Implantable refillable controlled release device to deliver drugs directly to an internal portion of the body

• US 5,836,935 A
• Filed: 01/28/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University Of Kentucky Research Foundation (University of Kentucky)
• Original Assignee: University Of Kentucky Research Foundation (University of Kentucky)
• Inventors: Cooper, Jon, Ashton, Paul, Patchell, Roy A., Young, Byron A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, CHALIN A
• Application Number:
  US08/789,242
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/247, 604/252, 604/891.1, 604/890.1, 604/892.1, 604/8, 604/9, 424/422-424, 424/449
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0085 Brain, e.g. brain implants; Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276

Abstract

An implantable, refillable, rate-controlled drug delivery device, with a hollow reservoir, and a drug delivery tube communicating with the hollow reservoir. The drug delivery tube includes at least one rate-limiting permeable membrane which regulates drug delivery. A method of controlling the delivery of a drug to an internal portion of a body is disclosed.

Claims

1. An implantable, refillable, rate controlled drug delivery device, comprising a hollow reservoir, a drug delivery tube communicating with the hollow reservoir, and one or more rate-limiting elements, said one or more elements consisting essentially of a permeable membrane in said drug delivery tube, which membrane passively regulates drug delivery.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises two rate-limiting permeable membranes.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said rate-limiting permeable membrane is located between the hollow reservoir and an opening of the drug delivery tube.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow reservoir contains a drug to be delivered at a controlled rate to an eternal target area of the body.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said internal target area of the body is the brain.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a backing member circumscribing the hollow reservoir.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said backing member is a membrane.

8. A method of controlling the delivery of a anti-tumor drug to an internal portion of a body comprising administering an anti-tumor drug to an internal portion of the body through a device according to claim 1 to control the delivery of the anti-tumor drug.

9. A method for treating a brain tumor comprising administering an anti-tumor drug to a brain tumor through a device according to claim 1 to regulate drug delivery to the brain tumor.