Miniature implanted drug delivery devices and inserter systems for introducing such devices

摘要

A system (10, 200) and corresponding method for introducing a drug delivery device (18, 218) through at least part of a biological barrier starts with the drug delivery device (18, 218) deployed within a channel of a hollow needle (12, 212). The hollow needle is inserted into the biological barrier and the drug delivery device is pushed forward by a suitable plunger. The drug delivery device is preferably anchored to the biological barrier through a radially expanding retention arrangement (36, 36′, 36a), and is preferably filled with a liquid drug after deployment via a filling needle (24, 222) extending within the channel of the hollow needle (12, 212).

主权项

1. A system for introducing a drug delivery device, the system comprising:
(a) a hollow needle having a central channel and a tip; (b) a drug delivery device comprising a reservoir and a proximal filling port deployed to allow introduction of a liquid drug into said reservoir to be released over a period of time, said drug delivery device being deployed within said central channel of said hollow needle; (c) a plunger displaceable so as to push said drug delivery device along said central channel so as to project beyond said tip of said hollow needle; and (d) a liquid injection device including a contained volume for receiving a quantity of the liquid drug and a filling needle in fluid communication with said contained volume and extending within said central channel of said hollow needle for engaging said filling port,wherein said liquid injection device is configured such that, when said tip of said hollow needle is inserted into or through a biological barrier of a body, and at least part of said reservoir is advanced beyond said hollow needle, said liquid injection device is operative to deliver the liquid drug from said contained volume through said filling needle while said filling needle is located at least partially within said hollow needle so as to fill said reservoir prior to withdrawal of said hollow needle.