Drug delivery device

Abstract

Provided is a drug delivery device, which comprises a first bag body (20), a second bag body (30), and a housing (40). The first bag body (20) is provided with a first opening (20a) and a first surface (22). The first opening (20a) is used for receiving gas. The second bag body (30) is provided with a second opening (30a) and a second surface (32). The second surface (32) is attached to the first surface (22) of the first bag body, and the second opening (30a) is used for delivering a drug contained in the second bag body. The housing (40) is provided with an accommodating space (40b), and the first bag body (20) and the second bag body (30) are arranged in the accommodating space (40b).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug delivery device, and more particularly to a drug delivery device that can be used in conjunction with an infusion unit and allows for easy control of a delivery regimen. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the prior art, when a container such as an intravenous (IV) drip bag is used for infusion or drug administration, adjusting the infusion or drug administration rate or changing the drug administration regimen can only be done manually, which is less convenient and also raises concerns regarding accuracy. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, the present invention provides a drug delivery device, comprising: a first bag having a first opening and a first surface, the first opening being configured to receive a gas; a second bag having a second opening and a second surface, the second surface being attached to the first surface of the first bag, and the second opening being configured to deliver a drug contained in the second bag; and a housing having an accommodating space, the first and second bags being disposed in the accommodating space.

[0004] In some embodiments, the first surface has a first concavo-convex structure, and the second surface has a corresponding second concavo-convex structure.

[0005] In some embodiments, the first concavo-convex structure is a stepped concavo-convex structure or a wavy concavo-convex structure.

[0006] In some embodiments, the second concavo-convex structure is a stepped concavo-convex structure or a wavy concavo-convex structure.

[0007] In some embodiments, the gas is from a gas generating unit.

[0008] In some embodiments, the drug delivery device further comprises the gas generating unit.

[0009] In some embodiments, the gas generating unit is an electrochemical gas generating unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the gas generating unit comprises a gas cylinder.

[0011] In some embodiments, the gas generating unit comprises a gas valve configured to control supply of the gas.

[0012] In some embodiments, the gas expands the first bag and squeezes the second bag, thereby delivering the drug contained in the second bag out from the second opening.

[0013] It should be understood that both the foregoing summary description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a drug delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIGS. 3A to 3D illustrate drug loading and drug delivery of a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the following description. Other features or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the following several specific embodiments and the appended claims. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

[0020] The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are provided for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0021] As used herein, the article “a” or “an” refers to one or more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. For example, “a component” means one component or more than one component.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a gas generating unit 10, a first bag 20, a second bag 30, and a housing 40.

[0023] The gas generating unit 10 has a gas outlet 10a. The first bag 20 has a first opening 20a and a first surface 22. The first opening 20a is in gas communication with the gas outlet 10a, and is configured to receive a gas provided through the gas outlet 10a of the gas generating unit 10. The second bag 30 has a second opening 30a and a second surface 32, the second surface 32 is attached to the first surface 22 of the first bag 20, and the second opening 30a is configured to deliver a drug contained in the second bag 30. The attachment preferably does not refer to adhesion or mutual fixation, but rather being disposed closely adjacent to each other. In addition, the second opening 30a can also be used to load the drug into the second bag 30.

[0024] The first bag used in the present invention preferably has elasticity so as to withstand volume expansion during inflation. For example, the material of the first bag can be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or a non-PVC material (for example, polyolefin (polyethylene and polypropylene), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), or a thin film polymer material such as parylene. In some embodiments, a conventional intravenous (IV) drip bag is used as the first bag.

[0025] The second bag is configured to contain the drug or other liquid to be delivered, and it may have the form of a conventional IV drip bag, but is not limited thereto.

[0026] In addition, the first surface 22 may have a first concavo-convex structure 20b, and the second surface 32 may have a corresponding second concavo-convex structure 30b. The concavo-convex structure includes, but is not limited to, a stepped concavo-convex structure and a wavy concavo-convex structure.

[0027] The housing 40 has a drug outlet 40a and an accommodating space 40b. The drug outlet 40a is in liquid communication with the second opening 30a of the second bag 30. The accommodating space 40b is configured to accommodate the first bag 20 and the second bag 30.

[0028] The gas generating unit 10 may be disposed in the accommodating space 40b of the housing 40, or disposed independently outside the housing 40. The gas generating unit used in the present invention may be an electrochemical gas generating unit, which utilizes an electrochemical reaction to controllably generate the required gas. In addition, the gas generating unit used may also be a gas generating unit comprising a gas cylinder.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, a drug delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The drug delivery device comprises a first bag 20, a second bag 30, and a housing 40.

[0030] The first bag 20 is in controllable gas communication with the gas generating unit 10 through a gas connector 12. The second bag 30 includes a drug connector 32, and is in controllable liquid communication with an infusion unit 50 through the drug connector 32.

[0031] When the gas generating unit 10 is set to generate and transport a gas through the gas connector 12 to the first bag 20, it expands the first bag 20 at a controllable rate and squeezes the second bag 30, thereby transporting the drug contained in the second bag 30 through the drug connector 32 to a conduit 50a of the infusion unit 50, and delivering the drug to a patient in need via a needle 50b of the infusion unit 50.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3D, drug loading and drug delivery of a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention are illustrated.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3A, the drug delivery device has a first bag 20 and a second bag 30, and the first bag 20 is in controllable gas communication with a gas generating unit 10 through a gas valve 15 of the gas generating unit 10. In FIG. 3A, the gas valve 15 is closed and the first bag 20 has not yet been inflated, and the second bag 30 has not yet been loaded with a drug.

[0034] When a drug is to be loaded, as shown in FIG. 3B, a syringe 60 can be used to load the drug into the second bag 30.

[0035] Next, referring to FIG. 3C, the drug delivery device in the figure is connected with an infusion unit 50, ready for drug delivery. At this time, the gas valve 15 of the gas generating unit 10 can be opened to allow a gas to enter the first bag 20 to expand it and squeeze the second bag 30, thereby delivering the drug in the second bag 30 to a patient in need through the infusion unit 50.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3D, as the first bag 20 continues to be inflated and expand, the drug in the second bag 30 will be continuously and controllably delivered through the infusion unit 50 until the second bag 30 is squeezed flat, and the drug therein is almost completely delivered, at which time the gas valve 15 of the gas generating unit 10 can be (automatically) closed. Subsequently, discharging the gas from the first bag 20 can return it to the state shown in FIG. 3A, which can be used for the next drug delivery.

[0037] While the present invention has been described with reference to the above 5       preferred embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device, comprising:a first bag having a first opening and a first surface, the first opening being configured to receive a gas;a second bag having a second opening and a second surface, the second surface being attached to the first surface of the first bag, and the second opening being configured to deliver a drug contained in the second bag; anda housing having an accommodating space, the first and second bags being disposed in the accommodating space.

2. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the first surface has a first concavo-convex structure, and the second surface has a corresponding second concavo-convex structure.

3. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the first concavo-convex structure is a stepped concavo-convex structure or a wavy concavo-convex structure.

4. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the second concavo-convex structure is a stepped concavo-convex structure or a wavy concavo-convex structure.

5. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the gas is from a gas generating unit.

6. The drug delivery device according to claim 5, further comprising the gas generating unit.

7. The drug delivery device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the gas generating unit is an electrochemical gas generating unit.

8. The drug delivery device according to claim 5, wherein the gas generating unit comprises a gas cylinder.

9. The drug delivery device according to claim 5, wherein the gas generating unit comprises a gas valve for controlling supply of the gas.

10. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the gas expands the first bag and squeezes the second bag, thereby delivering the drug contained in the second bag out from the second opening.

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