Portable drug delivery device including a detachable and replaceable administration or dosing element
View Patent ↗A device for transdermal drug delivery and administration of differing dosages at specific times of the day automatically pursuant to a pre-programmed dosage profile. The device includes a control and display unit, a two-part dispensing mechanism, a drug reservoir, an administration element, and a solvent removal element. The dispensing mechanism may be a peristaltic pump having an active portion with a motor, a roller, a mounting plate and a detachable passive portion with tubing and a housing. The motor and roller are mounted in the reusable portion of the delivery device with the control unit and a power source. The speed of the micromotor is controlled by the control unit, so that the turning speed of the roller is controlled which, in turn, controls the flow rate to the administration. The passive portion and drug reservoir are detachable along with the administration element for attaching a new dosing reservoir.
1. An apparatus for transdermally delivering a drug formulation and stopping dosing or delivery in an automatic, controllable manner, comprising:
(a) an active assembly comprising a controller;
(b) a passive assembly adapted for mechanically coupling and decoupling with the active assembly, the passive assembly comprising:
(i) a dispensing reservoir containing the drug formulation; and
(ii) a delivery element comprising an administration reservoir and a membrane in fluid communication with the administration reservoir, the membrane being permeable to an active substance in the drug formulation;
(c) a dispensing mechanism comprising:
(i) an active portion in the active assembly providing a motive force to draw the drug formulation from the dispensing reservoir to the administration reservoir; and
(ii) a passive portion in the passive assembly proximate to the active portion and defining a feed chamber through which the drug formulation flows from the dispensing reservoir; and
(d) a stopping means for stopping dosing or slowing delivery by removing the drug or a solvent of the drug in the drug formulation from the administration reservoir, wherein the stopping means utilizes gas, air, fluid, or a combination thereof, which functions to flush the solvent, drug, or a combination thereof from the administration reservoir, and wherein the stopping means does not require removal of the apparatus from an application site during the flushing process.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stopping means comprises a dispensing mechanism and a source of flushing air, gas, fluid or a combination thereof, the dispensing mechanism being selectively operable by the controller to pump the flushing air, gas, fluid or a combination thereof through the administration reservoir to a waste reservoir or evaporation element.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stopping means comprises a micropump and a source of flushing air, gas, fluid or a combination thereof, the micropump being operable by the controller to pump the flushing air, gas, fluid or a combination thereof through the administration reservoir to a waste reservoir or evaporation element.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , the active assembly further comprising memory storing a dosing profile, wherein the controller operates the dispensing mechanism and the stopping means based on the dosing profile to initiate delivery of the drug formulation and to stop the delivery.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stopping means utilizes gas, air, or a combination thereof, which functions to flush the solvent, drug, or a combination thereof from the administration reservoir.
6. A transdermal drug delivery device, comprising:
(a) means for storing a first liquid and a second liquid each comprising a solvent and active substance mixture;
(b) a pump comprising an active portion including a motor and a passive portion including a pair of feed channels connected to the storing means and a pump housing for detachably receiving the active portion;
(c) an administration assembly comprising a reservoir connected to the feed channels for receiving the first and second liquids when pumped from the storing means by the pump and a membrane permeable to the active substances in fluid communication with the administration reservoir; and
(d) a stopping means for stopping dosing or slowing delivery by removing the active substance or the solvent from the administration reservoir, wherein the stopping means utilizes gas, air, fluid, or a combination thereof, which functions to flush the solvent, drug, or a combination thereof from the administration reservoir, and wherein the stopping means does not require removal of the apparatus from an application site during the flushing process.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first and second liquids are pumped concurrently to the administration reservoir.
8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first and second liquids are pumped separately to the administration reservoir and the device further comprises a switch for selectively blocking flow through one of the feed channels.
9. The device of claim 6 , further comprising a controller operating automatically based on a dosing profile to control operations of the pump.
10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the stopping means utilizes gas, air, or a combination thereof, which functions to flush the solvent, drug, or a combination thereof from the administration reservoir.