초록 ▼

Drug delivery vehicles and catheter systems are disclosed for controlled release of therapeutic agents employing a permeable hydrogel membranes a reservoir for an inflation fluid carrying a therapeutic agent. The membrane devices of the present invention can be used in conjunction with a catheter or

Drug delivery vehicles and catheter systems are disclosed for controlled release of therapeutic agents employing a permeable hydrogel membranes a reservoir for an inflation fluid carrying a therapeutic agent. The membrane devices of the present invention can be used in conjunction with a catheter or similar instrument having an elongated hollow body member and a lumen extending therethrough to permit fluid communication between a proximal infusion port and a permeable membrane disposed at the distal end of the catheter body. The membrane preferably comprises an expandable, hydrophilic polymer having a predetermined permeability with respect to an inflation fluid. One preferred hydrophilic polymer is a hydrogel capable of imbibing an aqueous solution to reach a state in which it comprises between 50% and 98% water by weight in equilibrium. In this state, the hydrogel membrane serves to control the rate of medicament delivery.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drug delivery catheter comprising: an elongated, tubular, body member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween, and an inflation port extending through a wall of the tubular body member in fluid communication with the lumen; and a swellable hydrogel sheath affi

1. A drug delivery catheter comprising: an elongated, tubular, body member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween, and an inflation port extending through a wall of the tubular body member in fluid communication with the lumen; and a swellable hydrogel sheath affixed to the catheter body member near the distal end and in fluid communication with the inflation port, the hydrogel having a predetermined permeability and expandability to migration of an inflation fluid therethrough. 2. The drug delivery catheter of 1, wherein the hydrogel comprises between 50% and 98% water by weight in equilibrium. 3. The drug delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel can expand in one or more of x, y, or z coordinates to at least 10 times the uninflated dimension. 4. The drug delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel can expand in one or more of x, y, or z coordinates to at least 5 times the uninflated dimension. 5. The drug delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel can expand in one or more of x, y, or z coordinates to at least 2 times the uninflated dimension. 6. The drug delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the swellable hydrogel sheath is a balloon. 7. The drug delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyhydroxyethylacrylates, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylates, polyhydroxypropylacrylates, polyhydroxypropylmethacrylates, polyethylenes, polyvinylpyrrolidones, and polyacrylamides. 8. The drug delivery catheter of claim 7, wherein the hydrogel is crosslinked with a crosslinking agent. 9. The drug delivery catheter of claim 8, wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of diacrylates, triacrylates and tetra acrylates. 10. The drug delivery catheter of claim 9, wherein the crosslinked hydrogel has a crosslink density of less than 25%. 11. The drug delivery catheter of claim 9, wherein the crosslinked hydrogel has a crosslink density of less than 5%. 12. The drug delivery catheter of claim 9, wherein the crosslinked hydrogel has a crosslink density of between about 0.1% and 0.5%. 13. The drug delivery catheter of claim 9, wherein the inflation fluid is an aqueous solution containing a medicament.