Osmotic pump with means for dissipating internal pressure
First Claim
1. An osmotic pump for providing sustained delivery of a beneficial agent, comprising:
- a reservoir for holding the beneficial agent and an osmotic agent;
at least one wall defining a boundary of the reservoir;
at least one vent formed through the at least one wall; and
an impermeable material positioned to seal the at least one vent, wherein the at least one vent is sealed from an environment of operation by a water impermeable material that is readily expelled as the at least one vent is exposed to the osmotic agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes an osmotic pump that includes a means for venting an osmotic composition included in the pump before the internal pressure of the pump has the opportunity to build to such an extent that the pump is structurally compromised, such as when one or more components of the pump are physically separated. The means for venting osmotic material included in an osmotic pump according to the present invention includes a vent that allows the material included in the osmotic composition of the pump to dissipate into an environment of operation at a rate that results in dissipation of the pressure created within the osmotic pump and a reduced potential for subject discomfort or irritation.
86 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An osmotic pump for providing sustained delivery of a beneficial agent, comprising:
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a reservoir for holding the beneficial agent and an osmotic agent;
at least one wall defining a boundary of the reservoir;
at least one vent formed through the at least one wall; and
an impermeable material positioned to seal the at least one vent, wherein the at least one vent is sealed from an environment of operation by a water impermeable material that is readily expelled as the at least one vent is exposed to the osmotic agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An implantable osmotic pump for providing sustained delivery of a beneficial agent, comprising:
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a reservoir for holding the beneficial agent and an osmotic agent; and
a means for venting the osmotic agent out of the reservoir upon displacement of a water impermeable material when a threshold pressure in the osmotic pump is reached. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An osmotic pump for providing sustained delivery of a beneficial agent, comprising:
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a reservoir for holding the beneficial agent and an osmotic agent;
at least one wall defining a boundary of the reservoir;
at least one vent formed through the at least one wall; and
a means for removably sealing the at least one vent, the sealing means being capable of expulsion from the at least one vent when a threshold pressure in the osmotic pump is reached and capable of releasing at least a portion of the osmotic agent from the reservoir.
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18. The osmotic pump of claim 20, wherein the sealing means comprises a water impermeable material.
Specification