Methods and implantable devices and systems for long term delivery of a pharmaceutical agent

A method for achieving an analgesic effect in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective dose of a sufentanil-containing analgesic to the patient using a device that is fully implanted in the patient.

A method for achieving an analgesic effect in a patient, the method comprising intraspinal administration of a therapeutically-effective dose of an analgesic to the patient by an osmotic pump and catheter integrated combination, the pump including a first semi permeable membrane across which an osmotic pressure gradient develops when the pump is implanted in the patient.

An integrated implantable pump and catheter system for delivering a dose of sufentanil to a patient over a treatment period, comprising:

• a pump housing;
• a moveable partition disposed within the housing, the partition dividing the housing into an driving engine compartment and a pharmaceutical agent compartment having a delivery orifice;
• a catheter coupled to the delivery orifice, and a preloaded amount of sufentanil in the pharmaceutical agent compartment.

A kit comprising:

• an osmotic pump;
• sufentanil preloaded in the osmotic pump, and
• a delivery catheter configured to be coupled to the osmotic pump.

A kit comprising:

• an osmotic pump that includes a mechanical infusion rate selection structure;
• an amount of pharmaceutical agent preloaded into the pump, and
• a delivery catheter.

A method of delivering a pharmaceutical agent to a patient, comprising the steps of:

• implanting an osmotic pump within the patient, the osmotic pump including the pharmaceutical agent and a plurality of semi permeable membranes across which osmotic pressure develops when exposed to the patient, and
• controlling a surface area of semi permeable membrane exposed to the patient to control an infusion rate of the pharmaceutical agent analgesic to the patient.