Osmotically driven fluid dispenser
First Claim
1. In an osmotically driven fluid dispenser comprising an inner flexible bag adapted to contain the fluid, an intermediate layer of an osmotically effective solute composition at least partly encapsulating the bag, an outer shape-retaining membrane encapsulating the layer of osmotically effective solute composition, said membrane being at least in part permeable to water, and a port that extends from the interior of the bag to the exterior of the dispenser through which the fluid may be charged into the bag and dispensed from the bag, the improvement comprising a conduit that is sized to fit snugly through the port and extending substantially into the interior of the bag after the fluid is charged into the bag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An osmotically driven fluid dispenser that is capable of being miniaturized and used as an implant to administer fluid drug compositions to animals and humans. The dispenser comprises a flexible inner bag adapted to contain the drug composition, a fluid tight plug fitted into the bag opening, a port in the plug through which the composition may be charged to the bag, an intermediate layer of an osmotically effective solute composition partly covering the bag exterior such that a band of the bag exterior proximate to the plugged end is not covered by the layer, an outer shape-retaining semipermeable membrane covering the layer of solute and forming a fluid tight seal at said band, and a tube that fits snugly through the port in the plug and extends substantially into the interior of the bag after the drug composition is charged to the bag, said tube providing an outlet through which the drug composition may be dispensed.
373 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In an osmotically driven fluid dispenser comprising an inner flexible bag adapted to contain the fluid, an intermediate layer of an osmotically effective solute composition at least partly encapsulating the bag, an outer shape-retaining membrane encapsulating the layer of osmotically effective solute composition, said membrane being at least in part permeable to water, and a port that extends from the interior of the bag to the exterior of the dispenser through which the fluid may be charged into the bag and dispensed from the bag, the improvement comprising a conduit that is sized to fit snugly through the port and extending substantially into the interior of the bag after the fluid is charged into the bag.
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2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the bag is elongated and the conduit extends into the bag interior over at least about 50% of the elongated dimension thereof.
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3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the bag is elongated and the conduit extends into the bag interior over substantially the entire, but not all of, the elongated dimension thereof.
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4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the conduit is rigid.
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5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the length and inner diameter of the conduit are such as to prevent substantial diffusive flow of fluid therethrough.
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6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the exterior end of the conduit terminates in a blunt head.
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7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said head is shaped to fit snugly against the exterior of the dispenser and form a substantially smooth continuous surface therewith.
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8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the head has at least one groove in its exterior surface that communicates with the bore of the conduit to provide a flow channel for the fluid.
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9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the bag is elongated and the conduit is rigid, extends into the bag interior over substantially the entire, but not all of, the elongated dimension thereof, has a length and inner diameter such as to prevent substantial diffusive flow of fluid therefrom, and has a blunt head on its exterior end that is shaped to fit snugly against the exterior of the dispenser and form a substantially smooth continuous surface therewith and that has at least one groove in its exterior surface that communicates with the bore of the conduit to provide a flow channel for the fluid.
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10. An osmotically driven fluid dispenser comprising an elongated flexible inner bag closed at one end and open at the other end and adapted to contain the fluid, a fluid tight plug fitted into the open end of the bag, a port in the plug that provides a passageway from the interior of the bag to the exterior of the dispenser through which the fluid may be charged into the bag, an intermediate layer of an osmotically effective solute composition partly covering the exterior of the bag such that a band of the bag exterior proximate to the open end of the bag is not covered by the layer, an outer shape-retaining semipermeable membrane covering the intermediate layer of osmotically effective solute composition and forming a fluid tight seal with the exterior of the bag at said band, and a conduit that is sized to fit snugly through the port and extending substantially into the interior of the bag after the fluid is charged to the bag to provide an outlet through which fluid may be dispensed from the bag under pressure.
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11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the conduit extends into the bag interior over substantially the entire, but not all of, the elongated dimension thereof.
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12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the conduit is rigid.
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13. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the length and inner diameter of the conduit are such as to prevent substantial diffusive flow of fluid therethrough.
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14. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the exterior end of the conduit terminates in a blunt head.
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15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein said head is shaped to fit snugly against the exterior of the dispenser and form a substantially smooth continuous surface therewith.
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16. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the head has at least one groove in its exterior surface that communicates with the bore of the conduit to provide a flow channel for the fluid.
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17. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the length and inner diameter of the conduit are such as to prevent substantial diffusive flow of fluid therethrough, and the exterior end of the conduit terminates in a blunt head that is shaped to fit snugly against the exterior of the dispenser and form a substantially smooth continuous surface therewith and that has at least one groove in its exterior surface that communicates with the bore of the conduit to provide a flow channel for the fluid.
Specification