Implantable gas delivery device and methods, systems, and devices including same. According to one embodiment, the implantable gas delivery device includes a porous core that permits facile transport of gas throughout its open volume. The porous core has sufficiently high tensile strength to withstand pressurization without significant deformation. The porous core is generally planar and is shaped to include a pair of opposing surfaces and a periphery. Diffusion membranes are fixed to the two opposing surfaces of the porous core. A gas supply tube has one end inserted into the porous core and another end connectable to a gas source. The periphery of the porous core is sealed gas-tight, either with a gasket or by sealing the porous core and/or diffusion membranes. The device may be used to deliver a gas to an implanted cell capsule or to native cells or tissues or may be used to expel waste gas.

Residence devices for long term delivery of therapeutic compounds and/or for sensing one or more relevant parameters in vivo are disclosed. In one embodiment, a residence device may include a plurality of links interconnected by a corresponding plurality of flexible hinges to permit the residence device to be deformed into a contracted configuration and subsequently permitted to return to an expanded configuration once positioned in a desired location, such as the stomach, of a subject. In some instances, at least a portion of the interconnected links may include a first link segment, a second link segment, and a coupling that selectively connects the first link segment to the second link segment. The coupling may be configured to weaken or decouple a connection between the first link segment and the second link segment when exposed to a temperature greater than a threshold temperature to selectively weaken and/or disassemble the residence device.

An oral gastro-retentive delivery device is provided which unfolds rapidly upon contact with gastric juice. The device is configured in a collapsed configuration for oral intake and unfolding for gastric retention for a predetermined period of time and eventually reducing in size for passage through the rest of the GI track.

A delivery vehicle for a silver ion source such as silver nitrate and the like, suitable for use in the treatment of menorrhagia, comprises a plurality of beads bearing a tissue cauterizing amount of a silver ion source. In some embodiments, the silver ion source is silver nitrate, in combination with a binder of hydroxy propyl cellulose and a diluent of potassium nitrate. In some embodiments, the plurality of beads is useful in treating menorrhagia of a mammalian uterus. Silver ions are delivered in a sufficient amount to the endometrium to cause necrosis of the endometrial tissue.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents (TA) within the GI tract and in particular to an antrum wall (AW). Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device (SD) such as a capsule for delivering drugs or other TA into the AW. The SD may contain a pressure sensitive component or assembly which triggers release and insertion of a therapeutic agent preparation (TAP) comprising at least one TA into the AW in response to external pressure, such as pressure applied to the swallowable capsule or other SD by antrum contractions. Particular embodiments of the SD may be shaped so that they self-align within an antrum to properly orient before injection of the TAP into the AW. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for orally delivering drugs or other TAs which are degraded within the GI tract and require parenteral injection.

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.

Embodiments herein relate to an implantable device comprising a casing, a semi-permeable membrane plug at or near a first end of the casing, a piston, beads, and an opening for release of the beads from the implantable device within a body of a human or an animal; wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted within the body of the human or the animal during delivery of the beads into the body of the human or the animal; wherein the beads comprise a core and a shell with the core being enclosed by the shell and the beads contain a drug; and wherein the implantable device is configured to produce a desired flow rate of elution of the drug from the implantable device when the implantable device is implanted within the body of the human or the animal.

Methods, devices and systems for delivering a device assembly using a shaped body allowing for ease of ingestion of a gastric device into a gastric space, allowing the gastric device to expand to occupy volume within the gastric space and, after an effective period of time release from the body.

Embodiments of the present invention utilize a closed-loop feedback control system to ensure accurate drug delivery. This control system may, for example, utilize a flow sensor to measure the volume of delivery and an intelligent control algorithm to anticipate and compensate for overdoses and underdoses. Feedback control systems in accordance herewith can be applied to any piston- or plunger-driven pump system utilizing sensors that measure flow directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, adjustments are made during a “priming” stage when liquid is pumped through the internal fluid path but does not exit the pump.

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.