Vacuum-assisted drug delivery device and method

1. A drug delivery device, comprising:

a vacuum port; and

a distal end comprising: (i) an outer wall having an interior surface; (ii) a base plate having an outer edge; and (iii) wherein the base plate outer edge is in contact with the interior surface of the wall, thereby defining a drug reservoir;

wherein the base plate has a distal surface for contacting a target surface membrane, thereby defining a surface of the drug reservoir;

the drug reservoir surface configured to conform over a target surface membrane of an organ to form an air-tight contact between the drug reservoir surface and the target surface membrane; and, the outer wall enclosing the drug reservoir and extending to a rim; wherein the rim defines a distal rim surface configured to create the air-tight seal when placed in contact with the target surface membrane,

wherein the distal end has a distal end surface consisting of the drug reservoir surface and the rim surface,

wherein the drug reservoir is configured to be operably coupled to a vacuum source through the vacuum port,

wherein a fluid within the drug reservoir is in fluid communication with the target surface membrane when the drug reservoir surface is in contact with the target surface membrane,

wherein when a vacuum is applied to the drug reservoir by the vacuum source in contact with the target surface membrane, an entirety of the distal end surface is in contact with the target surface membrane and the vacuum applied by the device is restricted to the target surface membrane in contact with the distal end surface, and

wherein the vacuum creates a negative pressure over the target surface membrane and a negative pressure gradient within tissue underlying the target surface membrane which draws the fluid into the tissue.

2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum port is connected to a vacuum source, wherein the vacuum source is selected from the group consisting of a manual pump, an electric pump and a digitally programmable pump.

3. The drug delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the vacuum source is operatively coupled to the drug reservoir via a rigid or flexible tube.

4. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid injection port.

5. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the drug reservoir surface is selected from the shapes consisting of concave and convex.

6. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid in the drug reservoir is in fluid communication with the target surface membrane via a plurality of openings in the drug reservoir surface that is in contact with the target surface membrane.

7. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid in the drug reservoir is in fluid communication with the target surface membrane via an interconnected or open cell foam material or a porous material, either of which comprises a plurality of channels that extend from a surface of the foam or nanoporous material that is in contact with the fluid in the drug reservoir to the surface of the foam or porous material that is in contact with the target surface membrane.

8. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a proximal flow inhibitor to prevent or reduce the fluid in the drug reservoir from being withdrawn from the drug reservoir when a vacuum is being created by the vacuum source.

9. The drug delivery device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of opens comprises pores having a diameter of from about 0.001 mm to about 10 mm.

10. The drug delivery device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of openings comprising pores numbering from 100 to about 1,000,000 pores.

11. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is capable of creating a vacuum down to about 1 to 300 torr.

12. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to provide pulsing of the vacuum source to create and release a vacuum in the drug reservoir when the drug reservoir surface is conformed to and in contact with the target surface membrane.

13. The drug delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to pulse the vacuum source between about 1 torr to about 760 torr.

14. The drug delivery device of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to pulse the vacuum source at a cyclic rate from about 5 seconds to about 20 seconds.

15. A device for vacuum-assisted delivery of drug to a target surface membrane of a patient in need of treatment of a disease or condition, comprising:

a device body comprising a proximal end and a distal end having fluid communication between the proximal and distal end to allow for creation of a vacuum within the device body;

a rigid diffusive membrane at or near the distal end for contacting with the target surface membrane through which a fluid comprising drug for treating the disease or condition permeates from the device to the target surface membrane when a vacuum is applied to the device,

wherein the diffusive membrane provides support to the target surface membrane during application of the vacuum which supports and thereby reduces or prevents damage to the target surface membrane during application of the vacuum,

wherein volumetric supports adjacent to the diffusive membrane provide the support and prevent the diffusive membrane from collapsing when the vacuum is applied,

wherein the diffusive membrane is porous to allow permeation of the fluid from the device to the target surface membrane;

a proximal flow inhibitor mechanism that reduces or prevents proximal flow of the fluid away from the diffusive membrane during application of the vacuum; and

a fluid distributor proximal to the diffusive membrane having a distal surface which provides for uniform distribution and delivery of fluid over an area of the diffusive membrane.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the target surface membrane is an eye and the drug reservoir surface has a curved, concave outer surface configured to fit over a cornea surface.