Method and system for drug delivery

• US 9,775,379 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syqe Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Syqe Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Davidson, Perry, Schorr, Aaron, Holtz, Arie, Pong, Will, Schwartz, Binyamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen (Jackie) T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boecker, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US13/997,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/007 Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7007 Drug-containing films, membranes or sheets A61K9/0041, A61K9/0043, A61K9/006, A61K9/0063 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/048 with a flame, e.g. using a burner
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0055 the used dosages being coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 : Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 : with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 : in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/062 : Desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 : with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 : with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 : with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 : preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 : Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 : cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/364 : by chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 : by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3673 : thermo-electric, e.g. Peltier effect, thermocouples, semi-conductors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 : by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 : Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 : with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6009 : for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 : providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 : Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 : Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 : Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/10 : Equipment for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 : delivered from dispensers

Abstract

There is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a device and a method for controlled extraction of at least one active substance from at least one type of plant matter by application of heat, the device comprising: a heating element adapted to apply heat to an area of the plant matter to extract the substance; and a mechanism adapted for moving the plant matter relative to the heating element. Optionally, the active substance is a restricted substance. There is also provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of monitoring and controlling inhalation of a restricted substance. There is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of manufacturing a tape of plant matter comprising an active substance.

Claims

1. An inhaler device for controlled extraction of at least one active substance from at least one type of plant matter by application of heat, said inhaler device comprising:

a first layer of plant matter, said first layer having a thickness ranging from 0.2 mm to 1 mm;

a second layer in contact with said first layer for direct heating of said plant matter by said second layer, said second layer comprising apertures having a size sufficiently small to prevent said plant matter from escaping and sufficiently large to allow air to enter through said second layer;

circuitry for controlling heating of said second layer; and

a delivery tract for delivery of said active substance to a user, said delivery tract in fluid communication with an air intake tract, said air intake tract comprising at least one conduit extending from an opening of said inhaler device to said second layer, so that ambient air entering said conduit is allowed to flow from said opening to and through said second layer and to and through said first layer of plant matter;

wherein a density of plant matter in said first layer allows said air to flow from behind said first layer, through said first layer, and to said delivery tract.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first layer is organized as separate individual doses, each dose including a predetermined amount of said active substance per unit area of said layer.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said individual doses are separated from each other by non-vaporizable material.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said individual doses are separated from each other by an inert barrier or a spacing.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a vapor chamber, said vapor chamber being in fluid communication with said delivery tract, said delivery tract ending with a mouthpiece for inhalation of said extracted substance by a user.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a valve in said mouthpiece configured to allow air to enter through a secondary flow pathway, yielding a controlled flow rate of air through said second layer and plant matter.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising a sensor in fluid communication with said mouthpiece, said sensor adapted to estimate an air flow rate and send a signal to a controller, said controller adapted for extracting said substance according to said airflow rate.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to control heating of said second layer, and a memory adapted to hold at least one of prescription data and usage data, said memory coupled to said controller, said controller adapted to control heating according to said at least one of prescription data and usage data.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said controller is configured to adjust at least one of a timing and a temperature of heating of said second layer to extract said active substance according to a delivery profile.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein different delivery profiles of at least one of heating temperature applied to the first layer and timing of heating are preprogrammed in different cassettes containing said plant matter, and said delivery profiles are electronically communicated to said controller.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a pair of heating elements positioned on opposite sides of said layer of plant matter, wherein at least one of said heating elements is semipermeable.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plant matter is disposed between a pair of mesh layers.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first layer is configured such that airflow carries vapors containing said extracted substance therethrough.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said second layer is configured such that heat may be directed directly toward the first layer for localized heating of said plant matter.

15. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second heating element, wherein said heating elements are configured to transmit heat directly to both sides of the first layer.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second layer is configured to apply heat to an area of said first layer to extract a predetermined amount of said at least one active substance.

17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a motor adapted for automatically moving said plant matter relative to said delivery tract.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein inhalation of said substance by said user is utilized to adjust heating of said second layer.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plant matter comprises particle size between 100 μ

m-700 μ

m.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plant matter comprises a macroscopic plant structure.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plant matter does not include damaged organic substances.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein a density of said plant matter is between 20%-50% matter.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plant matter comprises packed cannabis in organic matter form.