OSMOTICALLY POWERED AGENT DISPENSING DEVICE WITH FILLING MEANS

• US 3,760,984 A
• Filed: 09/29/1971
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Felix Theeuwes
• Original Assignee: Felix Theeuwes
• Inventors: Theeuwes, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin, Larry
• Application Number:
  US05/293,551
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 222/94,95,190,386.5,389,394 129/213,214R,218R,218A,260,272 141/3,30
• US Class Current: 222/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/0024 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/005 Osmotic agents; Draw solutions

Abstract

A device is disclosed comprised of a wall formed of a material collapsable in response to mechanical force and surrounding a closed compartment for containing an agent, a dispensing passageway communicates with the compartment and the exterior of the device for dispensing agent therefrom, a filling passageway communicates with the exterior of the device and the compartment for filling the device, a layer of an osmotically effective solute is deposited on the collapsable wall'"'"''"'"'s outer surface, said solute capable of exhibiting an osmotic pressure gradient against an external fluid and increasing its volume as fluid diffuses by osmosis into the solute, an outer wall surrounding the layer of solute formed of a material having shape retaining properties, permeable to the fluid and substantially impermeable to solute, and wherein the filling passageway houses a material penetrable to a means for filling the compartment which material self closes on removal of the means to maintain the compartment in closed condition for subsequent collapsing thereof in response to mechanical or hydrostatic force generated by osmotic pressure arising in the solute layer, as fluid diffuses therein to increase its volume and generate forces that are exerted between the collapsable wall of the agent containing chamber and the more rigid outer semi-permeable wall, which collapsing force in turn dispenses an agent through the dispensing passageway when the compartment is charged with drug and the device is positioned in the environment of use.

Claims

1. An osmotic dispenser for dispensing an active agent, wherein said dispenser comprises:

a. an inner wall formed of a flexible material essentially impermeable to solute and external fluid, the wall surrounding and forming, b. a compartment defined by the inner surface of the wall as a means for housing an active agent, c. a layer of an osmotically effective solute deposited on the inner wall'"'"''"'"'s outer surface, said solute capable of exhibiting an osmotic pressure gradient against an external fluid when the dispenser is positioned in the environment of use, d. an outer wall surrounding the layer of solute, said outer wall formed of a material having shape retaining properties and at least a part of the wall is permeable to external fluid and impermeable to solute, e. a dispensing passageway communicating with the compartment and the exterior of the device for dispensing an agent from the device, f. a filling passageway communicating with the exterior of the device and the compartment as a means for charging agent into the compartment, g. a means positioned in the filling passageway for closing the passageway, said means formed of a material that automatically closes after agent is charged into the compartment through the filling passageway.

2. An improved osmotic dispenser for dispensing an active agent according to claim 1 wherein the inner wall material is a heat shrinkable polymeric material.

3. An improved osmotic dispenser for dispensing an active agent according to claim 1 wherein the automatic closing material is an elastomeric material.

4. An improved osmotic dispenser for dispensing an active agent according to claim 1 wherein the filling passageway is formed of a heat shrinkable polymer in intimate contact with the automatic closing material formed of an elastomeric material.

5. An improved osmotic dispenser for dispensing an active agent according to claim 1 wherein in operation in the environment of use, agent is dispensed from the dispensor by external fluid permeating from the exterior through the permeable outer wall continuously dissolving the solute in a tendency toward osmotic equilibrium with the environment to continually increase the volume between the outer wall and the compartment generating a mechanical or hydrostatic force to cause the compartment to continuously collapse and dispense agent from the device at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time through the dispensing passageway with essentially no agent dispensed through the filling passageway.