초록 ▼

The present invention provides a drug delivery device comprising a drug reservoir chamber (15) containing a substance (16) to be delivered in fluid connection with a drug administration means (17) and (18), and a hydraulic control chamber (9) containing an electrically controlled, non-gassing, volum

The present invention provides a drug delivery device comprising a drug reservoir chamber (15) containing a substance (16) to be delivered in fluid connection with a drug administration means (17) and (18), and a hydraulic control chamber (9) containing an electrically controlled, non-gassing, volume changing means (13), a coupling means (14) coupling said hydraulic control chamber (9) to said drug chamber (15), the arrangement being such that a change in the electrical control means (11) causes a change in the volume of the volume changing means (13), the volume change being conveyed by the coupling means (14) to the drug chamber (15) such that the substance (16) is expelled from the drug chamber (15) towards the drug administration means (17) and (18).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drug delivery device comprising: a drug reservoir chamber containing a substance to be delivered, said drug reservoir chamber in fluid connection with a drug administration element, and a control chamber comprising a battery, said battery comprising a housing, electrodes and an electrolyte, sai

1. A drug delivery device comprising: a drug reservoir chamber containing a substance to be delivered, said drug reservoir chamber in fluid connection with a drug administration element, and a control chamber comprising a battery, said battery comprising a housing, electrodes and an electrolyte, said housing surrounding said electrodes and said electrolyte, said battery being configured such that the combined volume of said electrodes and electrolyte changes upon the discharge of said battery, and a mechanical coupling element coupling said battery to said drug reservoir chamber, the arrangement being such that a change in said combined volume during discharging of said battery displaces a portion of the housing, and said displacement of the housing is mechanically conveyed by said mechanical coupling element to said drug chamber resulting in expulsion of said substance from said drug reservoir chamber towards said drug administration element. 2. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug administration element is selected from the group consisting of cannulas, cannula arrays, exit ports and transdermal patches. 3. A drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein said administration element further comprises a safety feature to protect against accidental contact or injury. 4. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the control chamber further comprises an electric circuit connected to said battery via electrical contacts configured to discharge electrical current therefrom. 5. A drug delivery device according to claim 4, wherein said electrical contacts are connected to said electrodes. 6. A drug delivery device according to claim 4, wherein said battery comprises at least one electrochemical cell comprising electrodes and electrolyte, and wherein said electrical contacts are connected to said electrodes. 7. A drug delivery device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one electrochemical cell is a passive cell wherein the combined volume of said electrodes and electrolyte changes in response to an electrical current removed from said electrical contacts. 8. A drug delivery device according to claim 6, wherein the combined volume of said electrodes and electrolyte changes its volume as its electrical charge is depleted on application of a load across said electrical contacts. 9. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said battery is selected from the group consisting of a lead-acid battery, a dry cell battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a lithium ion battery and a fuel cell. 10. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said battery is a zinc-air battery. 11. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device is disposable. 12. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device is partly disposable. 13. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device is an implantable device. 14. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device further comprises a filling element. 15. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device is a multiple-use device. 16. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device is a patch-type pump. 17. A drug delivery device according to claim 16, wherein said patch-type pump is attached to the body by an attachment element comprising an adhesion element, a strap, a clasp and combinations thereof 18. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device further comprises an auto-insertion element. 19. A drug delivery device according to claim 18, wherein said auto-insertion element serves to insert the drug administration element. 20. A drug delivery device according to claim 18, wherein said auto-insertion element automatically activates the drug-infusion device. 21. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug reservoir chamber further comprises a plurality of drug chambers. 22. A drug delivery device according to claim 21, wherein said drug-delivery device includes a mixing element for mixing of the drugs from said plurality of drug chambers. 23. A drug delivery device according to claim 1 wherein said drug-delivery device further comprises a plurality of control chambers. 24. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug chamber includes an intake element for intake of body fluids; said fluids serving to dilute a drug for subsequent administration by said drug-delivery device on reversion to its normal operating mode. 25. A drug delivery device according to claim 24, wherein said device further comprises a sampling element for sampling body fluids for analysis. 26. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug-delivery device further comprises a communication element for communicating with remote devices selected from the group consisting of magnetic induction, infra-red, and radiofrequency devices. 27. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the change of volume of the drug reservoir chamber is proportional to the change in the volume of the control chamber upon the discharge of the battery. 28. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the change in the volume of the electrodes and the electrolyte is proportional to an external electric perturbation upon the discharge of the battery. 29. A drug-delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the volume within the battery is proportional to an external electric perturbation. 30. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said drug reservoir chamber is coupled to said control chamber via a displaceable wall; such that the volume change of the electrodes and the electrolyte serves to control the rate of delivery of the drug. 31. A drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical coupling element comprises a piston arrangement. 32. A drug delivery device comprising: a drug reservoir chamber containing a substance to be delivered, said drug reservoir chamber in fluid connection with a drug administration element, anda control chamber comprising a battery, said battery comprising a housing, a zinc anode, a cathode and an electrolyte, said housing surrounding said anode, said cathode, and said electrolyte, said battery being configured such that the combined volume of said zinc anode and cathode and electrolyte expands upon the discharge of said battery, anda mechanical coupling element coupling said battery to said drug reservoir chamber, the arrangement being such that a change in said combined volume during discharging of said battery displaces a portion of the housing, and said displacement of the housing is mechanically conveyed by said mechanical coupling element to said drug chamber resulting in expulsion of said substance from said drug chamber towards said drug administration element. 33. The drug delivery device of claim 32, wherein said battery comprises an MnO2 cathode. 34. The drug delivery device according to claim 32, wherein said drug administration element is selected from the group consisting of cannulas, cannula arrays, exit ports and transdermal patches. 35. The drug delivery device according to claim 32, wherein said drug-delivery device is disposable. 36. The drug delivery device according to claim 32, wherein said mechanical coupling element is hydraulically coupled with the control chamber and the drug reservoir chamber.