Remote controlled transdermal medication delivery device

• US 6,723,086 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Logiq Wireless Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Logiq Wireless Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Bassuk, William K., Birdwell, Vince E., Hughes, Ralph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Catherine S.
• Application Number:
  US09/850,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/20, 604/501, 604/65-67, 604/99.04, 604/131, 604/140, 604/167.03, 604/180, 604/246-249, 604/257, 604/289, 607/62
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

A transdermal medication delivery device (20) for the remote controlled administration of medications (68, 70, 72) for absorption through the skin of a patient (22) includes a tubes (62) containing the medications (68, 70, 72). Tubes (62) are in fluid communication with valve inlets (76, 82, 88) of valves (74, 80, 86) formed on a micro-electro-mechanical-system-based (MEMS-based) valve chip (64, 162). A medication delivery component (26, 176) in fluid communication with valve outlets (78, 84, 90) of valves (74, 80, 86) has a surface (66, 178) adapted to be in contact with the skin of the patient (22) when in use. A controller (92) is configured to control a flow of the medications (68, 70, 72) through the valves (74, 80, 86), and a wireless communication interface (94), in communication with the controller (92), is configured to receive a medication control message (96) from a remote location (32). The medication control message (96) instructs the controller (92) to regulate the valves (74, 80, 86) to adjust the flow of the medications (68, 70, 72) from the tubes (62) to the surface (66, 188) of the medication delivery component (26, 176).

Claims

1. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a chamber containing said medication, said chamber being a tube having a self-sealing cap;

a valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve outlet;

a housing having a recessed port in which said tube of said chamber is positioned, and a hollow needle having a first end and a second end, said first end projecting into said recessed port to pierce said self-sealing cap, and said second end being in fluid communication with said valve inlet;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use;

a controller for controlling a flow of said medication through said valve; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said valve to adjust said flow of said medication from said chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing further includes a hinged lid covering said recessed port.

3. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a chamber containing said medication;

a valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve outlet, said valve being a micro-electromechanical systems-based (MEMS-based) microvalve architecture;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use;

a controller for controlling a flow of said medication through said valve; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said valve to adjust said flow of said medication from said chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component.

4. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a chamber containing said medication;

a valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve outlet;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use, said medication delivery component including;

a base layer having said surface and having an inner side;

a channel integral to said inner side of said base layer, said channel having a channel inlet in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having channel outlets extending through said surface of said base layer; and

a top layer coupled to said inner side of said base layer and enclosing said channel;

a controller for controlling a flow of said medication through said valve; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said valve to adjust said flow of said medication from said chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channel outlets are arranged in a generally inwardly spiraling pattern at said surface.

6. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a chamber containing said medication;

a valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve outlet;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use, said medication delivery component including an adhesive portion for adhered connection of said medication delivery component to said skin of said human;

a controller for controlling a flow of said medication through said valve; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said valve to adjust said flow of said medication from said chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component.

7. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a chamber containing said medication;

a valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve outlet;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use;

a quick-disconnect coupling interconnecting said valve outlet with said medication delivery component;

a duct portion interconnected between said valve outlet and said medication delivery component, said quick-disconnect coupling interconnecting a first end of said duct portion with said valve outlet;

a second quick-disconnect coupling interconnecting a second end of said duct portion to an inlet of said medication delivery component;

a controller for controlling a flow of said medication through said valve; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said valve to adjust said flow of said medication from said chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component.

8. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a first medication and a second medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a first chamber containing said first medication;

a first valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said first chamber and having a valve outlet;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use;

a second chamber containing a second medication;

a second valve having a second valve inlet in fluid communication with said second chamber and having a second valve outlet in fluid communication with said medication delivery component for delivering a flow of said second medication to said surface of said medication delivery component;

a controller for controlling a flow of said first medication through said first valve; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said first valve to adjust said flow of said first medication from said first chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said control message includes instructions for regulating each of said first and second valves.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said medication delivery component comprises:

a first channel having a first channel inlet in fluid communication with said valve outlet of said first valve and having first channel outlets at said surface of said medication delivery component; and

a second channel having a second channel inlet in fluid communication with said second valve outlet and having second channel outlets at said surface of said medication delivery component.

11. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said medication delivery component includes a channel having a channel inlet in communication with said valve outlet of said first valve and in communication with said second valve outlet, said channel further including channel outlets at said surface of said medication delivery component.

12. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a chamber containing said medication;

a valve having a valve inlet in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve outlet;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use;

a controller for controlling a flow of said medication through said valve;

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said valve to adjust said flow of said medication from said chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component; and

a fluid level sensor proximate said chamber for providing a fluid level signal to said controller indicative of a fluid level of said medication in said chamber.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said controller generates a fluid level message in response to said fluid level signal, and said wireless communication interface communicates said fluid level message to said remote location.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a display unit controlled by said controller for displaying said fluid level signal.

15. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of medications for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a first chamber containing a first one of said medications and having a first self-sealing cap;

a second chamber containing a second one of said medications and having a second self-sealing cap;

a housing including a first recessed port in which said first chamber is positioned, a first hollow needle having a first end and a second end, said first end projecting into said first recessed port to pierce said self-sealing cap of said first chamber, and said housing further including a second recessed port in which said second chamber is positioned, a second hollow needle having a third end and a fourth end, said third end projecting into said second recessed port to pierce said self-sealing cap of said second chamber;

a first valve having a first valve inlet and a first valve outlet, said first valve inlet being in fluid communication with said second end of said first hollow needle;

a second valve having a second valve inlet and a second valve outlet, said second valve inlet being in fluid communication with said fourth end of said second hollow needle;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with each of said first and second valve outlets and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use;

a controller for controlling a flow of said first and second medications through each of said first and second valves; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said first and second valves to adjust said flow of said first medication from said first chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component and to adjust said flow of said second medication from said second tube to said surface of said medication delivery component.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said medication delivery component comprises:

a first channel having a first channel inlet in fluid communication with said first valve outlet and having first channel outlets at said surface of said medication delivery component; and

a second channel having a second channel inlet in fluid communication with said second valve outlet and having second channel outlets at said surface of said medication delivery component.

17. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said medication delivery component includes a channel having a channel inlet in communication with each of said first and second valve outlets, said channel further including channel outlets at said surface of said medication delivery component.

18. A transdermal medication delivery device for remote controlled administration of a medication for absorption through the skin of a patient, said device comprising:

a chamber containing said medication;

a valve having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, said valve inlet being in fluid communication with said chamber;

a medication delivery component in fluid communication with said valve outlet and having a surface adapted to be in contact with said skin of said patient when in use;

a controller for controlling a flow of said medication through said valve;

a fluid level sensor proximate said chamber for providing a fluid level signal to said controller indicative of a fluid level of said medication in said chamber, said controller generating a fluid level message corresponding to said fluid level signal;

a patient status monitor integral to a housing of said device and in communication with said controller for monitoring vital signs of said patient; and

a wireless communication interface in communication with said controller for communicating said fluid level message and said vital signs to said remote location, and for receiving a medication control message from a remote location, said medication control message instructing said controller to regulate said valve to adjust said flow of said medication from said chamber to said surface of said medication delivery component.