Microfabricated nanopore device for sustained release of therapeutic agent
AssigneeDelpor, Inc.
InventorsFrancis J. Martin, Anthony A. Boiarski
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Abstract
A drug delivery device that includes a capsule for implantation into the body; the capsule further includes a reservoir for containing a substance such as a therapeutic agent, at least one port for allowing the substance to diffuse from or otherwise exit the reservoir, and a nanopore membrane in communication with the capsule at or near the exit port for controlling the rate of diffusion of the substance from the exit port. The device also includes an optional screen for providing structural stability to the nanopore membrane and for keeping the pores of the nanopore membrane clear. One embodiment of the drug delivery device includes an osmotic engine internal to the device for creating fluid flow through the device.
Claims12
A drug delivery device, comprising:
- a capsule for implantation into the body, said capsule comprising a first end, a second end and a fluid impermeable wall extending from the first end to the second end to define a reservoir;
- said capsule further comprising an exit port in communication with the reservoir and a nanopore membrane in communication with the exit port, wherein said device comprises a peptide or protein in the reservoir, said peptide or protein having molecular dimensions, and wherein said nanopore membrane has pores between 1-5 times the molecular dimensions of the peptide or protein to control release of the peptide or protein at a rate that approaches zero-order release for a period of about several weeks to about six months.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.