Subcutaneous drug delivery device with improved filling system

US6186982A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• ELAN CORPORATION PLC · IE

Inventors

• Joseph Gross · Afula, IL
• Zvi Nitzan · Netanya, IL
• Izrail Tsals · Newtown, US
• Mario Razonowich · Ashdod, IL
• Oz Cabiri · Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, IL
• Haim Danon · Kiryat Shmona, IL
• Gilad Lavi · Holon, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: May 5, 1998
• Grant date: Feb 13, 2001
• Expiry date: May 5, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2005/14264
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A subcutaneous drug delivery device having a housing having an internal reservoir in communication with a drug delivery needle via a fluid path. An expandable chamber disposed adjacent to the reservoir forces drug from the reservoir to the needle when supplied with a gas. A flow regulating chamber, in communication with the fluid path, is capable of volumetric changes in response to temperature and/or pressure changes. An increase in the volume of the flow regulating chamber increases flow resistance to the needle and thereby counteracts the corresponding increase in delivery rate resulting from the expansion of the expandable chamber due to the same volumetric changes in response to temperature and/or pressure. The device also includes an improved filling system that enables the reservoir within the device to be filled with drug from a source without regard to filling position and with a decreased risk of injury from needles. Moreover, the filling system provides an accurate measure of drug transferred into the device thus enabling patients to fill the devices and to ensure proper dosage upon delivery.