MODULAR INGESTIBLE DRUG DELIVERY CAPSULE

• US 20120116358A1
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biora Therapeutics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Dijksman, Johan Frederik, Pierik, Anke, De Jongh, Frits Tobi, Shimizu, Jeff, Zou, Hans, Albu, Lucian Remus, Weiner, Olaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,744,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0097 Micromachined devices; Microelectromechanical systems [MEMS]; Devices obtained by lithographic treatment of silicon; Devices comprising chips intradermal microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; MEMS in general B81B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4808 characterised by the form of the capsule or the structure of the filling; Capsules containing small tablets; Capsules with outer layer for immediate drug release capsules filled with granules or microparticles A61K9/16; filled with microcapsules or coated microparticles A61K9/50; with mixture of different granules, microcapsules, (coated) microparticles A61K9/5084
• 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

An ingestible capsule (10) is provided for delivery of a drug, the capsule (10) comprises a first module (11) and a second module (12). The first module (11) has at least one drug compartment (13) for comprising an amount of the drug. The drug compartment (13) is sealed by a foil (14) with an embedded conducting heating wire (15). The second (12) module comprises electronics (18) for providing an electrical pulse to the heating wire (15) in order to open the drug compartment (13) by melting the foil (14). The first module (11) and second module (12) comprise interoperable connection means (19) for securing the first module (11) to the second module (12) such that the heating wire (15) is electronically coupled to the electronics (18).

Claims

1. An ingestible capsule (10) for delivery of a drug, the capsule (10) comprising:

a first module (11) with at least one drug compartment (13) for comprising an amount of the drug, the drug compartment (13) being sealed by a foil (14) with an embedded conducting heating wire (15),

a second module (12) with electronics (18) for providing an electrical pulse to the heating wire (15) in order to open the drug compartment (13) by breaking the foil (14), the first module (11) and second module (12) comprising interoperable connection means (19) for securing the first module (11) to the second module (12) such that the heating wire (15) is electronically coupled to the electronics (18).

2. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means (19) comprises a sliding contact (20).

3. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means (193) comprises a set of pins and sockets.

4. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means (192) comprises a screw thread.

5. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronics (18) comprise at least one capacitor for increasing an intensity of the electrical pulse.

6. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the drug compartment is provided with an anti-sticking layer.

7. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil (14) comprises a plastic.

8. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plastic comprises low density polyethylene (LDPE).

9. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil (14) is covered with Polychlorotrifluorethylene (PFTE).

10. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating wire (15) is a printed electrically conducting trace.

11. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foil (14) further comprises an indicator trace which breaks upon breaking of the foil (14).

12. An ingestible capsule (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first module (11) comprises more than one drug compartments (13) for comprising an amount of the drug, each drug compartment (13) being sealed by a separate foil (14) with an embedded conducting heating wire (15), the connection means (9) being arranged for separately coupling each one of the heating wires (15) to the electronics (18).