coil is substantially flat.

11. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 10, further comprising a sheet of material for supporting said spiral configuration of loops.

12. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 1, wherein said tubing is formed from a filamentous synthetic material.

13. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 1, further comprising a second coil of flexible tubing being sealed at opposite ends to contain a different medication from said first coil and being joined to said first coil.

14. The device for dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 1, further comprising a drawstring attached to said coil at one end for removing said coil from an area of tissue.

15. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity, comprising:

A flexible coil formed from multiple, mutually contacting loops of a length of flexible tubing, and tubing being sealed at opposite ends and having an interior containing a medication absorbable into said mammalian tissue, and tubing walls that are semi-permeable to said medication during use but which are impermeable to said medication when said coil is not in use.

16. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said tubing includes an exterior dissolvable coating for rendering said tubing walls impermeable until use.

17. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said coating is water soluble.

18. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said tubing is rendered impermeable to said medication upon the selective control of an exterior condition that is external to said coil and different from conditions during use.

19. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 18, wherein said external condition is maintaining said coil at a temperature less than about 60°

F.

20. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 18, wherein said external condition is maintaining said coil at an elevated pressure.

21. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said tubing is synthetic tubing having a porosity of between about 15,000 to 50,000 Daltons.

22. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said tubing is formed from a polymeric material.

23. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said tubing has an exterior diameter of between about 0.5 and 2.0 mm, and said length of tubing is between about 0.25 and 0.75 m.

24. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said tubing contains between about 0.05 cc and 0.40 cc of medication.

25. A device for dispensing medication to tissue lining a body cavity according to claim 15, wherein said loops are secured together by at least two ties formed from thread made of the same material as said tubing.

26. A method for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:

filling a length of flexible tubing with medication, said tubing being formed of a material that is semi-permeable to said medication;

sealing said length of tubing to contain said medication;

winding said tubing into a coil, and rendering said tubing of said coil impermeable to said medication until such time that said coil is used to treat tissue.

27. A method for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 26, wherein said flexible tubing is coated with a removable coating to render it impermeable to said medication, and said coating is removed immediately before said coil is used to treat tissue.

28. A method for locally dispending medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 26, wherein said coil is packaged within a medication insoluble envelope prior to use to render said tubing non-permeable to said medication, said envelope being water soluble such that said tubing is rendered permeable upon an aqueous dissolution of said envelope.

29. A method for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 27, wherein tubing is rendered impermeable by changing an external condition of said coil.

30. A method for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 29, wherein said tubing is rendered impermeable by lowering an ambient temperature surrounding said coil to at least 55°

F.

31. A method for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 26, wherein said tubing is wound into multiple loops of approximately the same diameter to form a ring-shaped coil.

32. A method for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 26, wherein said tubing is spirally wound to form a flat coil.

33. A method for locally dispensing medication to mammalian tissue according to claim 32, further comprising the step of adhering a piece of sheet material to one side of said flat coil to support the same.