Osmotic delivery system with membrane plug retention mechanism
First Claim
1. A method of making an osmotic delivery device comprising:
- providing a delivery device body containing a beneficial agent to be delivered through a delivery orifice at a closed end of the delivery device body and an osmotic agent for drawing external liquids into the delivery device body to cause the beneficial agent to be delivered;
forming a plurality of holes in the delivery device body around the open end of the delivery device body;
securing an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug in the open end of the delivery device body by the plurality of holes formed in the delivery device body, the membrane plug expandable to extend into the plurality of holes to prevent expulsion of the membrane plug from the delivery device body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An osmotic delivery system has a membrane plug retention mechanism which can also be used to control the delivery rate of a beneficial agent from the osmotic delivery system. The osmotic delivery device includes an implant capsule containing a beneficial agent and an osmotic agent. Holes are formed along a side wall of the implant capsule at an open end of the capsule. When the membrane plug is inserted into the open end of the capsule, the membrane material swells into the holes in the capsule side wall creating a large frictional force which prevents expulsion of the membrane plug. A beneficial agent delivery rate of the osmotic delivery system is controllable by varying the size and number of the holes to change the amount of exposed surface area of the membrane plug. An increase in the surface area of the membrane plug exposed to the exterior environment causes a corresponding increase in the liquid permeation rate of the membrane and thus, increases the beneficial agent delivery rate.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of making an osmotic delivery device comprising:
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providing a delivery device body containing a beneficial agent to be delivered through a delivery orifice at a closed end of the delivery device body and an osmotic agent for drawing external liquids into the delivery device body to cause the beneficial agent to be delivered;
forming a plurality of holes in the delivery device body around the open end of the delivery device body;
securing an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug in the open end of the delivery device body by the plurality of holes formed in the delivery device body, the membrane plug expandable to extend into the plurality of holes to prevent expulsion of the membrane plug from the delivery device body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of making an osmotic beneficial agent delivery device with a controllable beneficial agent delivery rate comprising:
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providing a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a beneficial agent delivery port at a closed end;
forming a plurality of openings in a side wall of the substantially cylindrical body at the open end, the plurality of openings formed of a size and number determined to achieve a predetermined beneficial agent delivery rate; and
inserting an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug in the open end of the body and covering the plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of retaining a membrane plug in an implantable osmotic device comprising:
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forming a substantially cylindrical membrane plug;
forming holes in a side wall of a capsule adjacent an open end of the capsule;
inserting the substantially cylindrical membrane plug into the open end of the capsule such that the membrane plug covers the holes formed in the side wall; and
causing the membrane plug to swell into the holes in the side wall to retain the membrane plug in the capsule. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of making an osmotic beneficial agent delivery device comprising:
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providing a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a plurality of openings in a side wall at the open end of the substantially cylindrical body; and
securing an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug into the plurality of holes formed in the open end of a delivery device body. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification