Infusion devices and methods are provided for a drug delivery system and can include an infusion needle (1) having a tip end (2) and a drive unit (D) coupled to the infusion needle and arranged for advancing the tip end of the infusion needle to penetrate any fibrosis when the infusion device is implanted in a patient's body. The infusion needle and drive unit are designed for implantation in a patient's body. Other components of the drug delivery system may be part of the implantable infusion device or, alternatively, be for extracorporal use cooperating with the implanted infusion device. Preferably, the infusion needle can be advanced and retracted with each infusion cycle. Furthermore, upon each advancement and/or retraction, the needle may be moved laterally so as to vary the injection site. Needle (1) and drive unit (D) are preferably disposed within a body (15), with the infusion needle being arranged for penetrating a self-sealing penetration membrane (18).

A patency system for maintaining a patency of an indwelling medical device including an elongated shaft configured to be at least partially received within a portion of the indwelling medical device, and at least one cleaner configured to at least partially dislodge debris formed within the indwelling medical device.

An implantable medical device, for implantation in a mammal knee joint, comprising an artificial contacting surface adapted to replace at least one contacting surface of the knee joint and to be lubricated when implanted in said joint. The medical device further comprises a reservoir comprising a movable wall portion defining the volume of the reservoir, at least one inlet adapted to receive a lubricating fluid from the reservoir, at least one channel at least partly integrated in said artificial contacting surface, wherein the channel is fluidly connected with said at least one inlet for distributing said lubricating fluid to the surface of said artificial contacting surface. The medical device further comprises an operation device adapted to non-invasively transport said lubricating fluid from said reservoir to said artificial contacting surface, and an implantable injection port for refilling said reservoir, wherein the movable wall portion is moved when the reservoir is refilled, such that the volume of the reservoir is increased.

Components with relatively high loading of active pharmaceutical ingredients (e.g., drugs), are generally provided. In some embodiments, the component (e.g., a tissue interfacing component) comprises a solid therapeutic agent (e.g., a solid API) and a supporting material (e.g., a binder such as a polymer) such that the solid therapeutic agent is present in the component in an amount of greater than or equal to 10 wt % versus the total weight of the tissue interfacing component. Such tissue-interfacing components may be useful for delivery of API doses e.g., to a subject. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the reduction of volume required to deliver the required API dose as compared to a liquid formulation permits the creation of solid needle delivery systems for a wide variety of drugs in a variety of places/tissues (e.g., tongue, GI mucosal tissue, skin) and/or reduces and/or eliminates the application of an external force in order to inject a drug solution through the small opening in the needle. In some cases, a physiologically relevant dose may be present in a single tissue interfacing component (e.g., having a relatively high API loading).

Self-actuating articles including, for example, self-actuating needles and/or self-actuating biopsy punches, are generally provided. Advantageously, the self-actuating articles described herein may be useful as a general platform for delivery of a wide variety of pharmaceutical drugs that are typically delivered via injection directly into tissue due to degradation in the GI tract. The self-actuating articles described herein may also be used to deliver sensors and/or take biopsies without the need for an endoscopy. In some embodiments, the article comprises a spring (e.g., a coil spring, a beam, a material having particular mechanical recovery characteristics). Those of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the term spring is not intended to be limited to coil springs, but generally encompass any reversibly compressive material and/or component which, after releasing an applied compressive force on the material/component, the material/component substantially returns to an uncompressed length of the material/component (e.g., the within 95% of the length of the material/component prior to compression).

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

An at least partly implantable system for injecting a substance into a patient's body. The system comprises at least one flexibly bendable infusion needle with a tip end of each of said at least one infusion needle arranged in at least one first housing for penetrating the first housing's outer wall in at least one penetration area and having the respective other end arranged in at least one second housing, the first and second housings being adapted for implantation inside the patient's body, wherein the at least one second housing is provided for implantation inside the patient's body remote from the at least one first housing and wherein the injection needle is sufficiently long to bridge the distance from the at least one second housing for remote implantation to the at least one first housing and further through the first housing up to the outer wall of the first housing. The system further comprises at least one drive unit adapted for being coupled to the at least one infusion needle and arranged at least for advancing the tip end of the at least one infusion needle so that the at least one infusion needle penetrates with the tip end or ends thereof said at least one first housing's outer wall in said at least one penetration area.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade within the wall to release the drug to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be coupled to an actuator having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

Self-righting articles, such as self-righting capsules for administration to a subject, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may be configured such that the article may orient itself relative to a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). The self-righting articles described herein may comprise one or more tissue engaging surfaces configured to engage (e.g., interface with, inject into, anchor) with a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). In some embodiments, the self-righting article may have a particular shape and/or distribution of density (or mass) which, for example, enables the self-righting behavior of the article. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may comprise a tissue interfacing component and/or a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery of the active pharmaceutical agent to a location internal of the subject). In some cases, upon contact of the tissue with the tissue engaging surface of the article, the self-righting article may be configured to release one or more tissue interfacing components. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component is associated with a self-actuating component. For example, the self-righting article may comprise a self-actuating component configured, upon exposure to a fluid, to release the tissue interfacing component from the self-righting article. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component may comprise and/or be associated with the pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery to a location internal to a subject).

A drug delivery system including an implantable reservoir containing drug microspheres, with an innocuous fluid flushed through the implantable microsphere reservoir to form a drug containing solution for delivery within a body of a patient.