Patent · US Expired

Osmotic devices having composite walls

US4077407A · kind A · utility

327Cited by
22References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 24, 1975
Grant dateMar 7, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 24, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61K9/0004
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An osmotic device for delivering an active agent is disclosed. The device is comprised of a wall surrounding a compartment and has a passageway through the wall for releasing the agent. The wall is formed of a multiplicity of materials comprising a material permeable to an external fluid and substantially impermeable to agent and at least one additional material selected from a material that imparts stability to the wall, enhances the permeability of the wall to fluids, or aids in forming the wall. The compartment comprises an active agent that exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against an external fluid, or the agent is mixed with an osmotically effective compound that exhibits an osmotic pressure gradient against the fluid. Agent is released from the device by fluid being imbibed through the wall into the compartment at a rate controlled by the permeability of the wall and the osmotic pressure gradient across the wall, to produce a solution containing agent that is released through the passageway at a controlled and continuous rate over a prolonged period of time.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.