Osmotic delivery system with membrane plug retention mechanism
First Claim
1. An osmotic beneficial agent delivery device with a controllable beneficial agent delivery rate comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a beneficial agent delivery port at a closed end;
a plurality of openings formed in a side wall of the substantially cylindrical body at the open end, the plurality of openings of a size and number determined to achieve a predetermined beneficial agent delivery rate; and
an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug received in the open end of the body and covering the plurality of openings.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An osmotic delivery system has a membrane plug retention mechanism which can also be used to control the delivery rate of a beneficial agent from the osmotic delivery system. The osmotic delivery device includes an implant capsule containing a beneficial agent and an osmotic agent. Holes are formed along a side wall of the implant capsule at an open end of the capsule. When the membrane plug is inserted into the open end of the capsule, the membrane material swells into the holes in the capsule side wall creating a large frictional force which prevents expulsion of the membrane plug. A beneficial agent delivery rate of the osmotic delivery system is controllable by varying the size and number of the holes to change the amount of exposed surface area of the membrane plug. An increase in the surface area of the membrane plug exposed to the exterior environment causes a corresponding increase in the liquid permeation rate of the membrane and thus, increases the beneficial agent delivery rate.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An osmotic beneficial agent delivery device with a controllable beneficial agent delivery rate comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a beneficial agent delivery port at a closed end;
a plurality of openings formed in a side wall of the substantially cylindrical body at the open end, the plurality of openings of a size and number determined to achieve a predetermined beneficial agent delivery rate; and
an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug received in the open end of the body and covering the plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. An osmotic beneficial agent delivery device with a controllable beneficial agent delivery rate comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a beneficial agent delivery port at a closed end;
a plurality of openings formed in a side wall of the substantially cylindrical body at the open end, the plurality of openings of a size and number determined to achieve a predetermined beneficial agent delivery rate; and
an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug received in the open end of the body and covering the plurality of openings, wherein the membrane plug swells into the plurality of openings preventing expulsion of the membrane plug. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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6. An osmotic beneficial agent delivery device with a controllable beneficial agent delivery rate comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a beneficial agent delivery port at a closed end;
a plurality of openings formed in a side wall of the substantially cylindrical body at the open end, the plurality of openings of a size and number determined to achieve a predetermined beneficial agent delivery rate; and
an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug received in the open end of the body and covering the plurality of openings, wherein the membrane plug is formed of a material which swells causing a portion of the membrane plug to extend into the plurality of openings in the side wall increasing friction between the membrane plug and the substantially cylindrical body and preventing expulsion of the membrane plug from the substantially cylindrical body.
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13. An osmotic beneficial agent delivery device with a controllable beneficial agent delivery rate comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a beneficial agent delivery port at a closed end;
a plurality of openings formed in a side wall of the substantially cylindrical body at the open end, the plurality of openings of a size and number determined to achieve a predetermined beneficial agent delivery rate; and
an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug received in the open end of the body and covering the plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of openings is a cylindrical bore spaced in an annular manner around the side wall of the substantially cylindrical body adjacent the open end of the substantially cylindrical body.
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Specification