Nanopore Delivery Device

Abstract

The invention relates to an implantable device to deliver drug formulations through a nanoporous membrane. The current related arts for delivery of drug formulations include tablets, injections, implantable pellets, injectable polymer depots, and implantable infusion pumps. The invention employs a reservoir to contain the drug formulation, a nanoporous membrane, and a formulation of testosterone.

Claims

1. An implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device comprising: a reservoir housing; a nanoporous membrane: a formulation of testosterone.

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6. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous titanium with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

7. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

8. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous 316L stainless steel with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

9. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous aluminum oxide with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

10. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous zirconium oxide with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

11. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous polyethersulfone with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

12. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous nylon with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

13. The implantable sustained release drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

14. The implantable sustained release drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous polycarbonate, with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

15. The implantable sustained release drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the nanoporous membrane is made of porous cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate or mixed cellulose, with average pore size between 3 nm and 500 nm.

16. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the formulation of testosterone is comprised of a testosterone formulation selected from the following group: testosterone, testosterone enanthate, testosterone decanoate, testosterone cypionate, testosterone isocaproate, testosterone phenylpropionate, testosterone propionate, or methyltestosterone.

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23. The implantable sustained release testosterone delivery device of claim 1 wherein the formulation of testosterone is comprised of a formulation of testosterone and an oil selected from the group consisting of: soybean oil, corn oil, olive oil, castor oil, sesame oil, light mineral oil, heavy mineral oil, coconut oil, canola oil, or other biocompatible oil.

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Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a side view cutaway section of the assembled implantable device filled with a drug formulation.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a top down view of the assembled implantable device.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows an exploded cutaway view of the parts of the implantable device.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows top town view of a nanporous membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to the figures, the preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a reservoir housing, a nanoporous membrane, and a formulation of a testosterone.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a side view cut away section of a capsule assembly with a nanoporous part 10 assembled to a reservoir body 20 and filled with a drug 30 in combination with an oil. Part 20 comprises the reservoir housing of the invention which can consist of titanium, titanium alloy, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polysulfone (PSU), 316L stainless steel, or other biocompatible metal or plastic. Part 20 assembled contains a hollow section with volume equal to the amount of drug formulation to be delivered for a desired treatment duration. When the preferred embodiment is assembled and filled with an testosterone formulation and implanted subcutaneously in the human body, the drug formulation passes through the porous membrane into the subcutaneous tissue.

[0023] FIG. 2, a top view of part 40 shows holes 41 that the drug formulation exits from the inside of the capsule and from the nanoporous membrane.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows an exploded cutaway of the main capsule body 60, the nanoporous membrane 70, a capsule lid 50 and drilled exit holes 80. The nanoporous membrane 70 attaches to the capsule reservoir part 60 to ensure testosterone formulation placed inside the finished capsule diffuses through the nanoporous membrane 70 and out the holes 80 of capsule part 60 and into the subcutaneous tissue of the body.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a top down view of an example nanoporous membrane 90.

[0026] The reservoir part 60 may have a fill port opening and a plug or septum installed to allow filling and sealing of an assembled capsule with the drug formulation 30.

[0027] The nanoporous membrane 70 is approximately 0.010 to 0.050 thick and made of nanoporous material with an average pore sized of 3 nm to 500 nm. The nanoporous membrane 70 can be made of implant grade titanium, titanium alloys, 316L stainless steel, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polysulfone (PSU), aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, nylon, polyester, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, and other biocompatible materials that can be manufactured with nanoscale porosity.

[0028] The testosterone formulation 30 can consist of the following testosterone formulations: testosterone, testosterone enanthate, testosterone decanoate, testosterone cypionate, testosterone isocaproate, testosterone phenylpropionate, and testosterone propionate.

[0029] The testosterone formulation 30 may also be comprised of one of the testosterone types and an oil selected from the group consisting of: soybean oil, corn oil, olive oil, castor oil, sesame oil, light mineral oil, heavy mineral oil, coconut oil, and canola oil, or other biocompatible oils.