Drug delivery devices manufactured from poly(orthoesters) and poly(orthocarbonates)

A drug delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of drug, wherein the device comprises:

• (a) a shaped matrix sized and adapted for administering drug to an animal and formed of a bioerodible drug release rate controlling pharmaceutically acceptable material, which material comprises a polymer of the formula:
• ##STR61## wherein R.sub.1 is a member selected from the group of divalent, trivalent and tetravalent radicals consisting of alkylene of 1 to 10 carbons;
• alkenylene of 2 to 10 carbons;
• alkyleneoxy of 2 to 6 carbons;
• cycloalkylene of 3 to 7 carbons;
• cycloalkylene of 3 to 7 carbons substituted with an alkyl of 1 to 7 carbons, alkoxy of 1 to 7 carbons, an alkylene of 1 to 10 carbons, and an alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbons;
• cycloalkenylene of 4 to 7 carbons;
• cycloalkenylene of 4 to 7 carbons substituted with an alkyl of 1 to 7 carbons, an alkoxy of 1 to 7 carbons, an alkylene of 1 to 10 carbons, and an alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbons;
• arylene;
• and arylene substituted with an alkyl of 1 to 7 carbons, an alkoxy of 1 to 7 carbons, and an alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbons;
• R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 7 carbons;
• alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbons;
• alkoxy of 1 to 7 carbons;
• alkenyloxy of 2 to 7 carbons;
• alkylene of 2 to 6 carbons;
• alkenylene of 3 to 6 carbons;
• alkyleneoxy of 2 to 6 carbons;
• alkenyleneoxy of 3 to 6 carbons;
• aryloxy;
• aralkyleneoxy of 8 to 12 carbons;
• aralkenyleneoxy of 8 to 12 carbons;
• oxa;
• OR.sub.1 O with R.sub.1 as defined above;
• a heterocyclic ring of 5 to 8 carbon and oxygen atoms formed when R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are taken together;
• a heterocyclic ring of 5 to 8 carbon and oxygen atoms substituted with an alkyl of 1 to 7 carbons, an alkoxy of 1 to 7 carbons and an alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbons formed when R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are taken together;
• a fused polycyclic ring of 8 to 12 carbon and oxygen atoms formed when R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are taken together;
• a fused polycyclic ring of 8 to 12 carbon and oxygen atoms substituted with an alkyl of 1 to 7 carbons, an alkoxy of 1 to 7 carbons and an alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbons;
• and wherein at least one of said R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is a member selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, alkenyloxy and OR.sub.1 O;
• R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 when taken together are a member selected from the group of heterocyclic and fused polycyclic rings having at least one oxygen atom in the ring;
• and wherein n is greater than 10;
• (b) a drug selected from the group consisting of locally and systemically acting pharmaceutically acceptable drugs present in the matrix;
• and, (c) wherein the device when in operation bioerodes at a controlled and continuous rate over a prolonged period of time, thereby administering a therapeutically effective amount of drug to the animal at a controlled and continuous rate over a prolonged period of time.