Apparatus and method for delivering beneficial liquids at steady rate
First Claim
1. An apparatus to provide controlled delivery of a beneficial agent, the apparatus comprising:
- a water chamber;
a water-transporting membrane in communication with the water collection chamber;
an extraction chamber to receive water through the water-transporting membrane and into the extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber;
an osmagent in the extraction chamber;
a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent and contracting in response to expanding the extraction chamber; and
a port in communication with the dispensing chamber to deliver the beneficial agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering a beneficial agent is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a water collection chamber. A water-transporting membrane is provided to communicate with the water collection chamber. An extraction chamber receives water through the water-transporting membrane, expanding the extraction chamber. A dispensing chamber, containing a beneficial agent, is configured to contract upon expanding the extraction chamber. This causes the dispensing chamber to expel the beneficial agent through a subterranean delivery channel, such as a rigid hollow spike. In certain embodiments, a rate adjustment mechanism may control the rate that water is received through the water-transporting membrane, thereby controlling the rate the beneficial agent is expelled. The water-transporting membrane has features that repel osmagent from passing through to the water collection chamber. The apparatus features steady rate performance without refreshing the water chamber and low temperature sensitivity.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus to provide controlled delivery of a beneficial agent, the apparatus comprising:
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a water chamber; a water-transporting membrane in communication with the water collection chamber; an extraction chamber to receive water through the water-transporting membrane and into the extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber; an osmagent in the extraction chamber; a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent and contracting in response to expanding the extraction chamber; and a port in communication with the dispensing chamber to deliver the beneficial agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification