Implantable electrophoretic pump for ionic drugs and associated methods
First Claim
1. An implantable electrophoretic pump for ionic drugs comprisinga housing,a substantially fixed volume reservoir for storing said ionic drugs having a filler opening and a discharge opening,said housing having opening means disposed generally adjacent to said filler opening and said discharge opening,a filler member disposed within said filler opening and being self-sealing and adapted to be pierced by a reservoir filling member and upon removal of said filling member will resist leakage therethrough,a reservoir discharge member disposed within said discharge opening and having a diffusion membrane and a pair of associated electrodes,electrical energizing means for energizing said electrodes, andthe polarity of said electrodes being adapted to be connected such that when said electrodes are energized increased flow of said ionic drug through said discharge member will occur as compared with flow induced solely through diffusion when said electrodes are not energized, whereby said pump can deliver said ionic drugs electrophoretically.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable electrophoretic pump for ionic drugs and the method of using the same is provided. A reservoir is provided with a filler opening and a discharge opening. The discharge opening has a diffusion membrane and a pair of associated electrodes. A battery and electronic components provide for energizing the electrodes so as to effect ion transfer of the ionic drugs into other portions of the patient'"'"'s body through the voltage induced between the two electrodes. The pump is particularly useful for ionic drugs such as insulin, blood thinners, antibiotics and the like. A method of making a porous electrode.
329 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An implantable electrophoretic pump for ionic drugs comprising
a housing, a substantially fixed volume reservoir for storing said ionic drugs having a filler opening and a discharge opening, said housing having opening means disposed generally adjacent to said filler opening and said discharge opening, a filler member disposed within said filler opening and being self-sealing and adapted to be pierced by a reservoir filling member and upon removal of said filling member will resist leakage therethrough, a reservoir discharge member disposed within said discharge opening and having a diffusion membrane and a pair of associated electrodes, electrical energizing means for energizing said electrodes, and the polarity of said electrodes being adapted to be connected such that when said electrodes are energized increased flow of said ionic drug through said discharge member will occur as compared with flow induced solely through diffusion when said electrodes are not energized, whereby said pump can deliver said ionic drugs electrophoretically.
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29. A reservoir for an implantable electrophoretic pump including
a hollow body defining a substantially fixed volume drug storage chamber, a filler opening defined within said body, a self-sealing member sealingly secured within said filler opening, a discharge opening defined within said body, a diffusion membrane sealingly secured within said discharge opening, and a pair of electrodes having an electrode disposed on each side of said diffusion membrane whereby said reservoir can deliver said drug electrophoretically.
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40. A method of delivering an ionic drug within a patient comprising
providing an implantable electrophoretic pump having a housing within which is disposed a substantially fixed volume ionic drug storage reservoir having a filler opening sealed by a self-sealing membrane and a discharge opening sealed by a diffusion membrane having electrode means disposed on opposite sides of said diffusion membrane, introducing an ionic drug into said reservoir, implanting said pump in said patient, effecting basal rate delivery of said ionic drug to said patient by diffusion, and periodically energizing said electrode to effect alteration of the diffusion induced flow of ions out of said reservoir whereby said drug can be delivered electrophoretically.
Specification