Method and system for control of osmotic pump device
First Claim
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1. An osmotic pump system comprising:
- a delivery reservoir capable of containing a delivery fluid;
an osmotic chamber;
an osmotic pressure-generating material contained within the osmotic chamber;
a pressure-responsive movable barrier separating the osmotic chamber from the delivery reservoir, the pressure-responsive barrier being substantially impermeable to the osmotic pressure-generating material and configured to move in response to a change in pressure in the osmotic chamber to produce a change in at least one of pressure or volume in the delivery reservoir;
a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an osmotic fluid source, the semi-permeable membrane being substantially permeable by fluid from the osmotic fluid source but substantially impermeable to the osmotic pressure-generating material;
at least one remotely controllable valve configured to regulate the pumping of the delivery fluid from the delivery reservoir responsive to a time-varying electromagnetic field control signal; and
a fluid-handling structure located downstream of the delivery reservoir and configured to receive the delivery fluid from the delivery reservoir.
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Abstract
Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled osmotic pump device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, an osmotic pump device is placed in an environment in order to pump a material into the environment or into an additional fluid handling structure within the osmotic pump device. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An osmotic pump system comprising:
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a delivery reservoir capable of containing a delivery fluid;
an osmotic chamber;
an osmotic pressure-generating material contained within the osmotic chamber;
a pressure-responsive movable barrier separating the osmotic chamber from the delivery reservoir, the pressure-responsive barrier being substantially impermeable to the osmotic pressure-generating material and configured to move in response to a change in pressure in the osmotic chamber to produce a change in at least one of pressure or volume in the delivery reservoir;
a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an osmotic fluid source, the semi-permeable membrane being substantially permeable by fluid from the osmotic fluid source but substantially impermeable to the osmotic pressure-generating material;
at least one remotely controllable valve configured to regulate the pumping of the delivery fluid from the delivery reservoir responsive to a time-varying electromagnetic field control signal; and
a fluid-handling structure located downstream of the delivery reservoir and configured to receive the delivery fluid from the delivery reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of controlling an osmotic pump device comprising:
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generating an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by an electromagnetically responsive control element of a remotely controllable valve, the valve configured to adjust the movement of fluid into or out of the osmotic pump device; and
remotely transmitting the electromagnetic control signal to the osmotic pump device in an environment with signal characteristics sufficient to produce mechanical, thermal or chemical activation of the electromagnetically responsive control element in the remotely controllable valve of the osmotic pump device to control the pumping rate of the osmotic pump device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Software for controlling an osmotic pump device, comprising:
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instructions for generating an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by an electromagnetically responsive control element of a remotely controllable valve, the valve configured to adjust the movement of fluid into or out of the osmotic pump device; and
instructions for remotely transmitting the electromagnetic control signal to the osmotic pump device in an environment with signal characteristics sufficient to produce mechanical, thermal or chemical activation of the electromagnetically responsive control element in the remotely controllable valve of the osmotic pump device to control the pumping rate of the osmotic pump device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification