Methods and devices for sustained release of substances

摘要

Devices that provide timed-release of target compounds absorbed by, or otherwise integrated into, an external housing. The external housing absorbs and facilitates volatilization of the released compound. A permeable cover can be employed as a regulating mechanism to control the rate volatilization from the external housing. One or more reservoirs containing target compound can be contained within one or more internal chambers of the external housing. The one or more reservoirs can release the target compound for absorption by the external housing and/or to make contact with one or more other reservoirs so as to compromise the other reservoirs and release target compound within. A wick can be employed in certain embodiments to transfer target compound from the internal chamber to the external housing to be volatilized. Continued or sequential release of target compound to recharged the external housing achieves a zero order release rate from the external housing.

主权项

1. A release device comprising:
an external housing formed from a material that absorbs and volatilizes one or more target compounds; at least one internal chamber located within the external housing, where the internal chamber has a mouth and is impermeable to the target compound; at least one reservoir disposed within the internal chamber, wherein the reservoir comprises a material that can be compromised to release into the internal chamber a liquid target compound stored within the reservoir; and a wick having a receiving end and a delivering end, where the receiving end is disposed within the internal chamber to absorb the target compound released from the reservoir and the delivering end passes through the mouth so as to be outside the internal chamber, where the internal chamber and wick are contained inside the external housing with the delivering end of the wick in contact with the external housing; such that the liquid target compound released when the reservoir is compromised is absorbed by the receiving end of the wick and transferred to the delivering end outside of the internal chamber where it is absorbed by all or most of the external housing and volatilized.