Osmotic delivery system having space efficient piston

• US 6,544,252 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Eckenhoff, Ben, Theeuwes, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US09/472,600
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/892.1, 604/130-133, 604/141, 604/143, 604/151, 604/218, 424/422, 424/451, 424/452, 424/464, 424/465
• US Class Current: 604/892.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas

Abstract

An osmotic delivery system having a space efficient piston. The capsule has an interior holding the piston, a beneficial agent, and an osmotic agent. The piston is movable with respect to an interior surface of the capsule, and defines a movable seal with the interior surface of the capsule. The moveable seal separates the osmotic agent from the beneficial agent. The piston has a recess that receives at least a portion of the osmotic agent. The osmotic agent imbibes liquid from a surrounding environment through a semipermeable body to cause the piston to move and in turn cause delivery of the beneficial agent from the capsule.

Claims

1. An osmotic delivery system comprising:

a capsule, said capsule having an interior for holding a beneficial agent, said interior having an interior surface said capsule including a cylindrical tube;

an osmotic agent located in said interior;

a semipermeable body in liquid communication with said capsule for permitting liquid to permeate through said semipermeable body to said osmotic agent; and

a piston located within said interior of said capsule, being movable with respect to said interior surface of said capsule, defining a movable seal with said interior surface of said capsule that separates said osmotic agent from the beneficial agent, and having a recess that receives at least a portion of said osmotic agent,

said osmotic agent located between said piston and said semipermeable body, said osmotic agent for imbibing liquid from a surrounding environment through said semipermeable body to cause said piston to move and in turn cause delivery of the beneficial agent from said capsule, wherein said cylindrical tube includes an opening and said semipermeale body includes a semipermeable plug, said semipermeable plug located within said opening.

2. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said recess is cylindrical.

3. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said piston is cup-shaped.

4. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said piston includes a plurality of ribs for effecting said seal with said interior surface.

5. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said osmotic agent includes a tablet.

6. An osmotic delivery system comprising:

a capsule, said capsule having an interior for holding a beneficial agent, said interior having an interior surface;

an osmotic agent located in said interior;

a semipermeable body in liquid communication with said capsule for permitting liqued to permeate through said semipermeable body to said osmotic agent;

a piston located within said interior of said capsule, being movable with respect to said interior surface of said capsule, defining a movable seal with said interior surface of said capsule that separates said osmotic agent from the beneficial agent, and having a recess that receives at least a portion of said osmotic agent,

said osmotic agent located between said piston and said semipermeable body, said osmotic agent for imbibing liquid from a surrounding environment through said semipermeable body to cause said piston to move and in turn cause delivery of the beneficial agent from said capsule; and

a sleeve located within said recess, said sleeve having a hollow interior that receives said osmotic agent, wherein the sleeve has the shape of a cap.

7. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 6, where said sleeve is cup-shaped.

8. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 6, wherein said recess is cylindrical.

9. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 6, wherein said piston is cup-shaped.

10. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 6, wherein said piston includes a plurality of ribs for effecting said seal with said interior surface.

11. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 6, wherein said capsule includes a cylindrical tube.

12. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 6, wherein said osmotic agent includes a tablet.

13. An osmotic delivery system comprising:

a piston having a recess;

an osmotic agent located within said recess; and

an enclosure having an interior holding said piston and said osmotic agent, said piston being movable with respect to said enclosure, said enclosure having a semipermeable body in liquid communication with said osmotic agent for permitting liquid to permeate through said semipermeable body to said osmotic agent, said osmotic agent for imbibing liquid from a surrounding environment and causing said piston to move, wherein said recess also receives a sleeve.

14. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, wherein said interior of said enclosure includes an interior surface, said piston abutting against said interior surface.

15. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, wherein said semipermeable body is located within said interior of said enclosure.

16. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, wherein said enclosure is liquid impermeable.

17. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, wherein said osmotic agent is located between said semipermeable body and said piston.

18. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, further comprising a beneficial agent located in said interior of said enclosure, said beneficial agent being delivered from said enclosure when said piston moves.

19. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, wherein said piston is cup-shaped and liquid impermeable.

20. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, wherein said osmotic agent is also located outside of said recess.

21. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, wherein said piston includes at least one rib for effecting a movable seal with said enclosure.

22. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 13, further comprising a beneficial agent located in said interior of said enclosure, said piston defining a movable seal that separates said osmotic agent from said beneficial agent.

23. An osmotic delivery system comprising:

a capsule having a tubular interior, said tubular interior having an interior surface;

a semipermeable body located at least partially within said tubular interior;

a piston located within said tubular interior, having a recess, defining a seal with said interior surface of said tubular interior, and being movable with respect to said interior surface of said tubular interior and with respect to said semipermeable body;

an osmotic agent located at least partially in said recess and said tubular interior;

a beneficial agent located within said tubular interior;

said piston separating said beneficial agent from said osmotic agent, said semipermeable body located on a same side of said liquid impermeable piston as said osmotic agent; and

a sleeve located within said recess, said sleeve having a hollow interior that receives said osmotic agent.

24. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 23, wherein said sleeve is formed from metal.

25. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 23, wherein said piston includes ribs.

26. The osmotic delivery system according to claim 23, wherein said recess is cylindrical.