Infusion device for soft tissue

• US 5,564,439 A
• Filed: 12/27/1994
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George J. Picha, Dr.
• Original Assignee: George J. Picha, Dr.
• Inventors: Picha, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US08/364,515
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 623/7, 623/8, 623/11, 623/66, 604/93, 604/175, 604/183, 604/186, 604/890.1
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3092 having an open-celled or open-pored structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/18 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/70 Completely encapsulating inserts B29C70/86 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/78 Moulding material on one side only of the preformed part
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7532 Artificial members, protheses
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes

Abstract

An implant is provided with an open-celled silicone elastomer foam outer layer. The implant may be formed by compressively deforming beads mixed with liquid elastomer in a mold containing a preformed support structure. The elastomer is cured and the beads dissolved out. Infusion and sensor catheters covered with the foam provide improved transport rates and faster response.

Claims

1. An infusion device for infusion of a therapeutic substance into soft tissue, said device comprising:

a receptacle for said therapeutic substance, said receptacle having a therapeutic substance emitting membrane, said membrane having an internal and an external surface, said internal surface being in contact with said therapeutic substance and having a plurality of pits spaced apart between 50 and 2,000 microns, said pits being between 50 and 2,000 microns across; and

a polymeric open-celled foam between 10 microns and 2,000 microns in thickness bonded to a substantial portion of said external surface of said membrane, said pits extending at least partially into said foam and at most 100 microns beyond said foam.

2. An infusion device according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric foam is a silicone elastomer.

3. An infusion device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is permeable to said therapeutic substance.

4. An infusion device according to claim 1, wherein said pits have orifices therein.

5. An infusion device according to claim 1, further comprising a catheter communicating with said receptacle.

6. An infusion device according to claim 1, further comprising a subcutaneous needle port communicating with said receptacle.

7. An infusion device according to claim 1, further comprising a subcutaneous pump communicating with said receptacle.