Thermally-activated reservoir devices
View Patent ↗Methods are provided for controlled reservoir opening, including the steps of (a) providing a biocompatible implantable device which comprises at least one substrate, a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate, reservoir caps each of which covers one of the reservoirs, and molecules sealed inside the reservoirs; and (b) selectively heating each reservoir cap in an amount effective to rupture the reservoir cap and open the reservoir. In another embodiment, the method steps include (a) implanting into a patient a biocompatible device which comprises at least one substrate, a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate, reservoir caps each of which covers one of the reservoirs, and molecules sealed inside the reservoirs; and (b) selectively heating each reservoir cap in an amount effective to rupture the reservoir cap and open the reservoir.
1. A method for controlled reservoir opening comprising:
providing a biocompatible implantable device which comprises:
at least one substrate which comprises a glass, a ceramic, silicon, a semiconductor, a polymer, or a combination thereof,
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate,
a plurality of discrete reservoir caps, each of which covers one of the reservoirs, and
molecules sealed inside the reservoirs; and
selectively heating each reservoir cap in an amount effective to cause said reservoir cap to undergo a phase change and rupture the reservoir cap, thereby opening the reservoir.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir cap comprises a metal film.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecules are drug molecules.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the drug molecules are released from the device in a pulsatile manner.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecules are distributed in a matrix formed of a degradable material.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible implantable device further comprises a microprocessor, a power source, and an input source, which cooperate to control the heating of the reservoir cap.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the input source comprises a memory source, a signal receiver, or a biosensor.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the biosensor is integrated into the device and capable of detecting molecules in a fluid surrounding the device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecules in the closed reservoir are in a solid form.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir caps comprise gold or platinum.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the reservoir cap comprises use of a thin film resistor.
12. A method for controlled reservoir opening of a device in vivo comprising:
implanting into a patient a biocompatible device which comprises:
at least one substrate,
a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate,
a plurality of discrete reservoir caps, each of which comprises a metal film and covers one of the reservoirs, and
molecules sealed inside the reservoirs; and
selectively heating each reservoir cap in an amount effective to rupture the reservoir cap and open the reservoir.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the heating of the reservoir cap causes it to expand until it cracks or ruptures due to thermal expansion.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the molecules are drug molecules.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the molecules are distributed in a matrix formed of a degradable material.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of selectively heating the reservoir cap causes the reservoir cap to undergo a phase change and rupture, thereby opening the reservoir.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the phase change comprises melting.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of selectively heating the reservoir cap causes the reservoir cap to chemically degrade and rupture, thereby opening the reservoir.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the reservoirs caps comprise gold or platinum.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of selectively heating the reservoir cap comprise use of a thin film resistor.