Drug infusion device

• US 20060079862A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Therapeutics Corporation
• Original Assignee: SteadyMed Ltd. (United Therapeutics Corporation)
• Inventors: Genosar, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers

Abstract

The invention provides a drug delivery infusion device comprising an injection means (18) in fluid connection with a drug reservoir chamber (12) and pressure-generation means (10) coupled to both the drug reservoir (12) and to a liquid filled controlled chamber (13), wherein the coupling is such that the liquid filled control chamber (13) serves to constrain the motion of the pressure-generation means (10), thereby controlling the drug infusion rate, wherein the liquid filled control chamber (13) is associated with means for controlled depletion of the liquid therein whereby depletion of the volume of liquid in the control chamber enables the pressure-generation means to drive the drug in the reservoir chamber therefrom for infusion thereof.

Claims

1. A drug delivery infusion device comprising an injection means in fluid connection with a drug reservoir chamber and pressure-generation means coupled to both said drug reservoir and to a liquid filled controlled chamber, wherein the coupling is such that said liquid filled control chamber serves to constrain the motion of the pressure-generation means, thereby controlling the drug infusion rate, wherein said liquid filled control chamber is associated with means for controlled depletion of the liquid therein whereby depletion of the volume of liquid in said control chamber enables said pressure-generation means to drive the drug in said reservoir chamber therefrom for infusion thereof.

2. A drug delivery infusion device according to claim 1 wherein said liquid filled control chamber is associated with means for generating gas from said liquid and further comprises gas-permeable walls, such that a gas generated from said liquid is released from the control chamber via said gas permeable walls directly following its generation.

3. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein said drug is in liquid form.

4. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein the coupling between the pressure-generation means and said chambers is such that the displacement caused within the drug reservoir chamber is proportional to the rate of depletion of the liquid in the control chamber.

5. The infusion device of claim 4 wherein said coupling between the pressure-generation means and said chambers is implemented by slidable pistons, which are pushed by said pressure-generation means into said chambers.

6. The infusion device of claim 4 wherein said coupling between the pressure-generation means and said chambers is implemented by a flexible diaphragm constituting a movable wall within said chambers.

7. The infusion device of claim 1 where the drug reservoir chamber and the control chamber are coupled in parallel, wherein said coupling is connected to the pressure-generation means.

8. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein the drug reservoir chamber and the control chamber are coupled in series- with said pressure-generation means.

9. The infusion device of claim 3 wherein the drug reservoir chamber is in liquid communication with means to convey the liquid drug to an injection site in the body of the recipient, such that pressure in said drug reservoir chamber causes the drug to be injected at said site.

10. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein said injection site is an integral part of the infusion device

11. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein said injection site is connected to the infusion device by a tube.

12. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein the volume of liquid in the control chamber is gradually reduced by the at least partial conversion of said liquid into a gaseous phase by a gas-generation means;

wherein said gaseous product exits said chamber.

13. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein the volume of liquid in the control chamber is gradually reduced by venting said liquid from the liquid chamber by a controlled method selected from the group consisting of osmotic migration, diffusion, controlled evaporation through a wick or hydrophilic wall, and mechanical flow interference utilizing a means selected form the group consisting of a labyrinth or an orifice.

14. The infusion device of claim 12 wherein said gaseous products exit from said control chamber via a gas-permeable membrane.

15. The infusion device of claim 12 wherein said gas-generation means include electrolysis, a chemical reaction, and evaporation.

16. The infusion device of claim 15 wherein the rate of said electrolysis is controlled by means selected from the group consisting of an electronic timer, a microprocessor, and a biomedical control unit.

17. The infusion device of claim 16 wherein said means is a biomedical control unit which reacts to bodily functions selected from a group consisting of a glucose sensor, other chemical or biological sensors, body temperature, pH of body fluids, muscle contractions, electroencephalography, and electrocardiography and combinations thereof.

18. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein said device further comprises an over-pressure detection means for determining the presence of a blockage in the injection means.

19. The infusion device of claim 18 wherein said over-pressure detection means is interfaced to a control circuit which in turn restricts the gas production when said over-pressure is detected.

20. The infusion device of claim 18 wherein said over-pressure detection means further comprises a valve for release of said pressure.

21. The infusion device of claim 1 settable to deliver between 0.001 ml/hr to 0.35 ml/hr on a continuous basis.

22. The infusion device of claim 1 further comprising a bolus-delivery means.

23. The infusion device of claim 22 wherein said bolus-delivery means can deliver a bolus between 0.001 ml and 1.0 ml.

24. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein the drug in the drug chamber is selected from the group consisting of peptides, proteins, hormones, analgesics, anti-migraine agents, anti-coagulant narcotic antagonists, chelating agents, anti-anginal agents, chemotherapy agents, sedatives, anti-neoplastics, protaglandins and antidiuretic agents.

25. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein said device is a disposable device.

26. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein said device comprises a permanent portion and a disposable portion.

27. The infusion device of claim 1 wherein said device is comprised of separate components including a drug cartridge, a control unit and a tube set.

28. A method for the controlled delivery of a drug to a patient comprising the provision of the infusion device of claim 1 pre-loaded with said drug.