MEMS DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable electrolytic pump comprising:
- an exterior surface shaped to fit on the curved contour of an eyeball;
a drug chamber for containing a liquid to be administered;
a cannula in fluid communication with the chamber, an end of the cannula being shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into the eyeball;
first and second electrodes and circuitry for activating the electrodes; and
a flexible, corrugated membrane disposed above the electrodes, the membrane being configured to expand and contract with increases and decreases in pressure, activation of the electrodes causing creation of a gas within the chamber to thereby expand the membrane so that liquid is forced from the chamber into the cannula.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of an implantable device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient include a reservoir configured to contain a liquid comprising the therapeutic agent, and a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cannula is shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into a patient'"'"'s eyeball.
149 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable electrolytic pump comprising:
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an exterior surface shaped to fit on the curved contour of an eyeball; a drug chamber for containing a liquid to be administered; a cannula in fluid communication with the chamber, an end of the cannula being shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into the eyeball; first and second electrodes and circuitry for activating the electrodes; and a flexible, corrugated membrane disposed above the electrodes, the membrane being configured to expand and contract with increases and decreases in pressure, activation of the electrodes causing creation of a gas within the chamber to thereby expand the membrane so that liquid is forced from the chamber into the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a pump comprising (i) an exterior surface shaped to fit on the curved contour of an eyeball, (ii) a drug chamber containing a liquid to be administered, (iii) a cannula in fluid communication with the chamber, an end of the cannula being shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into the eyeball, (iv) first and second electrodes, and (v) a flexible, corrugated membrane disposed above the electrodes; placing the pump on the patient'"'"'s eyeball; inserting the end of the cannula into the eyeball; and energizing the electrodes to cause creation of a gas within the chamber to thereby expand the membrane so that liquid is forced from the chamber through the cannula and is administered to the patient'"'"'s eye. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification