Drug-delivery system

Claim 2

A DRUG-DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE CONTINUOUS AND CONTROLLED ADMINISTRATION OF DRUG TO A BODY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A. A SOLID INNER MATRIX MATERIAL HAVING SOLID PARTICLES OF SAID DRUG DISPERSED THERETHROUGH, SAID INNER MATRIX BEING PERMEABLE TO PASSAGE OF SAID DRUG BY DIFFUSION; AND N. AN OUTER POLYMERIC MEMBRANE, INSOLUBLE IN BODY FLUIDS, SURROUNDING SAID INNER MATRIX, SAID POLYMERIC MEMBRANE CHARACTERIZED BY BEING FORMED OF A DRUG RELEASE RATE CONTROLLING MATERIAL WHICH IS PERMEABLE TO PASSAGE OF SAID DRUG BY DIFFUSION BUT AT A RATE WHICH IS LOWER THAN THROUGH SAID INNER MATRIX MATERIAL, C. AND WHEREIN THE SYSTEM IS SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT WHEN PLACED IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF USE, THE OUTER POLYMER MEMBRANE CONTINUOUSLY METERS THE FLOW OF DRUG FROM THE INNER MATRIX MATERIAL TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE SYSTEM AT A CONTROLLED AND CONSTANT RATE OVER A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.

Claim 3

The drug-delivery system of claim 1 wherein said inner matrix material is silicone rubber.

Claim 4

A drug-delivery system for the continuous and controlled administration of drug to a body comprising in combination: a. an inner mass transfer conductor material saturated with dissolved drug and additionally having solid particles of said drug dispersed therethrough, said inner material being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion; b. a polymeric membrane, insoluble in body fluids, surrounding said inner mass transfer conductor material, said polymeric membrane being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion but at a lower rate than the rate of diffusion of drug through said inner mass transfer conductor material, and c. wherein the system is so constructed and arranged that when placed in the environment of use, the outer polymeric membrane continuously meters the flow of drug from the inner mass transfer conductor material to the exterior of the system at a controlled and constant rate over a prolonged period of time.

Claim 5

A drug-delivery system for the continuous and controlled administration of drug to a body comprising in combination: a. an inner mass transfer conductor material saturated with dissolved drug and additionally having solid particles of said drug dispersed therethrough, said inner material being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion; b. a polymeric membrane, insoluble in body fluids, surrounding said inner mass transfer conductor material, said polymeric membrane being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion but at a lower rate than the rate of diffusion of drug through said inner mass transfer conductor material, and c. wherein the system is so constructed and arranged that when placed in the environment of use, the outer polymeric membrane continuously meters the flow of drug from the inner mass transfer conductor material to the exterior of the system at a controlled and constant rate over a prolonged period of time.

Claim 6

The drug-delivery system of claim 3 wherein said polymeric membrane is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Claim 7

The drug-delivery system of claim 3 wherein said drug is progesterone.

Claim 8

The drug-delivery system of claim 3 wherein said polymeric membrane is polyethylene.

Claim 9

The drug-delivery system of claim 4 wherein said drug is progesterone.

Claim 10

The drug-delivery system of claim 3 wherein the polymeric membrane is selected from the group consisting of plasticized or unplasticized polyvinylchloride.

Claim 11

The drug-delivery system of claim 3 wherein said drug is progesterone.

Claim 12

A drug-delivery system for the continuous and controlled administration of drug to a body comprising in in combination: a. a solid inner matrix material having solid particles of said drug dispersed therethrough, said inner matrix being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion; and b. an outer polymeric membrane, insoluble in body fluids, surrounding said inner matrix, said polymeric membrane characterized by being formed of a drug release rate controlling material which is permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion but at a rate which is not more than one half said drug''s rate of diffusion through said inner matrix material, and c. wherein the system is so constructed and arranged that when placed in the environment of use, the outer polymeric Membrane continuously meters the flow of drug from the inner matrix material to the exterior of the system at a controlled and constant rate over a prolonged period of time.

Claim 13

A drug-delivery system for the continuous and controlled administration of drug to a body comprising in in combination: a. a solid inner matrix material having solid particles of said drug dispersed therethrough, said inner matrix being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion; and b. an outer polymeric membrane, insoluble in body fluids, surrounding said inner matrix, said polymeric membrane characterized by being formed of a drug release rate controlling material which is permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion but at a rate which is not more than one half said drug''s rate of diffusion through said inner matrix material, and c. wherein the system is so constructed and arranged that when placed in the environment of use, the outer polymeric Membrane continuously meters the flow of drug from the inner matrix material to the exterior of the system at a controlled and constant rate over a prolonged period of time.

Claim 14

A drug-delivery system for the continuous and controlled administration of drug to a body comprising in combination: a. a solid inner matrix material having solid particles of said drug dispersed therethrough, said inner matrix being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion; and b. an outer polymeric membrane, insoluble in body fluids, surrounding said inner matrix, said polymeric membrane characterized by being formed of a drug release rate controlling material which is permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion but at a rate which is not more than one tenth said drug''s rate of diffusion through said inner matrix material, and c. wherein the system is so constructed and arranged that when placed in the environment of use, the outer polymeric membrane continuously meters the flow of drug from the inner matrix material to the exterior of the system at a controlled and constant rate over a prolonged period of time.

Claim 15

A drug-delivery system for the continuous and controlled administration of drug to a body comprising in combination: a. a solid inner matrix material having solid particles of said drug dispersed therethrough, said inner matrix being permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion; and b. an outer polymeric membrane, insoluble in body fluids, surrounding said inner matrix, said polymeric membrane characterized by being formed of a drug release rate controlling material which is permeable to passage of said drug by diffusion but at a rate which is not more than one tenth said drug''s rate of diffusion through said inner matrix material, and c. wherein the system is so constructed and arranged that when placed in the environment of use, the outer polymeric membrane continuously meters the flow of drug from the inner matrix material to the exterior of the system at a controlled and constant rate over a prolonged period of time.