Sustained delivery of an active agent using an implantable system
First Claim
1. An implantable device for delivering an active agent to a fluid environment of use, said device comprising a reservoir and a back-diffusion regulating outlet in mating relationship, wherein a flow path for the active agent comprises a pathway formed between the mating surfaces of the reservoir and the back-diffusion regulating outlet.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a device for delivering an active agent formulation for a predetermined administration period. An impermeable reservoir is divided into a water-swellable agent chamber and an active agent formulation chamber. Fluid from the environment is imbibed through a semipermeable plug into the water-swellable agent chamber and the active agent formulation is released through a back-diffusion regulating outlet. Delivery periods of up to 2 years are achieved.
345 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. An implantable device for delivering an active agent to a fluid environment of use, said device comprising a reservoir and a back-diffusion regulating outlet in mating relationship, wherein a flow path for the active agent comprises a pathway formed between the mating surfaces of the reservoir and the back-diffusion regulating outlet.
-
6. An implantable fluid-imbibing active agent delivery system comprising an impermeable reservoir and containing a piston that divides the reservoir into an active agent containing chamber and a water-swellable agent containing chamber, wherein the active agent containing chamber is provided with a back-diffusion regulating outlet and the water-swellable agent containing chamber is provided with a semipermeable plug;
- wherein the plug is releasable from the reservoir at an internal pressure that is lower than the maximum osmotic pressure generated by the water-swellable agent.
-
7. An implantable fluid-imbibing active agent delivery system comprising an impermeable reservoir and containing a piston that divides the reservoir into an active agent containing chamber and a water-swellable agent containing chamber, wherein the active agent containing chamber is provided with a back-diffusion regulating outlet and the water-swellable agent containing chamber is provided with a semipermeable plug;
- wherein the outlet is releasable from the reservoir at an internal pressure that is lower than the maximum osmotic pressure generated by the water-swellable agent.
-
8. An implantable active agent delivery system for delivering an active agent to a fluid environment of use, said agent being susceptible to degradation if exposed to the fluid environment of use prior to delivery, said system comprising:
-
(a) a piston that divides the system into a first and second chamber, the first and second chambers each having an open end; (b) a water-swellable agent formulation in the first chamber; (c) an active agent formulation in the second chamber; (d) a semipermeable plug in the open end of the first chamber; and (e) a back-diffusion regulating outlet in the open end of the second chamber; wherein said system effectively seals the active agent chamber and isolates it from the environment of use. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
- 11. A back-diffusion regulating outlet useful in an active agent delivery system for delivering active agent to a fluid environment of use, said outlet defining a flow path wherein the length, interior cross-sectional shape and area provide for an average linear velocity of the active agent that is higher than the linear inward flux of the fluid environment of use.
Specification