Medical device for neural stimulation and controlled drug delivery
First Claim
1. A medical device for electrical stimulation of neural tissue and controlled drug delivery comprising:
- an implantable drug delivery module which comprisesa substrate having a plurality of reservoirs,a release system contained in each of the reservoirs, wherein the release system comprises at least one drug,a plurality of discrete reservoir caps, each being in register with an opening of one of the reservoirs, separating the release system from an environment outside of the reservoirs, andmeans for disintegrating one or more of the reservoir caps by electrothermal ablation to release the at least one drug from one or more of the reservoirs;
a neural electrical stimulator which comprisesa signal generator, andat least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of a patient, wherein the at least one stimulation electrode is connected to the signal generator; and
at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the neural electrical stimulator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical devices and methods are provided for electrical stimulation of neural tissue and controlled drug delivery to a patient. The device includes an implantable drug delivery module which comprises a plurality of reservoirs, a release system comprising at least one drug contained in each of the reservoirs, and control means for selectively releasing a pharmaceutically effective amount of drug from each reservoir; a neural electrical stimulator which comprises a signal generator connected to at least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient; and at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the neural electrical stimulator. The microcontroller may control the signal generator and the control means of the drug delivery module. The device may further include a sensor operable to deliver a signal to the microcontroller, for example to indicate when to deliver electrical stimulation, drug, or both.
272 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A medical device for electrical stimulation of neural tissue and controlled drug delivery comprising:
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an implantable drug delivery module which comprises a substrate having a plurality of reservoirs, a release system contained in each of the reservoirs, wherein the release system comprises at least one drug, a plurality of discrete reservoir caps, each being in register with an opening of one of the reservoirs, separating the release system from an environment outside of the reservoirs, and means for disintegrating one or more of the reservoir caps by electrothermal ablation to release the at least one drug from one or more of the reservoirs; a neural electrical stimulator which comprises a signal generator, and at least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of a patient, wherein the at least one stimulation electrode is connected to the signal generator; and at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the neural electrical stimulator. - 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)
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24. A method of treating a patient comprising delivery of an electrical signal and at least one drug to a patient in need thereof comprising:
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implanting into the patient a device comprising a drug delivery module which comprises a plurality of discrete reservoirs, each containing a drug, and a plurality of discrete reservoir caps, each in register with an opening of one of the reservoirs; bringing an stimulator electrode into operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient; activating a signal generator to deliver electrical stimulation from the stimulator electrode to the neural tissue of the patient; and passing an electric current though one or more of the discrete reservoir caps to disintegrate the one or more discrete reservoir caps by electrothermal ablation, thereby to release the drug from one or more of the reservoirs into the patient. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification