Abstract The present invention is concerned with a pharmaceutical delivery device comprising a biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix having microsealed compartments of 10-200 microns throughout, wherein the microsealed compartments contain a pharmaceutical in a hydrophilic solvent system. The biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix is formed by in situ cross linking of a liquid, biologically acceptable silicone polymer in an emulsion of pharmaceutical in the hydrophilic solvent system and liquid biologically acceptable silicone polymer. The biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix is placed in a sealed or unsealed biologically acceptable polymer container. The rate of release of pharmaceutical is controlled by altering the solubility characteristics of the hydrophilic solvent system and/or the biologically acceptable polymer matrix, the rate of release being independent of time when the ratio of the partition coefficient of the pharmaceutical between the hydrophilic solvent system and biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix to the solubility of the pharmaceutical in the hydrophilic solvent system is between 1 and 10 - 4 ml/mcg.
a method for constructing a biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix adapted for placement in silicone polymer or ethylene/vinylacetate copolymer tubing having 10-200 micron microsealed compartments distributed throughout, said microsealed compartments containing a pharmaceutical in a hydrophilic solvent system impermeable to said polymer tubing, comprising: a. emulsifying the hydrophilic solvent system of water and liquid polyethylene glycol containing the pharmaceutical and biologically acceptable room-temperature Vulcanizing liquid polydimethylsiloxane silicone polymer and b. in situ cross-linking the biologically acceptable liuqid silicone polymer to form the biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix with microsealed compartments throughout containing pharmaceutical and hydrophilic solvent system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
a method for constructing a biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix adapted for placement in silicone polymer or ethylene/vinylacetate copolymer tubing having 10-200 micron microsealed compartments distributed throughout, said microsealed compartments containing a pharmaceutical in a hydrophilic solvent system impermeable to said polymer tubing, comprising: a. emulsifying the hydrophilic solvent system of water and liquid polyethylene glycol containing the pharmaceutical and biologically acceptable room-temperature Vulcanizing liquid polydimethylsiloxane silicone polymer and b. in situ cross-linking the biologically acceptable liuqid silicone polymer to form the biologically acceptable silicone polymer matrix with microsealed compartments throughout containing pharmaceutical and hydrophilic solvent system.