Pill Catchers

• US 20120165792A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Mark S., Hess, Christopher J., Harris, Jason L., Spivey, James T., Stokes, Michael J., Albrecht, Thomas E., Zeiner, Mark S., Kraimer, Joseph Bernard, Topich, James Anthony, Prenger, Daniel James
• Application Number:
  US12/976,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20120165792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00148 using anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• 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

Devices and related methods arc provided for the controlled delivery of a therapeutic to a targeted location within a body. More particularly, methods and devices are provided for controlling the rate of passage of an orally administered pill through a body, as well as for controlling the delivery of a therapeutic within the pill at a specific location within the body. Various types of devices, generally referred to herein as “catchers,” are provided that can actively catch a pill as it passes through a body. The catcher can hold the pill at a specific location within the body until a predetermined event occurs, such as partial or complete. administration of a therapeutic within the pill. The catcher can then release the pill upon command and/or upon the occurrence of the predetermined event to allow the pill to pass out of the body. In other embodiments, various types of pills are provided that can actively engage a catcher and remain engaged with the catcher until a predetermined event occurs.

Claims

1. A device for controlled therapeutic drug delivery within a patient, comprising:

an anchor configured to be disposed within a patient'"'"'s digestive tract and having a catch mechanism that is movable between a first configuration in which the catch mechanism is effective to capture a pill swallowed by a patient to prevent passage of the pill through the catch mechanism, and a second configuration in which the catch mechanism releases the pill to allow passage of the pill through the catch mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a body having a tether extending distally therefrom, the catch mechanism being coupled to a distal end of the tether.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the catch mechanism is configured to move between the first configuration and the second configuration in response to a triggering signal.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the catch mechanism is coiled in the first configuration to capture a pill and straightened in the second configuration to release the pill.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a sleeve having a lumen extending therethrough, the catch mechanism being disposed within the lumen.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a cylindrical sleeve configured to be fixed within a patient'"'"'s digestive tract and configured to funnel a pill into the catch mechanism.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the catch mechanism is positioned on a distal end of the cylindrical sleeve and is configured to contract in the first configuration to retain a pill and expand in the second configuration to release the pill.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the catch mechanism comprises an expandable iris that is contracted in the first configuration to retain a pill and that is dilated in the second configuration to allow passage of the pill.

9. A system for controlled therapeutic drug delivery within a patient, comprising:

a pill configured to deliver at least one therapeutic drug and configured to be swallowed by a patient; and

a catch mechanism configured to be disposed within a patient'"'"'s digestive tract, the catch mechanism being movable between a first configuration in which the catch mechanism is effective to capture the pill and prevent passage of the pill through the catch mechanism, and a second configuration in which the catch mechanism is effective to release the pill to allow passage of the pill through the catch mechanism.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an anchor configured to retain the catch mechanism within a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the anchor comprises a substantially rigid ring configured to be disposed within a patient'"'"'s stomach and having a size large enough to prevent passage thereof through a patient'"'"'s pylorus.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a tether extending from the anchor and having the catch mechanism disposed on a distal end thereof.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising an actuator mechanism configured to move the catch mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration.

14. A method for controlled therapeutic drug delivery, comprising:

introducing a pill orally into a digestive tract such that the pill is captured by a catch mechanism positioned in a first configuration disposed within the digestive tract, the pill delivering a therapeutic drug directly into the patient'"'"'s digestive tract;

wherein, after a predetermined event, the catch mechanism moves to a second configuration in which the pill is released and allowed to pass through the digestive tract.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the catch mechanism moves between a first configuration in which it includes features to catch the pill and prevent it from passing further through the digestive tract and a second configuration in which features allow the pill to pass through the catch mechanism.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined event comprises a predetermined amount of time.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined event comprises a triggering signal.

18. The Method of claim 17, wherein the triggering signal is generated when all of the therapeutic drug disposed in the pill has been delivered.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined event comprises a signal delivered to the catch mechanism from an external source.