Drug delivery device
First Claim
1. A method of interfering with the reproductive process of a female mammal comprising continuously administering a contraceptive agent within the uterine cavity of said female over a prolonged period of time by:
- A. inserting into the uterine cavity an intrauterine device comprising;
a. a reservoir comprising an agent in a liquid carrier material permeable to the passage of the agent, said agent comprising a dissolved portion and an undissolved portion that serves to replace said dissolved portion, the reservoir being confined within;
b. an enveloping shaped membrane comprised of a biologically acceptable material insoluble in mammalian body fluid, capable of keeping its integrity during said prolonged period and formed at least in part of a material permeable by diffusion to passage of said agent at a rate which is lower than the rate of permeability of said agent through said carrier;
B. releasing said agent from said reservoir into the uterine cavity at a controlled, continuous, contraceptively effective rate by diffusional passage through said shaped membrane; and
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C. continuously replacing the dissolved agent released from the reservoir by continuously dissolving said undissolved agent in the carrier material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time to produce a local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is comprised of a wall surrounding a reservoir containing a drug. The reservoir is formed of a drug carrier permeable to the passage of the drug and in which the drug has limited solubility. The wall is formed in at least a part of a drug release rate controlling material also permeable to the passage of the drug, but the rate of passage of the drug through the wall is lower than the rate passage of the drug through the drug carrier so that drug release by the wall is the drug release rate controlling step for releasing drug from the drug delivery device.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of interfering with the reproductive process of a female mammal comprising continuously administering a contraceptive agent within the uterine cavity of said female over a prolonged period of time by:
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A. inserting into the uterine cavity an intrauterine device comprising; a. a reservoir comprising an agent in a liquid carrier material permeable to the passage of the agent, said agent comprising a dissolved portion and an undissolved portion that serves to replace said dissolved portion, the reservoir being confined within; b. an enveloping shaped membrane comprised of a biologically acceptable material insoluble in mammalian body fluid, capable of keeping its integrity during said prolonged period and formed at least in part of a material permeable by diffusion to passage of said agent at a rate which is lower than the rate of permeability of said agent through said carrier; B. releasing said agent from said reservoir into the uterine cavity at a controlled, continuous, contraceptively effective rate by diffusional passage through said shaped membrane; and
;C. continuously replacing the dissolved agent released from the reservoir by continuously dissolving said undissolved agent in the carrier material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification