US 4,003,379 AGranted

Apparatus and method for implanted self-powered medication dispensing

OwnerEverett H. Ellinwood, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing drugs and other medications within the body leaves the patient ambulatory and is adapted to be entirely implanted and to dispense such substances over a long period of time, e.g., one to several years, in accordance with the actual needs of the patient. A self-powered dispensing device stores a single or plural substances in powdered, liquid, or other dispensable form and utilizes a compressible container, i.e., a bellows, for withdrawing such substances from storage and dispensing to the body. The dispensing operation may be on a fixed schedule or may be controlled by monitoring single or plural sensors implanted in the body and evaluating the sensed data in order to control both the conditions under which and the kind of dispensing which takes place. Dual dispensers and dual medication may be employed.

A self-contained and powered implant apparatus adapted to be totally received within a selected animal body, including human, for periodically dispensing selected medication therein while leaving the body ambulatory at all times, comprising:

a. a unitary housing adapted to be completely implanted and secured within and to the body at a selected site and having therein various compartments enclosed by said housing and adapted for mounting a medication storage member, a micro size power source, miniaturized electro-mechanical driving and dispensing means adapted to being powered by such source for dispensing medication from such storage member and electrical means for connecting the driving means to the source so as to operate the dispensing means on a schedule according to the needs of said body for medication;
b. a storage member mounted within the implanted housing for storing selected medication to be dispensed in selected quantities;
c. a micro size power source mounted within the implanted housing and secured proximate said storage member and having a useful working life in terms of at least several days;
d. miniaturized electro-mechanical driving means mounted within the implanted housing selectively connected to and powered by said source;
e. miniaturized dispensing means mounted within the implanted housing and having a retractable flexible walled container means with an inlet connected to receive medication from said storage member and connected for being powered by said driving means and when so powered and when expanded, receiving from said storage member through said inlet and into said container means successive measured quantities of selected said medication and having an outlet means for enabling discharge of such medication from said container means through the wall of the implanted housing and into said body during compression of said container means;
and
f. electrical means mounted within the implanted housing for providing an electrical connection between said power source and said driving means for driving, energizing and actuating said dispensing means including said container means on a controlled schedule in coordination with the medical needs of the body.

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Facts

Application

05/616,294Filed 24 Sep 1975 · division

Priority

23 Apr 1974

Granted

18 Jan 1977

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A61M 5/14276
Adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body: specially adapted for implantation
A61B 5/14532
Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value ; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g.…: for…
A61B 5/364
Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle: detecting abnormal ECG interval, e.g. extrasystoles, ectopic heartbeats
A61M 5/14244
Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps: adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body

Abstract

Claims22