Injectable controlled release fluid delivery system

• US 9,067,047 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Tegreene, Clarence T., Gates, William H. III, Hyde, Roderick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berdichevsky, Aarti B
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/975,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,811 Days
• Field of Search: 604/892.1, 604/93.01, 604/890.1, 604 65- 67, 604131-133
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• 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: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Embodiments of a material delivery device including a deformable reservoir and associated controllable output mechanism are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, a material delivery device may be placed in an animal in order to controllably dispense at least one material into the animal. The material delivery device may include a programmable mechanism to control the release of the material into the animal. In selected embodiments, a remote controller may be used to program or to control the material delivery device. Some embodiments are described wherein a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.

Claims

1. A method of delivering at least one material to an animal, comprising:

percutaneously injecting at least one material delivery device into an in vivo environment of the animal using a percutaneous injection mechanism, the percutaneous injection mechanism having a hollow body enclosing the at least one material delivery device, the at least one material delivery device including at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface, the collapsible reservoir configured to receive, retain and controllably dispense the at least one material, a processor configured to cause emission of an electromagnetic control signal, and at least one controllable output mechanism coupled to the at least one collapsible reservoir, wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism defines or is located within at least one outlet through which the at least one material may be released;

delivering a quantity of the at least one material into the at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface;

wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes a thermally-responsive material that absorbs an electromagnetic control signal and changes its shape to dispense the at least one material in response to at least one electromagnetic control signal; and

delivering at least a portion of the quantity of the at least one material to the animal through the at least outlet responsive to the thermally-responsive material absorbing the electromagnetic control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface further comprises at least one inlet mechanism for receiving external delivery of a material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one material delivery device includes RFID circuitry.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is a human.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises at least one sensor, at least one timer, or at least one counter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is located on the at least one material delivery device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a quantity of the at least one material in the at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises at least one electronic memory location for recording information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electromagnetic control signal is provided by at least one remote controller.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one remote controller comprises at least one of hardware, firmware, or software configured to control transmission of the at least one electromagnetic control signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one material comprises at least one therapeutic agent.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent comprises a therapeutically immunogenic amount of at least one vaccine.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anti-infective agent.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one anti-infective agent includes at least one anti-viral agent.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one anti-infective agent includes at least one anti-microbial agent.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat malaria.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat tuberculosis.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat leschmaniasis.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat cholera.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one material is a fluid.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is a mammal.

22. A method of delivering at least one material to an animal, comprising:

percutaneously injecting at least one material delivery device into an in vivo environment of the animal using a percutaneous injection mechanism, the percutaneous injection mechanism having a hollow body enclosing the at least one material delivery device, the at least one material delivery device including at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface, the collapsible reservoir configured to receive, retain and controllably dispense the at least one material, a processor configured to cause emission of a magnetic control signal, and at least one controllable output mechanism coupled to the at least one collapsible reservoir, wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism defines or is located within at least one outlet through which the at least one material may be released; and

delivering a quantity of the at least one material into the at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface;

wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes a magnetically-active material that absorbs a magnetic control signal and changes its shape to dispense the at least one material in response to at least one magnetic control signal; and

delivering at least a portion of the quantity of the at least one material to the animal through the at least outlet responsive to the magnetically-active material receiving the magnetic control signal.

23. A method of delivering at least one material to an animal, comprising:

percutaneously injecting at least one material delivery device into an in vivo environment of the animal using a percutaneous injection mechanism, the percutaneous injection mechanism having a hollow body enclosing the at least one material delivery device, the at least one material delivery device including at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface, the collapsible reservoir configured to receive, retain and controllably dispense the at least one material, and including at least one outlet, and at least one controllable output mechanism operably linked to the at least one outlet; and

delivering a quantity of the at least one material into the at least one collapsible reservoir having a biologically inert collapsible outer surface;

wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes a shape-changing structure selected from the group consisting of a ferropolymer, a bimetallic structure and a shape memory material and dispenses the at least one material in response to at least one electromagnetic control signal.