Internal medication delivery method and vehicle

• US 4,678,466 A
• Filed: 12/27/1985
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter L. Rosenwald
• Original Assignee: Peter L. Rosenwald
• Inventors: Rosenwald, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US06/815,295
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 604/891-894, 604/285, 604/895
• US Class Current: 424/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts

Abstract

By providing an implantable insert incorporating a reservoir in which a therapeutic medication is stored, with said insert having a construction through which the medication is dispensed, a medication delivery vehicle is obtained which is capable of being inserted directly adjacent various organs in order to provide requisite medications directly to the organ. In the preferred embodiment, the medication delivery vehicle of this invention comprises a truncated conical shape, thereby allowing the delivery vehicle to be inserted into channel-like orifices, conduits, or vessels leading to the particular organ to which medication delivery is sought, without interfering with the normal bodily functions or the passage of fluids through the channel-like areas and without further movement from the site of implantation. In another embodiment, the delivery vehicle comprises a frusto-spherical annular shape for being inserted on the eye in circumscribing relationship with the corneal-scleral junction, without intruding upon that junction. In this way, medication is delivered directly to the cornea of the eye.

Claims

1. A method for delivering medication directily to a particular desired organ or site, both comfortably and efficiently, comprising the steps of:

A. providing a thin walled, substantially continuous, non-allergenic, elongated, hollow body having a generally tubular shape with

a. a first proximal edge comprising a generally rounded shape and defining a first portal zone,

b. a second distal edge comprising a generally rounded shape and defining a second portal zone,

c. a substantially continuous, elongated length of thin-wall material

3. the method defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid is further defined as comprising a liquid.

5. The medication delivery vehicle defined in claim 3, wherein said vehicle is further defined as comprising

E. internal reservoirs for holding the desired medication;

and

F. semi-permeable polymeric material for controlling the rate of diffusion of the medication to the desired site.

6. The medication delivery vehicle defined in claim 3, wherein said vehicle is formed from bioerodable material, thereby dissolving in the bodily fluid after the medication is dispensed.

9. The medication delivery vehicle defined in claim 6, wherein said conduit-engaging and position-anchoring means is further defined as comprising at least one portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elongated member forming the medication delivery vehicle.

12. The medication delivery vehicle defined in claim 6, wherein said fluid carrying conduit is further defined as comprising blood carrying conduits such as arteries and veins.

2. extending between and interconnecting said proximal edge with said distal edge,comprising an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, and a total thickness therebetween of between about 0.1 millimeters and 1 millimeter, anddefining an elongated substantially continuous fluid flow zone

i. commencing at said first portal zone,

ii. terminating at said second portal zone, and

iii. peripherally surrounded and defined by said inner peripheral surface, and

d. conduit-engaging and postion-anchoring means formed on the outer peripheral surface of said body;

B diffusing thereapeutic medication throughout the body for retention therein and subsequent delivery to the desired site; and

C. implanting the medication delivery vehicle in the desired fluid-carrying conduit with the conduit-engaging and position-anchoring reans thereof in secure, abutting locking engagement with the walls of the conduit, preventing unwanted movement of said vehicle, and with the continuous surface thereof being in aligned, cooperating relationship with said conduit,

whereby a medication delivery vehicle is attained which assures the delivery of medication directly to a particular desired organ or site, effectively and efficiently, delivering the medication directly to a particular site, without interfereing with normal fluid flow through the conduit, and which is securely lockingly engaged in the precisely desired position.

4. A medication delivery vehicle comprising an elongated member

A having a substantially continuous, generally tubular shape, said tubular shape being formed and defined by a substantially continuous, thin-walled material having

a. a first portal zone formed at a first end thereof,

b. a second portal zone formed at the opposed end thereof, and

c. a substantially continuous outer peripheral surface and a substantially continuous, juxtaposed, spaced, substantially aligned inner peripheral surface, with an overall depth therebetween of between about 0.1 millimeters and 1 millimeter;

B. being insertable into an elongated, continuous, generally cylindrically shaped fluid-carrying conduit of the human body with the central axis thereof being substantially coaxially aligned wtih the central axis of said fluid carrying conduit, and the outer peripheral surface of said thin-walled medication delivery vehicle being in substantially aligned, juxtaposed, relationship with the inner peripheral surface of the fluid carrying conduit, whereby said medication delivery vehicle is implantable in the fluid carrying conduit with said first and second portal zones thereof allowing fluid flow therethrough in a manner which prevents interference with the normal fluid flow of the conduit; and

C. further comprising conduit-engaging and position-anchoring means formed on the outer peripheral surface of said elongated member, positioned for secure, abutting and locking engagement with the inner peripheral circumferential wall of the body conduit assuring secure, locked, movement-free positioning by said medication delivery vehicle in the precisely desired position in said fluid carrying conduit.

7. A medication delivery vehicle insertable in an elongated, substantially continuous, open ended conduit in the human body through which fluid normally travels, said medication delivery vehicle comprising

A. a substantially continuous, thin-walled, elongated, hollow, tubular shaped member, peripherally surrounded and enveloped by said fluid carrying conduit of the human body, and having

a. a first proximal edge comprising a generally rounded shape and defining a first portal zone

b. a second distal edge comprising a generally rounded shape and defining a second portal zone,

c. a substantially continuous, elongated length of thin-wall materialextending between and interconnecting said proximal edge with said distal edge,

comprising an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, and a total thickness therebetween of between about 0.1 millimeters and 1 millimeter,

10. The medication delivery vehicle defined in claim 7, wherein said conduit-engaging and position-anchoring means is further defined as comprising the outer peripheral surface directly adjacent said first portal zone.

8. defining an elongated substantially continuous fluid flow zone

i. commencing at said first portal zone,

ii. terminating at said second portal zone, and

iii. peripherally surrounded and defined by said inner peripheral surface, and

said outer surface, when inserted in the desired conduit, extending in juxtaposed, spaced, substantially aligned, peripherally enveloped relationship with the inner wall of said fluid carrying conduit, and having an elongated central axis extending substatnially coaxially with the central axis of the fluid carrying conduit,

thereby providing a non-interfereing, free flow-assuring medication delivery vehicle whereby the fluid normally passing through said body conduit freely flows through said fluid flow zone of said member, without experiencing any flow interference or flow reduction;

and

B. conduit engaging and anchoring means formed about the outer peripheral surface of said member and positioned for secure abutting and locking engagement with the inner peripheral wall of the body conduit, thereby assuring secure, locked movement free positioning of said delivery vehicle in the desired position in said fluid carrying conduit, whereby said delivery vehicle, once inserted in the desired conduit, is capable of delivering medication to the precisely desired site, without adversely affecting the flow through said conduit, while being in a secure, fixed, anchored position.

11. The medication delivery vehicle defined in claim 8, wherein said generally rounded first proximal edge is further defined as comprising a diameter greater than the diameter of the generally rounded second distal edge, forming a generally truncated, thin-walled, substantially continuous, elongated, hollow, tubular shaped medication delivery vehicle.