Subdermal material delivery device

• US 8,369,942 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amacathera, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Rivet, Dennis J., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/077,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/288.01, 604/288.04, 6048901-8921, 604/19, 604/46, 604/47, 604/500, 604/501, 604/502
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

A method may include placing a first device on a first side of a skin portion of a subject and transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing a first device on an external side of a skin portion of a subject; and

transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject, the liquid material in direct contact with the skin portion of the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

assisting transfer of the liquid material with sonophoresis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

establishing an electric polarity for the first device where the subdermal second device has an electric polarity opposite the first device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein establishing an electric polarity for the first device where the subdermal second device has an electric polarity opposite the first device comprises:

controlling the polarity of at least one of the first device or the subdermal second device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

transferring the liquid material from at least one of an iontophoresis device, a microjet injector device, a sonophoresis device, or a transdermal patch to the reservoir of the subdermal second device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

at least partially deloading a reservoir of the first device to transfer the liquid material through the skin portion of the subject to the reservoir of the subdermal second device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

locating a fiducial on the subject.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein locating a fiducial on the subject comprises:

locating a tattoo on the subject.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

locating a fiducial on the subdermal second device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein locating a fiducial on the subdermal second device comprises:

locating at least one of a fluorescent marker, a marker having an enhanced radio signature, a radio frequency identification tag, a radio opaque marker, a retroreflector, or an ultrasonic marker disposed of the subdermal second device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

receiving a signal from the subdermal second device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving a signal from the subdermal second device comprises:

receiving at least one of an electrical current, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequency identification, or an ultrasonic signal from the subdermal second device.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein at least substantially aligning an output port of the first device with a receiving port of the subdermal second device comprises:

receiving a signal from the subdermal second device which is indicative of a location on the subdermal second device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

transferring at least one of a drug, a logistical material, or a marker through, and in direct contact with, the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from the subdermal second device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving a signal from the subdermal second device comprises:

receiving a signal regarding at least one of a location, a desire to transfer material, a readiness to transfer material, a characteristic of material to be transferred, an amount of material available to be transferred, a time for transfer to commence, an amount of material to be transferred, a desire to stop transfer, or an acknowledgement that transfer is complete.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding the liquid material.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding the liquid material comprises:

receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding at least one of a need for the liquid material, a need for a quantity of the liquid material, a need for a type of the liquid material, a quantity of the liquid material present, or a quantity of the liquid material collected.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from the subdermal second device regarding a ready condition for receiving the liquid material.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

receiving feedback regarding whether the liquid material is received by the subdermal second device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

stopping transfer of the liquid material if the liquid material is not received by the subdermal second device.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

comparing an amount of the liquid material collected by the subdermal second device to an amount of the liquid material ejected from the first device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

stopping transfer of the liquid material based upon comparing an amount of the liquid material collected by the subdermal second device to an amount of the liquid material ejected from the first device.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject further comprises:

stopping transfer of the liquid material when the subdermal second device does not require additional material.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein stopping transfer of the liquid material when the subdermal second device does not require additional material comprises:

stopping transfer of the liquid material when the reservoir of the subdermal second device is full.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein stopping transfer of the liquid material when the subdermal second device does not require additional material further comprises:

receiving a signal from the subdermal second device indicating it does not require additional material.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

pulsing a stream of the liquid material.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

transferring the liquid material through an input port of the subdermal second device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein transferring the liquid material through an input port of the subdermal second device comprises:

transferring a stream of the liquid material through at least one of a self-healing material, a self-sealing material, a layer of material, a viscous material, a porous material, a second liquid material, a wickable material, or a closable window disposed of the subdermal second device.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein transferring the liquid material through an input port of the subdermal second device comprises:

opening the input port in preparation for receiving the liquid material; and

coordinating the transfer of the liquid material with the opening of the input port.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring a liquid material, under force utilizing at least one of an electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a reservoir of a subdermal second device disposed on a subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

transferring the liquid material to a first reservoir of the subdermal second device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein transferring the liquid material to a first reservoir of the subdermal second device further comprises:

aligning an input port of the first reservoir of the subdermal second device with an output port of the first device.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transferring a second liquid material through, and in direct contact with, the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device disposed on the subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein transferring a second liquid material through, and in direct contact with, the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device disposed on the subdermal side of the skin portion of the subject comprises:

transferring the second liquid material to a second reservoir of the subdermal second device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein transferring the second liquid material to a second reservoir of the subdermal second device further comprises:

aligning an input port of the second reservoir of the subdermal second device with an outlet port of a second reservoir of the first device.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a transcutaneous path extending through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device; and

transferring the liquid material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the reservoir of the subdermal second device generally along the transcutaneous path.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein defining a transcutaneous path extending through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermal second device comprises:

defining a transcutaneous path extending through the skin portion of the subject to avoid at least one of a nerve, a blood vessel, or a previous transcutaneous path.