APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROLONGED ACTIVE AGENT DELIVERY IN AQUEOUS SYSTEMS

• US 20160002904A1
• Filed: 07/05/2014
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John David Hopkins
• Original Assignee: John David Hopkins
• Inventors: Hopkins, John David
• Granted Patent: US 9,580,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/688 Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 2009/024 using a solid substance
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/038 Passive dispensers, i.e. without moving parts

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the controlled release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time are provided. Some embodiments provide an apparatus for controlling the dissolution of at least one active agent to enable an increase in active agent lifetime.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the controlled release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a container comprising a polymeric layer, said polymeric layer forming a reservoir for housing a volume of active agent and exposing at least a partial surface of said active agent to fluid communication with the aqueous system;

(b) at least one opening in the container connecting the reservoir with the exterior of the apparatus, said opening facilitates the passage of fluid into the reservoir and the release of fluid and active agent from the reservoir; and

(c) wherein, when the apparatus is in operation with an aqueous system of use, the active agent having at least a partial surface exposed to fluid communication with the aqueous system is dissolved and released into the aqueous system at a controlled rate proportional to the surface area of active agent in fluid communication with the aqueous system and dissolution of the volume of active agent occurs over a prolonged duration of time proportional to the total volume of active agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container comprises two openings.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a securing means for positioning said apparatus within an aqueous system of use.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a heat-shrinkable material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a pouch.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a thermoformed package.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one opening in the container comprises a spout.

8. An apparatus for the controlled release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a container comprising a polymeric layer, said polymeric layer forming a reservoir for housing an active agent;

(b) at least one opening in the container connecting the reservoir with the exterior of the apparatus, said at least one opening facilitating the passage of fluid into the reservoir and the release of active agent from the reservoir;

(c) means in the reservoir for positioning said active agent in sequential fluid communication with the aqueous system, said means (1) positions a first portion of active agent in fluid communication with the aqueous system, (2) positions a second portion of active agent for sequential fluid communication with the aqueous system, said first portion of active agent limiting fluid communication between said second portion of active agent and the aqueous system; and

(d) wherein, when the apparatus is in operation with an aqueous system of use, a first portion of active agent is released into an aqueous system at a controlled rate proportional to the amount of said first portion of active agent in fluid communication with the aqueous system and upon dissolution of said first portion of active agent, a second portion of active agent is sequentially exposed for fluid communication with the aqueous system providing release of active agent for a prolonged duration of time proportional to the amount of active agent sequentially exposed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said container comprises two openings.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the apparatus comprises a securing means for positioning said apparatus within an aqueous system.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a heat-shrinkable material.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a pouch.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a thermoformed package.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one opening in the container comprises a spout.

15. An apparatus for the release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an effective amount of active agent to achieve a desired concentration of active agent within an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time; and

(b) a polymeric layer, said polymeric layer is essentially impermeable to the passage of fluid and essentially impermeable to the passage of active agent, said polymeric layer covering at least a portion of the active agent, wherein at least a portion of said active agent is not covered by said polymeric layer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, said apparatus comprising a second polymeric layer forming an enclosed region around said first polymeric layer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second polymeric layer forms a watertight seal around said first polymeric layer.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second polymeric layer has at least one opening formed therein.

19. A method for maintaining an active agent concentration in an aqueous system within a desired concentration range for a prolonged duration of time comprising:

placing an apparatus for the release of an active agent into an aqueous system, the apparatus comprising;

(a) a reservoir comprising an effective amount of active agent to achieve a desired concentration of active agent within an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time; and

(b) a polymeric layer, said polymeric layer is essentially impermeable to the passage of fluid and essentially impermeable to the passage of active agent, said polymeric layer covering at last a portion of the active agent, wherein at least a portion of said active agent is not covered with said polymeric layer.

20. An apparatus for the release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a reservoir comprising an effective amount of active agent to achieve a desired concentration of active agent within an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time;

(b) a polymeric layer, said polymeric layer enclosing said reservoir;

(c) a first opening, said first opening for the input of fluid into the reservoir; and

(d) a second opening, said second opening for the output of fluid and active agent from the reservoir.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the apparatus comprises a securing means for positioning said apparatus within an aqueous system.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a heat-shrinkable material.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a pouch.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a thermoformed package.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein at least one opening comprises a spout.

26. An apparatus for the release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a container comprising a polymeric layer, said polymeric layer forming a reservoir for housing a volume of active agent, said active agent having a fluid solubility limit, said reservoir comprising a volume suitable for holding a volume of fluid;

(b) at least one opening in the container, said opening for the passage of fluid into the reservoir or the release of fluid and active agent from the reservoir; and

(c) wherein, when the apparatus is in operation with an aqueous system of use, the active agent is dissolved by a volume of fluid held within the reservoir in an amount proportional to the solubility limit of the active agent, and complete dissolution of the volume of active agent occurs over a prolonged duration of time proportional to the total volume of active agent.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said container comprises a plurality of openings.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the apparatus comprises a securing means for positioning said apparatus within an aqueous system.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a heat-shrinkable material.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a pouch.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a thermoformed package.

32. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein at least one opening in the container comprises a spout for the input of fluid into the reservoir or output of fluid and active agent from the reservoir.

33. An apparatus for the release of an active agent into an aqueous system for a prolonged duration of time, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a reservoir for housing an active agent;

(b) a fluid input port, said fluid input port facilitating the passage of fluid into the reservoir;

(c) a fluid output port, said fluid output port facilitating the release of fluid and active agent from the reservoir; and

(d) wherein, when the apparatus is in operation with an aqueous system of use, the active agent housed within the reservoir is dissolved by fluid within the reservoir and fluid and active agent are released from the reservoir through the output port upon input of fluid into the reservoir through the fluid input port.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a pouch.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the polymeric layer comprises a thermoformed package.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the fluid input port comprises a tube.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the fluid output port comprises a tube.