Vented implantable drug-delivery device and related methods
First Claim
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1. An implantable device for administering a liquid, the device comprising:
- a housing including an aperture therethrough;
within the housing, a pump assembly including a reservoir, a gas-driven forcing mechanism and a cannula for conducting liquid from the reservoir to an ejection site exterior to the housing in response to pressure applied by the forcing mechanism, wherein at least a portion of gas generated by the gas-driven forcing mechanism penetrates the reservoir and accumulates in a space between the reservoir and the housing; and
external to the pumping assembly but within the housing and spanning the aperture, a membrane structure comprising a gas-permeable membrane and at least one support layer attached thereto, the membrane structure being permeable to gas but not to liquid at least within an area thereof exposed by the aperture so as to allow the gas accumulated in the space between the reservoir and the housing to vent out through the gas-permeable membrane and the aperture;
wherein the space between the reservoir and the housing is isolated from the liquid as it passes through the cannula.
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Abstract
An implantable device has an outer shell that includes an aperture through the housing of the device and, spanning the aperture, a membrane structure permeable to gas but not to liquid. In this way, excess gas may be vented from the device. The membrane and aperture are designed to discourage or even prevent tissue ingrowth.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An implantable device for administering a liquid, the device comprising:
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a housing including an aperture therethrough; within the housing, a pump assembly including a reservoir, a gas-driven forcing mechanism and a cannula for conducting liquid from the reservoir to an ejection site exterior to the housing in response to pressure applied by the forcing mechanism, wherein at least a portion of gas generated by the gas-driven forcing mechanism penetrates the reservoir and accumulates in a space between the reservoir and the housing; and external to the pumping assembly but within the housing and spanning the aperture, a membrane structure comprising a gas-permeable membrane and at least one support layer attached thereto, the membrane structure being permeable to gas but not to liquid at least within an area thereof exposed by the aperture so as to allow the gas accumulated in the space between the reservoir and the housing to vent out through the gas-permeable membrane and the aperture; wherein the space between the reservoir and the housing is isolated from the liquid as it passes through the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification