Osmotic delivery system flow modulator apparatus and method

An osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly comprising:

• a flow modulator body constructed and arranged for at least partial positioning in an opening of an enclosure of an osmotic delivery system, the body including two opposing ends, a hole located through the body, communicating the opposing ends, and a delivery path for delivering a beneficial agent from an osmotic delivery system;
• a stopper having a head, a shaft, and a tip located opposite from the head, the stopper being at least partially positioned in the hole to seal the hole;
• and
• a partition secured to the body with the stopper so that the partition is secured between the body and the head of the stopper.

An osmotic delivery system comprising:

• an enclosure having an opening and an interior for holding a liquid swellable osmotic agent and a beneficial agent, the enclosure provided with a semipermeable portion, the liquid swellable osmotic agent for imbibing liquid from a surrounding environment through the semipermeable portion and causing a delivery rate of the beneficial agent from the enclosure;
• an osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly having a flow modulator body at least partially positioned in the opening of the enclosure, the body having two opposing ends, and a hole located through the body communicating the opposing ends;
• a delivery path located separate from the hole and formed in at least one of the flow modulator assembly and the enclosure for delivering the beneficial agent from the osmotic delivery system;
• and
• means for substantially preventing a liquid external of the osmotic delivery system from entering the interior of the osmotic delivery system, the preventing means allowing the beneficial agent to exit the osmotic delivery system to the surrounding environment.

A method of assembling an osmotic delivery system having an enclosure, the enclosure having an opening, and the osmotic delivery system having a semipermeable portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning an osmotic Agent in an interior of the enclosure;
• inserting an osmotic delivery system flow modulator body at least partially in the opening of the enclosure to at least partially seal the opening;
• and
• delivering a beneficial agent into the enclosure through a fill hole in the flow modulator body.

A method of assembling an osmotic delivery system having an enclosure, the enclosure having an opening, and the osmotic delivery system having a semipermeable portion, comprising the steps of:

• positioning an osmotic agent into an interior of the enclosure;
• inserting an osmotic delivery system flow modulator body at least partially in the opening of the enclosure;
• delivering a beneficial agent into the enclosure through the hole in the flow modulator body;
• and
• creating a vacuum adjacent to the flow modulator body to reduce an amount of gas within the osmotic delivery system.