Drug delivery system and method

摘要

A drug delivery system can include a cylindrical structure extending in a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of an electrically conductive material. The cylindrical structure can include multiple electrodes extending laterally on the substrate at respective longitudinal locations. The electrodes each have an electrical resistance small enough to conduct current laterally along the substrate without heating the cylindrical structure. The cylindrical structure can include at least one substrate portion extending longitudinally between a respective pair of electrodes. Each substrate portion can have an electrical resistance high enough to conduct current longitudinally between the electrodes and resistively heat the respective substrate portion in response to the current conducted therethrough. A dose of a drug can be disposed on each substrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas in response to the resistive heating of the respective substrate portion.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a cylindrical structure extending in a longitudinal direction and formed from a substrate of an electrically conductive material, the cylindrical structure having a spiral cross-section and formed by rolling the substrate, the cylindrical structure comprising:
first and second electrodes extending laterally on the substrate at respective first and second longitudinal locations, the first and second electrodes each having an electrical resistance sufficient to conduct current laterally along the substrate without heating the cylindrical structure;a first substrate portion extending longitudinally between the first and second electrodes, the first substrate portion having an electrical resistance high enough to conduct current longitudinally between the first and second electrodes and resistively heat the first substrate portion in response to the current conducted therethrough;a first dose of a drug disposed on the first substrate portion and configured to volatilize into a gas in response to the resistive heating of the first substrate portion; anda plurality of electrically insulating spacers positioned to space apart adjacent layers of the substrate.