Self-monitored device for releasing agent at functional rate

Claim 3

A device for the controlled and continuous release of a useful agent according to claim 1 wherein a part of the wall of the container is a part of the support member.

Claim 4

A useful device for the release of a useful agent, wherein the device is comprised of a container having a wall enclosing a hollow area, a reservoir formed by the container wall's inner surface as a means for storing the agent, said container wall defining the reservoir formed in at least a part of a microporous material whose micropores contain an agent release rate controlling medium permeable to the passage of the agent at a predetermined rate by diffusion, a support member for carrying the container with a wall of the container covering at least a portion of the support and suitably united thereto, with the support member movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position and returnable to a collapsed position after a period of agent release time, and wherein agent is metered from the reservoir by passage through a medium housed in the micropores of the wall of the container in an effective amount for a prolonged period of time when the device is placed in the environment of use.

Claim 5

A useful device for the release of a useful agent, wherein the device is comprised of a container having a wall enclosing a hollow area, a reservoir formed by the container wall's inner surface as a means for storing the agent, said container wall defining the reservoir formed in at least a part of a microporous material whose micropores contain an agent release rate controlling medium permeable to the passage of the agent at a predetermined rate by diffusion, a support member for carrying the container with a wall of the container covering at least a portion of the support and suitably united thereto, with the support member movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position and returnable to a collapsed position after a period of agent release time, and wherein agent is metered from the reservoir by passage through a medium housed in the micropores of the wall of the container in an effective amount for a prolonged period of time when the device is placed in the environment of use.

Claim 6

A device for the controlled and continuous release of a useful agent according to claim 3 wherein a part of the wall of the container is a part of the support member.

Claim 7

A delivery device for the controlled and continuous release of a beneficial agent, the device comprising in combination, a. a bioerodible capsule providing an internal space therein, b. a delivery device housed in the capsules, the device comprising, c. a container with an internal space for containing a beneficial agent, said container having a wall formed of a release rate controlling imperforate polymeric material permeable to the passage of the agent by diffusion, or a wall of microporous material whose micropores are a means for containing a liquid release rate controlling medium permeable to the passage of the agent by diffusion, d. a reservoir defined by the container's internal space as means for containing beneficial agent that is released from the device by passage through the release rate controlling wall or through a release rate controlling medium in the micropores of the microporous material, the container joined to, e. a hollow deformable closed support member, said member movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position on release of the device from the capsule and movable from an expanded position to a collapsed position after a period of time, f. and wherein agent is metered from the container through the wall in a therapeutically effective amount for a prolonged period of time on release of the device from the capsule in the environment of use.

Claim 8

A delivery device for the controlled and continuous release of a beneficial agent, the device comprising in combination, a. a bioerodible capsule providing an internal space therein, b. a delivery device housed in the capsules, the device comprising, c. a container with an internal space for containing a beneficial agent, said container having a wall formed of a release rate controlling imperforate polymeric material permeable to the passage of the agent by diffusion, or a wall of microporous material whose micropores are a means for containing a liquid release rate controlling medium permeable to the passage of the agent by diffusion, d. a reservoir defined by the container's internal space as means for containing beneficial agent that is released from the device by passage through the release rate controlling wall or through a release rate controlling medium in the micropores of the microporous material, the container joined to, e. a hollow deformable closed support member, said member movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position on release of the device from the capsule and movable from an expanded position to a collapsed position after a period of time, f. and wherein agent is metered from the container through the wall in a therapeutically effective amount for a prolonged period of time on release of the device from the capsule in the environment of use.

Claim 9

A delivery device for the controlled and continuous release of agent according to claim 5 where the hollow deformable member is provided with a bioerodible plug that on bioerosion in a physiologic environment vents the interior of the member to its exterior.

Claim 10

A delivery device for the controlled and continuous release of agent according to claim 5 wherein the hollow deformable member is formed of an elastic material permeable to a gas that slowly diffuses through the material to move the member from an expanded position to a collapsed position.

Claim 11

A delivery device for the controlled and continuous release of agent according to claim 5 wherein the hollow deformable member contains a liquid means for producing a gas that has a vapor pressure above one atmosphere or physiological temperature.

Claim 12

A delivery device for the controlled and continuous release of an agent according to claim 5 wherein the container contains an agent that produces a local or systemic effect on its release from the container by diffusion in a biological environment.

Claim 13

A delivery device for the controlled and continuous administration of an agent according to claim 5 wherein the hollow deformable member is formed of a material that bioerodes at a physiological temperature in the physiological environment.