Implantable fluid delivery devices, systems, and methods

• US 9,801,660 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Johnson, David Mathew, Uhland, Scott A., Abhishek, Ramkumar, Krivacic, Robert Thomas, Sheridan, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US14/448,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20160030084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 600 33- 35
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/43 for artificial insemination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/435 for embryo or ova transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• 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

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for delivering fluid are provided. Devices include a housing configured for intravaginal deployment and retention, at least one reservoir configured to contain a fluid, and a fluid dispensing mechanism configured to dispense the fluid past the cervix and to the uterus of the subject. Methods include intravaginally deploying and retaining a device in the subject, and dispensing the fluid from the device such that the fluid is driven past the cervix to the uterus of the subject.

Claims

1. An implantable fluid delivery device, comprising:

a housing configured for intravaginal deployment and retention in a subject;

at least one reservoir associated with the housing and configured to contain a fluid; and

a fluid dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and configured to dispense the fluid from the at least one reservoir past the cervix and to the uterus of the subject,

wherein the device is configured to dispense the fluid when an estrus condition of the subject detected by the device meets a predetermined threshold,

wherein the at least one reservoir comprises a tube extending from a gas reservoir of the device, the tube comprising at least one gas chamber configured to (i) receive gas from the gas reservoir, (ii) inflate the tube, and (iii) urge the tube into an extended position, and

wherein the at least one gas chamber of the tube is in fluid communication with the fluid contained in the tube such that when the gas chamber inflates, the fluid is driven out of the tube.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the tube is sized to extend past the cervix of the subject in the extended position.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the tube is configured to have a coiled unstressed position, and

the extended position is an uncoiled position.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of drugs, semen, ova, and combinations thereof.

5. A method of delivering fluid to a subject, comprising:

intravaginally deploying and retaining a device in the subject, the device comprising at least one reservoir containing a fluid and a fluid dispensing mechanism; and

dispensing the fluid from the device such that the fluid is driven past the cervix to the uterus of the subject, wherein the dispensing occurs after an estrus condition of the subject detected by the device meets a predetermined threshold,

wherein the at least one reservoir comprises a tube extending from a gas reservoir of the device, the tube comprising at least one gas chamber, which is in fluid communication with the fluid contained in the tube, and

wherein dispensing the fluid from the device comprises inflating the at least one gas chamber of the tube with gas from a gas reservoir of the device, thereby urging the tube into an extended position and driving the fluid from the tube.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tube is sized to extend past the cervix of the subject in the extended position.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein

the tube is configured to have a coiled unstressed position, and

the extended position is an uncoiled position.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of drugs, semen, ova, and combinations thereof.

9. An implantable fluid delivery device, comprising:

a housing configured for intravaginal deployment and retention in a subject;

at least one reservoir associated with the housing and configured to contain a fluid; and

a fluid dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and configured to dispense the fluid from the at least one reservoir past the cervix and to the uterus of the subject,

wherein the at least one reservoir comprises a tube extending from a gas reservoir of the device, the tube comprising at least one gas chamber configured to (i) receive gas from the gas reservoir, (ii) inflate the tube, and (iii) urge the tube into an extended position,

wherein the at least one gas chamber of the tube is in fluid communication with the fluid contained in the tube such that when the gas chamber inflates, the fluid is driven out of the tube, and

wherein the fluid comprises a drug, semen, ova, or a combination thereof.