Thermally-activated microchip chemical delivery devices
First Claim
1. A microchip device for the release of molecules comprising:
- a substrate;
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate containing a release system including the molecules for release; and
a reservoir cap positioned on or in each of the reservoirs over the release system and formed of a material that undergoes a phase change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the molecules can be selectively released from each reservoir upon heating said reservoir cap to cause said reservoir cap to undergo a phase change and rupture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Microchip delivery devices are provided that control both the rate and time of release of molecules, wherein the device includes a substrate, at least one reservoir in the substrate containing the molecules, and a reservoir cap positioned on the reservoir over the molecules, wherein the molecules are released from the reservoir upon heating or cooling the device or a portion thereof sufficient to rupture the reservoir cap. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a resistor integrated into the reservoir or mounted near the reservoir, which upon application of an electric current through the resistor, causes at least one of the contents of the reservoir to thermally expand, vaporize, phase change, or undergo a thermally driven reaction, such that the reservoir cap ruptures due to mechanical stress. In another preferred embodiment, application of an electric current to a resistor located on or near the reservoir cap causes the cap to expand, contract, or undergo a phase change that results in the rupture of the reservoir cap. The reservoirs can contain multiple drugs or other molecules in variable dosages. Each of the reservoirs of a single microchip can contain different molecules and/or different amounts and concentrations, which can be released independently.
285 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A microchip device for the release of molecules comprising:
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a substrate;
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate containing a release system including the molecules for release; and
a reservoir cap positioned on or in each of the reservoirs over the release system and formed of a material that undergoes a phase change in response to a change in temperature, wherein the molecules can be selectively released from each reservoir upon heating said reservoir cap to cause said reservoir cap to undergo a phase change and rupture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 35, 36)
(a) providing the device of claim 1 at a site where the molecules are to be delivered; and
(b) heating a selected reservoir cap in an amount effective to cause the selected reservoir cap to undergo a phase change and rupture the reservoir cap and release the molecules.
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15. The method of claim 14 wherein the heating is achieved by resistive heating of a resistor incorporated into the device.
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16. The method of claim 15 wherein resistive heating of a resistor heats the reservoir cap.
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17. The method of claim 15 wherein resistive heating of a resistor heats the molecules in the reservoir.
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18. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the reservoir caps are formed of different materials from one another, the different materials having different melting temperatures.
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35. The device of claim 1, 23, 27, 31, or 33, wherein the molecules for release comprise drug molecules.
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36. The device of claim 35, wherein the release system comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
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19. A method of fabricating a microchip device for release of molecules having reservoirs containing the molecules for release comprising:
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providing a substrate;
forming a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate;
filling the reservoirs with a release system comprising the molecules; and
capping the reservoirs with a reservoir cap that undergoes a phase change to rupture upon a selected degree of heating or cooling. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
depositing and patterning a material on the substrate for use as an etch mask; - and
etching a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate.
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22. The method of claim 19 wherein the reservoirs are formed using a micromolding or laser machining technique.
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23. A microchip device for the release of molecules comprising:
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at least one substrate;
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate containing a release system including the molecules; and
a reservoir cap, comprising a membrane, positioned on or in each of the reservoirs over the release system, said membrane being substantially impermeable to the molecules when the membrane is at a temperature below a selected temperature and becomes permeable to the molecules at a temperature equal to or greater than the selected temperature, wherein the molecules are released from the reservoir upon heating of the reservoir cap to the selected temperature. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 37, 38)
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27. A microchip device for the release of molecules comprising:
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a substrate;
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate containing a release system including the molecules for release;
a reservoir cap positioned on or in each of the reservoirs over the release system; and
a means for heating said release system to increase the pressure within the reservoir to cause the reservoir cap to rupture. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A microchip device for the release of molecules comprising:
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a substrate;
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate containing a release system including the molecules for release; and
a reservoir cap in the form of a metal film positioned on or in each of the reservoirs over the release system, wherein the molecules can be selectively released from each reservoir upon by rupturing said reservoir cap by heating or cooling said reservoir cap, the reservoir release system, or both. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A microchip device for the release of molecules comprising:
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a substrate;
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate containing a release system including the molecules for release;
a reservoir cap positioned on or in each of the reservoirs over the release system and formed of a material that undergoes a temperature-dependent chemical degradation; and
a resistor integrated into or mounted near the reservoir cap to heat the reservoir cap upon application of an electric current through the resistor, wherein the molecules can be selectively released from each reservoir upon heating said reservoir cap to cause said reservoir cap to chemically degrade and rupture. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification