In vivo device, system and usage thereof

• US 8,425,492 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schilling
• Original Assignee: Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg
• Inventors: Herbert, Michael, Schilling, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGELL, THEODORE J
• Application Number:
  US12/666,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/22, 600/309, 606/27, 601/2
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4808 characterised by the form of the capsule or the structure of the filling; Capsules containing small tablets; Capsules with outer layer for immediate drug release capsules filled with granules or microparticles A61K9/16; filled with microcapsules or coated microparticles A61K9/50; with mixture of different granules, microcapsules, (coated) microparticles A61K9/5084
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4891 Coated capsules; Multilayered drug free capsule shells with drug coating for immediate release A61K9/4808; osmotic devices A61K9/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system

Abstract

An in vivo device (1) for an at least temporary placement in a human or animal body (17), comprising an actuator (2) adapted to be actively triggered from the exterior in order to induce a local impact on the adjacent body area for in vivo treatment of a patient in need, and/or comprising a sensor adapted to be actively triggered from the exterior for sensing a pathological condition in the body (17). An in vivo system comprises at least two and/or a plurality of the in vivo devices (1), wherein the in vivo devices (1) are adapted to communicate with each other and/or with an external controller (24). The use of the in vivo device/s (1) for treating and/or diagnosing a pathological condition in a human or animal body (17) comprises: administering the device/s (1); monitoring the movement of the device/s (1) through the body (17); triggering the device/s (1) from the outside once the device/s (1) reach/es a defined position in the body (17).

Claims

1. An in vivo device (1) for an at least temporary placement in a human or animal body (17), comprising an actuator (2) and an RFID transponder (3), which is controlled from the exterior of the body, wherein the RFID transponder (3) is electronically coupled to the actuator (2), such that the actuator is actively triggered from the exterior in order to induce a local impact on the adjacent body area for in vivo treatment thereof, and an impermeable protective cover (7), which covers the RFID transponder (3) and/or at least part of the actuator (2), and a capsule (9), which encloses the actuator (2) and which envelops the protective cover (7) and which forms a first depot (10) for storage of a first substance, wherein the capsule (9) is adapted to be made permeable by triggering the actuator (2) such that the first substance is released.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (2) is adapted to discharge a substance, and/or to emit radioactive radiation, and/or to emit sound waves, and/or to emit heat.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor, wherein the RFID transponder (3) is electronically coupled to the sensor, such that the sensor is actively triggered from the exterior for sensing a pathological condition in the body (17).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the protective cover (7) covers at least part of the sensor.

5. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (2) and/or the sensor is/are supplied with power by the RFID transponder (3), and/or the device (1) comprises an internal power source, and/or an energy harvesting unit for supplying the actuator (2) with energy.

6. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first depot (10) includes a second depot (14) for storage of a second substance, wherein the actuator (2) is coupled to the second depot (14) such that the second substance is releasable from the second depot (14) into the first depot (10) by triggering the actuator (2), and the capsule (9) is adapted to be made permeable by contacting the second substance such that the first substance is released.

7. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first depot (10) includes a third depot (15) for storing a third substance and a dividing wall (16), which separates the first depot (10) from the third depot (15), wherein the actuator (2) is coupled to the dividing wall (16) such that the dividing wall (16) is made permeable for the first and/or second substances by triggering the actuator (2).

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first substance, the third substance and/or a mixture thereof is an active pharmaceutical agent or a therapeutically active drug.

9. The device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first substance is an active pharmaceutical agent or a therapeutically active drug and the third substance is an active pharmaceutical agent.

10. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the second substance is an esterase and the capsule (9) is made from a chemical polymer, such that the esterase degrades the chemical polymer.

11. The device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the actuator (2) when triggered emits heat via an actuator interface (8) to the second depot (14) thereby heating the esterase and as a consequence, the esterase dissolves the capsule (9).

12. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein microspheres (11) cover the capsule (9) and antibodies (12) and/or antigens (13) are located on the micro spheres (11).

13. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein microspheres (11) with antibodies (12) are located on a cover (7) and are protected by the capsule (9).

14. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is adapted to receive a trigger from an exterior controller (24) or to perform data processing with the actuator (2) or the RFID transponder.

15. An in vivo system comprising at least two of in vivo devices (1) according to claim 1, wherein the in vivo devices (1) are adapted to communicate with each other and/or with an exterior controller (24).