Drug delivery system

• US 6,770,288 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vetoquinol USA, Inc. (Neogen Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pfizer Products Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Duirs, Graham Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): George, Konata M.
• Application Number:
  US09/622,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20030039679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 424/422, 424/438, 128/260, 128/268, 128/830
• US Class Current: 424/422
• 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: A61F 6/08 Pessaries, i.e. devices worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition or prevent conception , e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0036 Devices retained in the vagina or cervix for a prolonged period, e.g. intravaginal rings, medicated tampons, medicated diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

A drug delivery device for delivering hormonal and other veterinary treatments intra-vaginally. A substance dispenser (21) is separate from the supporting device (20). The dispenser is in the form of drug impregnated gills or vanes (6, 7). In other aspects the drug may be dispensed by a micro-pump in the supporting device or the drug may be coated on the dispenser.

Claims

1. A substance delivery device adapted for insertion into a body cavity of an animal, the substance delivery device comprising:

a supporting structure configured to be retained within the body cavity of the animal;

a substance dispenser independent of the supporting structure, the substance dispenser including a plurality of finger means configured to allow sustained release of substances over a period of time, the plurality of finger means radiating from a central aperture; and

means for releasably fixing the substance dispenser to the supporting structure so that the central aperture slides over a portion of the support structure, and so that the plurality of fingers extend away from the supporting structure.

2. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of finger means are gills.

3. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of finger means are vanes.

4. A substance delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the plurality of finger means are coated or impregnated with the substance to be dispensed.

6. A substance delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the substance dispenser is highly flexible.

7. A substance delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in the form of an intravaginal release device.

8. A substance delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 configured to be retained within a cow.

5. A substance delivery device adapted for insertion into a body cavity, the substance delivery device comprising:

a supporting structure;

a substance dispenser independent of the supporting structure, the substance dispenser including a plurality of finger means for allowing sustained release of substances over a period of time, the plurality of finger means radiating from a central aperture; and

means for releasably fixing the substance dispenser to the supporting structure so that the central aperture slides over a portion of the support structure, and so that the plurality of fingers extend away from the supporting structure,

wherein the substance dispenser is made from polydimethylsiloxane.

9. A substance delivery device adapted for insertion into a body cavity of an animal, the substance delivery device comprising:

a supporting structure;

a substance dispenser independent of the supporting structure the substance dispenser including a plurality of finger means configured to allow sustained release of substances by dissolution over a period of time, the plurality of finger means radiating from a central aperture, wherein the substance dispenser is configured so that substance delivery rate is based upon the thickness of the finger means; and

means for releasably fixing the substance dispenser to the supporting structure so that the central aperture slides over a portion of the support structure, and so that the plurality of fingers extend away from the supporting structure.

10. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plurality of finger means are gills.

11. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gills are configured to be independently removably attached to the supporting structure.

12. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gills include end gills and middle gills, the middle gills configured to be retained on the supporting structure by the end gills.

13. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gills are moulded so that the central aperture spaces the gills to ensure that there is no competition between the gills in terms of drug release.

14. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 9, further including a supplementary dispenser releasably fixed to one of the substance dispenser and the supporting structure.

15. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 9, further including a biological monitor inserted into the substance dispenser.

16. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of finger means are vanes.

17. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 16, wherein vanes are configured to form a cavity within the drug delivery device.

18. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the vanes are axially aligned with the central aperture.

19. A substance delivery device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the vanes are covered with a biodegradable surface to rate release the substances.