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US4069307A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Drug-delivery device comprising certain polymeric materials for controlled release of drug

Assignee: Alza Corp
•
Filing: 1975-05-30
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Granted: 1978-01-17
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Expires: 1995-05-30
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Abstract

Abstract Drug-delivery device for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time is comprised of a shaped body of polymeric material containing a pharmaceutically acceptable drug and permeable to passage of the drug by diffusion. The polymeric material is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of about 4 to 80% by weight and a melt index of about 0.1 to 1000 grams per 10 minutes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takeru Higuchi
  • 👤 Anwar Hussain

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 23:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/70; A61K9/7023; A61K9/703; A61K9/7084; A61F; A61F6/00; A61F6/06; A61F6/14; A61F6/142; A61K9/0002; A61K9/0004; A61K9/0012; A61K9/0034; A61K9/0036; A61K9/0039; A61K9/0048; A61K9/0051; A61M; A61M31/00; A61M31/002

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 96 words
A shape retaining implant for releasing drug formed of a copolymer compatible with body tissue, the improvement wherein the implant is formed of a matrix of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing drug, said drug mixed throughout the copolymer which has a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 80% by weight, a melt index of about 0.1 to 1000 grams per ten minutes, is permeable to the passage of the drug by diffusion, and capable of releasing a therapeutically effective amount of drug to body tissue at a predetermined and controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 96 words
A shape retaining implant for releasing drug formed of a copolymer compatible with body tissue, the improvement wherein the implant is formed of a matrix of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing drug, said drug mixed throughout the copolymer which has a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 80% by weight, a melt index of about 0.1 to 1000 grams per ten minutes, is permeable to the passage of the drug by diffusion, and capable of releasing a therapeutically effective amount of drug to body tissue at a predetermined and controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a vinyl acetate content of about 4 to 50% by weight and a melt index of about 0.5 to 100 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a vinyl acetate content of about 4 to 40% by weight and a melt index of about 0.15 to 25 grams per 10 minutes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 50% and a frequency of acetoxy groups on the polyethylene backbone of 1/150 to 1.8.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a density of about 0.920 to 0.980 and a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 50%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the copolymer contains from about 250 nanograms to 5 grams of drug capable of diffusion through said polymeric material in a therapeutically effective amount over a prolonged period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the copolymer is a cylinder shaped body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein the copolymer contains diethylstilbestrol that is released in a therapeutically effective amount over a prolonged period of time.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 140 words
A method for administering a pharmaceutically acceptable drug to an animal which method comprises placing an implant shaped, sized and adapted for placement in the animal and formed of a non-toxic copolymer material, the improvement wherein the implant is a matrix of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing a dosage unit amount of drug selected from the group consisting of locally acting and systemically acting drugs mixed therethrough and capable of dissolving in and diffusing through the copolymer at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time, said copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 80% by weight, a melt index of 0.1 to 1000 grams per 10 minutes and permeable to the passage of drug which drug passes through the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer in a therapeutically effective amount to produce the local or systemic action in the animal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 140 words
A method for administering a pharmaceutically acceptable drug to an animal which method comprises placing an implant shaped, sized and adapted for placement in the animal and formed of a non-toxic copolymer material, the improvement wherein the implant is a matrix of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing a dosage unit amount of drug selected from the group consisting of locally acting and systemically acting drugs mixed therethrough and capable of dissolving in and diffusing through the copolymer at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time, said copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 80% by weight, a melt index of 0.1 to 1000 grams per 10 minutes and permeable to the passage of drug which drug passes through the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer in a therapeutically effective amount to produce the local or systemic action in the animal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3011949A Cited
FR1505267A Cited
US3854480A Cited
US3710795A Cited
US3737521A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-01-16 1981-07-18 1982-01-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-01-16 1985-07-18 1986-01-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-01-16 1989-07-18 1990-01-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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