Method and a removable device which can be used for the self-administered treatment of urinary tract infections or other disorders

• US 5,479,945 A
• Filed: 12/20/1991
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UroMed Corporation
• Original Assignee: UroMed Corporation
• Inventors: Simon, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US07/811,571
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 128/885, 128/DIG. 25, 600/29-31
• US Class Current: 128/885
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0009 placed in or outside the body opening close to the surface of the body plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ A61B17/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0013 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/25 Artificial sphincters and devices for controlling urinary incontinence

Abstract

The present invention is a removable drug delivery system used by patients suffering from lower urinary tract infections or urine disorders and disorders of the urethra and bladder. The present invention delivers antibiotics to the infected areas utilizing modified urethral plugs. It is particularly advantageous in that it maintains a therapeutic effect without risking contamination. The device includes of a balloon at the proximal end and a fluid receiving port at the distal end. The balloon is inflated by injecting fluid into the fluid receiving port and deflated by pulling on a deflation string.

Claims

1. A method for delivering antibiotics or other therapeutic compound to an infected or diseased urinary tract comprising the following steps:

providing a remove-to-void delivery device having an exterior surface having antibiotics or other therapeutic compound resident thereon, wherein said antibiotics or other therapeutic compound are resident on the delivery device through means of coating the exterior surface or portions of the exterior surface with a solution of, antibiotics or other compound and urine-soluble binder, prior to insertion, or by attaching a urine-soluble pellet containing antibiotics or other compound or both, prior to insertion, said remove-to-void delivery device further including an expandable proximal portion which can be inserted into the urethra, bladder or bladder neck,

inserting the delivery device with the antibiotics or other therapeutic compound into the urethra,

expanding the expandable portion of the device,

allowing the antibiotics or other therapeutic compound to dissolve into the urine and/or onto the inner walls of the urinary tract,

reversing the expansion of the expandable portion of the device,

removing the device from the urethra.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the antibiotics or other therapeutic compound are resident on the delivery device by means of coating the exterior surface or portions of the exterior surface with a solution of antibiotics or other therapeutic compound and urine-soluble binder.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the antibiotics or other therapeutic compound are resident on the delivery device by means of attaching a urine-soluble pellet containing antibiotics or other therapeutic compound to the proximal end of the delivery device.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rate of dissolution into the urine is controlled by covering the solution of antibiotics or other compound and urine-soluble binder with a permeable membrane.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the rate of dissolution of antibiotics or other compound into the urine is further controlled by perforating the permeable membrane.

6. A method of providing antibiotics or other therapeutic compound to an infected or diseased urinary tract comprising the following steps:

providing an expandable remove-to-void urethral plug having a means for expanding and a means for reversing the expansion, and an exterior surface free of orifices, said exterior surface having antibiotics or other therapeutic compound resident thereon, wherein said antibiotics or other therapeutic compound are resident on the delivery device through means of coating the exterior surface or portions of the exterior surface with a solution of, antibiotics or other compound and urine-soluble binder, prior to insertion, or by attaching a urine-soluble pellet containing antibiotics or other compound or both, prior to insertion,

inserting said urethral plug into the urethra such that said coating dissolves from said exterior surface and disperses into the urinary tract,

expanding said urethral plug with said means for expanding, so as to block the flow of urine,

maintaining said urethral plug in the urethra for a period of time sufficient for said exterior surface to be substantially void of said coating,

removing said urethral plug from the urethra for bladder evacuation by actuating said means for reversing the expansion, whereby said means for reversing the expansion is actuable without the aid of a device external to said plug.