Method for automatic dosing of drugs

• US 6,056,734 A
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sterling Investments LC
• Original Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Zentner, Gaylen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blyveis, Deborah
• Application Number:
  US09/097,950
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/19, 604/20, 604/22, 604/23, 604/65, 604/67, 604/244, 604/246, 604/137, 604/138, 604/140, 604/145, 604/148, 604/90, 604/89, 623/24, 623/25, 623/93
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• 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

Abstract

The method for automatic dosing of drugs utilizes a microdelivery device which may be implanted in or otherwise administered to an animal or human. A microdelivery device is configured to have at least one compartment containing at least one drug so that a plurality of doses of the drug(s) are held within the device. In accordance with the present invention, the microdelivery device selectively actuates a compartment to selectively release doses of the drug(s) to provide an efficacious dosing pattern. One primary function of the present invention is to release two or more pesticides in such a pattern that parasites are effectively controlled while preventing the development of tolerance to the drugs within the parasites. Preferably, the microdelivery device is programmable to effectuate the release of the drug(s) at a desired time to maintain efficacious levels of the drug while minimizing the amount of drug which must be used.

Claims

1. A method for automatic delivery of at least one drug, comprising:

selecting an electromechanical microdelivery system containing a plurality of doses of at least one drug contained within a plurality of compartments disposed therein to be administered to a patient;

administering the electromechanical microdelivery system to the patient;

programming the electromechanical microdelivery system to dispense the at least one drug to the patient according to a predetermined dosing regimen;

actuating the electromechanical microdelivery system to provide an initial dose of the at least one drug to the patient; and

actuating the electromechanical microdelivery system to provide at least one other subsequent dose of the at least one drug to the patient at a predetermined time according to the dosing regimen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing an initial dose and said providing at least one other subsequent dose includes topically applying the dose to the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing an initial dose and said providing at least one other subsequent dose includes internally administering the doses into the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said initial dose is a loading dose of the at least one drug.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said subsequent doses are maintenance doses of an amount less than the initial dose.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one drug is selected from a parasiticide for the control of at least one of an ectoparasite and endoparasite.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one drug is selected from is the group comprising permethrin, ivermectin and fipronil.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one drug is selected from a proteinaceous thrombolytic agent.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said proteinaceous thrombolytic agent is selected from at least one of urokinase, streptokinase, and TPA.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one drug is selected from at least one of proteins, peptides, oligonucleotides, and DNA.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one drug is selected from the group comprising epoetin alfa, filgrastim, interferon alfa-2a, vaccines, protein antigens, and plasmid DNA encoding reporter genes.

12. The method of claim 1, further including providing a monitoring device in communication with the electromechanical microdelivery system and the patient for monitoring at least one physiological condition of the patient and for generating data representing the at least one physiological condition, and wherein said predetermined dosing regimen is automatically modified according to said data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said monitoring device is selected from a blood glucose level monitoring device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one drug is comprised of insulin.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering the electromechanical microdelivery system to the patient comprises locating a catheter into a hepatic artery of the patient.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one drug is selected from a chemotherapeutic agent.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group comprising 5-FU and 5-FUdR.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one drug is selected from the group comprising antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one drug is selected from imipenem, cilastatin, ceftriaxone sodium, cefoxitin sodium, foscarnet, acyclovir, and amphotericin B.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said electromechanical microdelivery system is an electromechanical micropump.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering the electromechanical microdelivery system to the patient comprises attaching the electromechanical microdelivery system to a body part of the patient.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said administering the electromechanical microdelivery system includes connecting an IV set to the electromechanical microdelivery system and to the patient.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said subsequent doses are provided at preprogrammed intervals to ensure that a level of drug in the patient stays above a desired minimum.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said administering comprises implanting the electromechanical microdelivery system into the patient.

25. A method for automatic alternate dosing of at least two drugs in an animal, the method comprising:

selecting an electromechanical microdelivery system having a plurality of compartments disposed therein for holding at least one drug therein;

administering the electromechanical microdelivery system to the patient;

actuating the electromechanical microdelivery system to provide a first dose of the at least one drug from a first compartment of the electromechanical microdelivery system to the patient; and

actuating the electromechanical microdelivery system to provide a second dose of the at least one drug from a second compartment of the electromechanical microdelivery system to the patient at a first predetermined time after the first dose of the at least one drug according to a predetermined dosing regimen.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

actuating the electromechanical microdelivery system to provide a third dose of the at least one drug at a second predetermined time after the second dose of the at least one drug.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises delivering additional doses of the at least one drug, each dose being spaced a predetermined period of time.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing one of the plurality of compartments with a first quantity of the at least one drug and providing a plurality of the remaining compartments with a second quantity of the at least one drug which is less than the first quantity.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising releasing the compartments having the second quantity of the at least one drug at intervals sufficiently distant from one another so that the amount of the at least one drug available to the patient is substantially the same immediately after each dose of the at least one drug.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing one of the compartments with a first quantity of the at least one drug and providing a plurality of the remaining compartments with a second quantity of the at least one drug which is greater than the first quantity.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing different quantities of the at least one drug in a plurality of the compartments, and wherein the method further comprises, selectively releasing the compartments to obtain a desired level of the at least one drug.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising delivering additional doses of the at least one drug in such a manner to increase the levels of the at least one drug in the patient.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein said administering the electromechanical microdelivery system includes implanting the electromechanical microdelivery system within the patient.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein said administering the electromechanical microdelivery system includes topically attaching the electromechanical microdelivery system to the patient.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein said providing a first dose of the at least one drug is in sufficient quantity to exceed an efficacy threshold of the at least one drug for patient, and said providing a second dose of the at least one drug is in sufficient quantity to exceed the efficacy threshold of the at least one drug for the patient while the level of the first dose remains above the efficacy threshold of the at least one drug.