Controlled delivery devices

• US 5,270,048 A
• Filed: 09/03/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Borden Inc. (Bakelite UK TopCo Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Borden Inc. (Bakelite UK TopCo Ltd.)
• Inventors: Drake, Cyril F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROUILLETTE, D GABRIELLE
• Application Number:
  US07/941,753
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 424/426, 424/423, 424/400, 424/438
• US Class Current: 424/426
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas

Abstract

A device for controllably delivering a material into an aqueous medium, the device comprising a soluble portion which is adapted, in use, to dissolve in an aqueous medium thereby to deliver into the aqueous medium a material which is retained in the device, the soluble portion comprising a soluble phosphate glass having a P₂ O₅ content of from 40 to 50 mole %, and constraining means which are located in the vicinity of the soluble portion and which are arranged, in use, to constrain a stationary liquid layer between the soluble portion and the constraining means. The invention also relates to a method of controllably dissolving a soluble phosphate glass in an aqueous medium.

Claims

1. A device for controllably delivering an active material into an aqueous medium, the device comprising a soluble phosphate glass to form a barrier layer between the active material and the aqueous medium, the barrier layer defining a wall of a chamber containing the active material, which wall is breached as a result of dissolution thereof over a particular period of time thereby to deliver into the aqueous medium the active material which is retained in the device, the soluble phosphate glass having a P₂ O₅ content of from 40 to 50 mole %, and a perforated plate which is located in the vicinity of the barrier layer and which is arranged, in use, to constrain a substantially stationary liquid layer between the barrier layer and the perforated plate.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the soluble phosphate glass has a P₂ O₅ content of from 44 to 48 mole %.

3. A device for controllably delivering an active material into an aqueous medium, the device comprising at least one part of a sealed tubular capillary of soluble phosphate glass which encloses the active material, the said at least one part forming, in use, a barrier layer between the active material and the aqueous medium, which said at least one part is breached as a result of dissolution thereof over a particular period of time thereby to deliver into the aqueous medium the active material which is retained in the device, the soluble phosphate glass having a P₂ O₅ content of from 40 to 50 mole % and a capillary holding means including a passageway which receives the sealed tubular capillary, at least one part of the holding means which defines the passageway being adjacent the said at least one part of the capillary and being arranged in use, to constrain a substantially stationary liquid layer between the said at least one part of the capillary and said at least one part of the holding means.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the said at least one part of the holding means comprises a pair of opposed edges of a longitudinal slot of the passageway and the said at least one part of the capillary comprises a pair of longitudinal regions of the capillary which are adjacent the said edges.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the capillary holding means includes two passageways, each of which receives a respective capillary.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein the capillary holding means includes two passageways, each of which receives a respective capillary.

7. A device according to claim 5 wherein each passageway is defined in a respective arm of the capillary holding means and further comprising hinge means which is connected between the two arms and is adapted to permit the arms to be moved between adjacent and remote positions.

8. A device for controllably delivering an active material into an aqueous medium, the device comprising at least one circumferential part of a sealed tubular capillary of soluble phosphate glass enclosing the active material, the said at least one part forming, in use, a barrier layer between the active material and the aqueous medium, which said at least one part is breached as a result of dissolution thereof over a particular period of time thereby to deliver into the aqueous medium the active material which is retained in the device, the soluble phosphate glass having a P₂ O₅ content of from 40 to 50 mole %, and at least one ring member which surrounds the said at least one part thereby, in use, to constrain a substantially stationary liquid layer between the said at least one part and at least one ring member.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the ring member is composed of rubber.

10. A device according to claim 8 further comprising a capillary holding means including a passageway which receives the capillary.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the capillary holding means includes two passageways, each of which receives a respective capillary.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein each passageway is defined in a respective arm of the capillary holding means and further comprising hinge means which is connected between the two arms and is adapted to permit the arms to be moved between adjacent and remote positions.

13. A device for controllably delivering at least one active material into an aqueous medium comprising:

(i) two sealed capillary tubes comprised of a soluble phosphate glass having a P₂ O₅ content ranging from 40 to 50 mole % which encloses an active material and which upon usage in an aqueous environment provides a barrier layer between the active material and the aqueous medium which becomes breached as a result of dissolution of the glass after a fixed period of time;

(ii) two capillary holding means which each comprise a passageway open to the aqueous medium and each of which contains one of said sealed capillary tubes, whereby during usage a substantially stationary layer of the aqueous medium is constrained in the vicinity of a line of contact between the capillary tube and the holding means; and

(iii) a member which provides for the connection of said two capillary holding means.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the two capillary holding means each comprise a half-cylinder.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the connecting member which connects the two half-cylinders is a resilient flat hinge which permits the folding together of said half-cylinders into a closed configuration.

16. The device of claim 15, which further includes a restraining means which surrounds at least a portion of the half cylinders and is comprised of a material which provides for the separation of said half-cylinders into an open configuration when the device is placed in an aqueous environment.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the restraining member comprises a material which becomes dissolved, destroyed, ruptured or broken in an aqueous environment.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the material comprises gelatin string, gelatin tape or a water-soluble adhesive.