PARTIALLY IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES AND TREATMENT METHODS ASSOCIATED WITH SAME
Partially implantable medical devices and methods associated with partially implantable medical devices.
1 . A treatment method, comprising the steps of:
delivering a first substance to a location within a patient's body with a partially implantable medical device that includes a percutaneous port, a first substance cartridge within the percutaneous port, and an implantable operative portion that transfers the first substance from the first substance cartridge to the patient; and
delivering a second substance to the patient with a device other than the partially implantable medical device.
2 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
replacing the first substance cartridge.
3 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the location within the patient's body comprises the peritoneum.
4 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first substance comprises insulin.
5 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering a second substance delivering a second substance to the patient with an inhaler.
6 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second substance comprises a powder.
7 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second substance comprises insulin monomers carried on pH-sensitive particles.
8 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the inhaler is configured to receive a second substance cartridge.
9 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the step of:
replacing the second substance cartridge.
10 . A treatment method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the step of delivering a first substance comprises delivering a first substance at a basal rate to a location within a patient's body with a partially implantable medical device; and
the step of delivering a second substance comprises delivering a bolus of the second substance to the patient with a device other than the partially implantable medical device.
11 . A method of providing medication to a patient, comprising the steps of:
providing the patient with a first medication stored in a cartridge that is configured to be received by a percutaneous port of a partially implanted medical device;
providing the patient with a second medication in an inhalable form.
12 . A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the step of providing the patient with a first medication stored in a cartridge comprises providing the patient with a plurality of the cartridges that store the first medication for use one at one time.
13 . A method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
providing the patient with an inhaler.
14 . A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the step of providing the patient with a second medication comprises providing the patient with a plurality of second medication cartridges at a single time.
15 . A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the step of providing the patient with a second medication comprises providing the patient with a second medication in powder form.
16 . A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the step of providing the patient with a second medication comprises providing the patient with insulin monomers carried on pH-sensitive particles.
17 . A method of treating diabetes in a patient into which a medical device, including a percutaneous port and a fluid transfer device, has been implanted, the method comprising the steps of:
supplying a patient with an insulin cartridge that stores liquid insulin and is configured to be received by the percutaneous port; and
supplying the patient with insulin in an inhalable form.
18 . A method as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
instructing the medical device to supply the liquid insulin from the cartridge to the patient at a basal rate.
19 . A method as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
instructing the patient to deliver a bolus of the insulin in an inhalable form in connection with a meal.
20 . A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the step of supplying the patient insulin in an inhalable form comprises supplying the patient with a cartridge that stores insulin in an inhalable form.
21 . A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the step of supplying the patient insulin in an inhalable form comprises supplying the patient with a cartridge that stores insulin in a powder form.
22 . A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the step of supplying the patient insulin in an inhalable form comprises supplying the patient with a cartridge that stores insulin monomers carried on pH-sensitive particles.