Subdermal material delivery device

• US 20090240189A1
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T.
• Application Number:
  US12/080,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240189A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

A method may include placing a first device on a first side of a skin portion of a subject and transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

means for transferring a material through a skin portion of a subject from a first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject, the material in direct contact with the skin portion of the subject.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for transferring the material utilizing at least one of iontophoresis, microjets, or an ultra fine stream.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

means for assisting transfer of the material with sonophoresis.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

means for establishing an electric polarity for the first device where the subdermal second device has an electric polarity opposite the first device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for establishing an electric polarity for the first device where the subdermal second device has an electric polarity opposite the first device comprises:

means for controlling polarity of at least one of the first device or the subdermal second device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for transferring the material from at least one of an iontophoresis device, a microjet injector device, a sonophoresis device, or a transdermal patch to the subdermal second device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for at least partially deloading a reservoir of the first device to transfer the material through the skin portion of the subject to the subdermal second device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

means for locating a fiducial on the subject.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for locating a fiducial on the subject comprises:

means for locating a tattoo on the subject.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

means for locating a fiducial on the subdermal second device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for locating a fiducial on the subdermal second device comprises:

means for locating at least one of a fluorescent marker, a marker having an enhanced radio signature, a radio frequency identification tag, a radio opaque marker, a retroreflector, or an ultrasonic marker disposed of the subdermal second device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device comprises:

means for receiving at least one of an electrical current, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequency identification, or an ultrasonic signal from the subdermal second device.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device which is indicative of a location on the subdermal second device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for transferring at least one of a drug, a logistical material, or a marker through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device comprises:

means for receiving a signal regarding at least one of a location, a desire to transfer material, a readiness to transfer material, a characteristic of material to be transferred, an amount of material available to be transferred, a time for transfer to commence, an amount of material to be transferred, a desire to stop transfer, or an acknowledgement that transfer is complete.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding the material.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding the material comprises:

means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding at least one of a need for the material, a need for a quantity of the material, a need for a type of the material, a quantity of the material present, or a quantity of the material collected.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding a ready condition for receiving the material.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

means for receiving feedback regarding whether the material is received by the subdermal second device.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

means for stopping transfer of the material if the material is not received by the subdermal second device.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

mean for comparing an amount of the material collected by the subdermal second device to an amount of the material ejected from the first device.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

means for stopping transfer of the material based upon comparing an amount of the material collected by the subdermal second device to an amount of the material ejected from the first device.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

means for stopping transfer of the material when the subdermal second device does not require additional material.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the means for stopping transfer of the material when the subdermal second device does not require additional material comprises:

means for stopping transfer of the material when a reservoir on the subdermal second device is full.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the means for stopping transfer of the material when the subdermal second device does not require additional material further comprises:

means for receiving a signal from the subdermal second device indicating it does not require additional material.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for pulsing a stream of the material.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for transferring the material through an input port of the subdermal second device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for transferring the material through an input port of the subdermal second device comprises:

means for transferring a stream of the material through at least one of a self- healing material, a self-sealing material, a layer of material, a viscous material, a porous material, a liquid material, a wickable material, or a closable window disposed of the subdermal second device.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for transferring the material through an input port of the subdermal second device comprises:

means for opening the input port in preparation for receiving the material; and

means for coordinating the transfer of the material with the opening of the input port.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for transferring the material to a first reservoir of the subdermal second device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for transferring the material to a first reservoir of the subdermal second device further comprises:

means for aligning an input port of the first reservoir of the subdermal second device with an output port of the first device.

35. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for transferring a second material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device disposed on the second side of the skin portion of the subject.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the means for transferring a second material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device disposed on the second side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

means for transferring the second material to a second reservoir of the subdermal second device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for transferring the second material to a second reservoir of the subdermal second device further comprises:

means for aligning an input port of the second reservoir of the subdermal second device with an outlet port of a second reservoir of the first device.

38. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for defining a transcutaneous path extending through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device; and

means for transferring the material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device generally along the transcutaneous path.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the means for defining a transcutaneous path extending through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device comprises:

means for defining a transcutaneous path extending through the skin portion of the subject to avoid at least one of a nerve, a blood vessel, or a previous transcutaneous path.