IMPLANTED MEDICATION DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 3,692,027 A
• Filed: 04/23/1971
• Issued: 09/19/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biomedical Systems Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Everett H. Ellinwood Jr
• Inventors: Ellinwood, Everett H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US05/136,789
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2P,1,260,261,214E,214F
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

A self-micro-powered implanted device contains a store of medicine in powdered, liquid or other dispensable form and which is gradually discharged incrementally over a substantially long period of time.

Claims

1. A device adapted to be positioned internally of a selected body for dispensing materials therein, comprising:

a. a storage member adapted to be positioned within the selected body and to store a quantity of the material to be dispensed;

b. a micro size power source secured within said body proximate said storage member and having an output member capable of being driven by said source over a predetermined period in terms of at least several days and at a substantially precise rate; and

c. dispensing means powered and timed by said micro power source and adapted to discharge from said storage member and into said body on a predetermined time schedule successive increments of said material.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is that of an animal including human, said material is a liquid, said storage member constitutes a bladder and said dispensing means constituteS pump and valve means powered and timed by said source and having an inlet connected to said bladder and an outlet whereby said liquid may be withdrawn from said bladder and discharged from said outlet in increments.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is that of an animal including human, said material is a medication, said storage member provides a plurality of cavities each having a predetermined unit of said medication, and said dispensing means includes a piston operator for each such cavity and linkage means operated by said power source whereby each respective such piston operator is activated in turn and effects successive discharge of each respective said unit from said storage member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said storage member is circular and is rotatively indexed by said power source to effect discharge of said units.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said storage member is circular and fixed relative to said power source and said power source rotatively indexes itself to effect discharge of said units.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a case providing an internal void and having an aperture in the wall thereof and wherein said micro power source and dispensing means are mounted within said case and dispensing of said material is through said aperture.

7. An implantable device for dispensing a medication material within an animal body, said device comprising in combination:

a. a case adapted to be implanted in the body and providing an internal void;

b. a micro power source secured within said void and having an output member capable of being driven by said source over a predetermined period in terms of at least several days and at a substantially precise rate;

c. holder means mounted within said void and loosely mounting premeasured units of said material in a circular configuration; and

d. ejection means powered by said output member in timed relation with said holder means and operative upon each successive said unit of material whereby each said unit is successively discharged from said holder means internally of said body.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said case includes an aperture in the wall thereof, said holder means rotates and is driven by said output member to bring each successive unit to a position opposite said aperture and said ejection means operates upon each said unit successively upon reaching such position.

9. An implantable device for dispensing liquid drugs into an animal body, including human, comprising:

a. a bladder adapted to be implanted in the body and to be filled by external injection;

b. a metering means having an inlet connected to said bladder and an outlet adapted to discharge into said body said metering means being adapted in one mode to withdraw and discharge predetermined uniform units of said material and in another mode to block flow of said material;

c. a micro power source connected to said metering means and adapted to power and time said metering means in said modes whereby said units may be discharged at spaced time intervals and over a substantially long period of time; and

d. a case adapted to be implanted and mounting both said metering means and micro power source.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said metering means constitutes a pumping device.

11. The method of dispensing a drug in a body, comprising the steps:

a. implanting within the body a container having a substantially large supply of the drug to be dispensed;

b. with said container implanting a micro power source and dispensing means operated and timed by said micro power source for drawing off and discharging successive uniform units of said drug in said body; and

c. allowing said source and dispensing means to operate on said supply over a substantially long period of time until said supply is exhausted.