Controlled release device and method using electrothermal ablation
First Claim
1. A device for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents comprising:
- a substrate having at least one reservoir;
a discrete reservoir cap in register with the at least one reservoir and formed of an electrically conductive material, which prevents the reservoir contents from passing out from the device and prevents exposure of the reservoir contents to molecules outside of the device;
an electrical input lead connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap; and
an electrical output lead connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap, such that upon application of an electrical current through the reservoir cap, via the input lead and output lead, the reservoir cap is ruptured to release or expose the reservoir contents and the substrate is not ruptured.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are provided for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents. The device includes a reservoir cap formed of an electrically conductive material, which prevents the reservoir contents from passing out from the device and prevents exposure of the reservoir contents to molecules outside of the device; an electrical input lead connected to said reservoir cap; and an electrical output lead connected to said reservoir cap, such that upon application of an electrical current through the reservoir cap, via the input lead and output lead, the reservoir cap ruptures to release or expose the reservoir contents. The reservoir contents can comprise a release system containing drug molecules for release or can comprise a secondary device, such as a sensor. In one embodiment, the controlled release system is incorporated into an implantable drug delivery device.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A device for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents comprising:
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a substrate having at least one reservoir; a discrete reservoir cap in register with the at least one reservoir and formed of an electrically conductive material, which prevents the reservoir contents from passing out from the device and prevents exposure of the reservoir contents to molecules outside of the device; an electrical input lead connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap; and an electrical output lead connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap, such that upon application of an electrical current through the reservoir cap, via the input lead and output lead, the reservoir cap is ruptured to release or expose the reservoir contents and the substrate is not ruptured. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A device for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of discrete reservoirs provided in the substrate; reservoir contents comprising molecules, a secondary device, or both, located in said plurality of reservoirs; a plurality of discrete reservoir caps, each reservoir cap covering each reservoir to isolate said reservoir contents within said reservoir, each reservoir cap comprising an electrically conductive material; a pair of conductive leads electrically connected to and directly contacting each of said reservoir caps, the pair comprising an electrical input lead and an electrical output lead; and a source of electric power for applying an electrical current through each reservoir cap, via said pair of conductive leads, in an amount effective to rupture each of the reservoir caps and not the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A device to provide the controlled release of a drug contained therein to a body of a human or animal comprising:
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a discrete reservoir cap formed of an electrically conductive material, which prevents the drug from passing out from the device to the body; a pair of conductive leads electrically connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap, the pair comprising an electrical input lead and an electrical output lead; and activation means for selectively applying an electrical current through said reservoir cap, via the input lead and output lead, to locally heat the reservoir cap causing the reservoir cap to rupture to enable the drug to pass outward from the device to the body, wherein (i) the reservoir cap and the input and output leads are designed to provide upon the application of electrical current an increase in electrical current density in the reservoir cap relative to the current density in the input and output leads, (ii) the material forming the reservoir cap has a different electrical resistivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and/or a lower melting temperature than the material forming the input and output leads, or (iii) the reservoir cap and the input and output leads are designed to provide upon the application of electrical current an increase in electrical current density in the reservoir cap relative to the current density in the input and output leads, and the material forming the reservoir cap has a different electrical resistivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and/or a lower melting temperature than the material forming the input and output leads. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A medical device for the controlled exposure of a sensor comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of reservoirs provided in the substrate; a plurality of sensors located in said plurality of reservoirs; a discrete reservoir cap covering each reservoir to isolate said sensor within said reservoir, each reservoir cap comprising an electrically conductive material; a pair of conductive leads electrically connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap, the pair comprising an electrical input lead and an electrical output lead; and a source of electric power for applying an electrical current through each reservoir cap, via said pair of conductive leads, in an amount effective to rupture the reservoir cap and not the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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50. A device for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents comprising:
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a reservoir cap formed of an electrically conductive material, which prevents the reservoir contents from passing out from the device and prevents exposure of the reservoir contents to molecules outside of the device; an electrical input lead connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap; and an electrical output lead connected to and directly contacting said reservoir cap, such that upon application of an electrical current through the reservoir cap, via the input lead and output lead, the reservoir cap is ruptured to release or expose the reservoir contents, wherein (i) the reservoir cap and the input and output leads are designed to provide upon the application of electrical current an increase in electrical current density in the reservoir cap relative to the current density in the input and output leads, (ii) the material forming the reservoir cap has a different electrical resistivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and/or a lower melting temperature than the material forming the input and output leads, or (iii) the reservoir cap and the input and output leads are designed to provide upon the application of electrical current an increase in electrical current density in the reservoir cap relative to the current density in the input and output leads, and the material forming the reservoir cap has a different electrical resistivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and/or a lower melting temperature than the material forming the input and output leads.
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Specification