Drug delivery device

Abstract

To provide a drug delivery device for delivering a drug in a non-invasive and non-contact manner.SOLUTION: A vector potential coil device (VP coil 11) generates a vector potential. A power supply device drives the vector potential coil device. A bed 41 is arranged in such a manner that the vector potential coil device 1 is applied to a target site 101a in a living body 101 to which a drug is delivered. The power supply device causes the vector potential coil device to generate the vector potential so that the drug is delivered to the target site 101a by electrophoresis due to an electric field formed by the vector potential.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug delivery device. [Background technology]

[0002] One drug administration device uses electroporation to administer drugs transdermally (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Another drug delivery method is iontophoresis, which is a technique in which a weak electric current is passed through the skin surface to non-invasively administer a charged drug transdermally by electrophoresis. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-213585 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although iontophoresis is non-invasive, it requires passing a weak electric current through the skin surface, which requires electrodes to be in contact with the skin, placing a significant burden on the patient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a drug delivery device that delivers drugs non-invasively and non-contact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A drug delivery device according to the present invention includes a vector potential coil device that generates a vector potential, a power supply device that drives the vector potential coil device, and arrangement means that arranges the vector potential coil device so that the vector potential is applied to a target site in a living body to which the drug is delivered. The power supply device causes the vector potential coil device to generate a vector potential so that the drug is delivered to the target site by electrophoresis due to the electric field formed by the above-mentioned vector potential. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a drug delivery device that performs drug delivery in a non-invasive and non-contact manner is provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the drug delivery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vector potential coil device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vector potential coil device 1 in a drug delivery device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of a vector potential coil in accordance with Embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a top view showing an example of a vector potential coil in accordance with Embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of a vector potential coil in accordance with Embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a vector potential device 1 in a drug delivery device according to embodiment 5 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Embodiment 1

[0011] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drug delivery device shown in Figure 1 is a device that generates a vector potential at a target site and delivers a drug to the target site by electrophoresis due to an electric field based on the vector potential, and includes a vector potential coil device 1, a power supply device 2, and a controller 3 that controls the power supply device 2.

[0012] The vector potential coil device 1 is equipped with a vector potential coil (hereinafter also referred to as a VP coil). A VP coil is a solenoid coil that extends along a coil axis of a specific shape, and generates a vector potential around it that corresponds to the current that flows through it.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a side view showing a drug delivery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, in the first embodiment, the VP coil 11 is a solenoid coil wound around a helical coil axis extending around the accommodation space of the living body 101, and the outer shape of the VP coil 11 is substantially cylindrical. As a result, a vector potential substantially parallel to the central axis of the helical coil axis is generated.

[0014] The hollow part of the approximately cylindrical VP coil 11 is a space for housing a living body (here, a human body) 101, and a bed 41 for supporting the living body 101 (such as a patient) is placed in the hollow part. At least one of the bed 41 and the VP coil 11 is three-dimensionally movable relative to the other, and is moved manually or electrically. As a result, the VP coil 11 is positioned so that a vector potential is generated in the target site 101a, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0015] Here, the target site 101a is a specific subcutaneous tissue, a specific internal organ, the brain (specific site), etc. In particular, for internal organs, there is no need to insert electrodes or the like, and even if they are deep in the human body, electrical stimulation can be applied directly by vector potential.

[0016] In other words, in the first embodiment, the bed 41 functions as a positioning means that positions the vector potential coil device 1 (VP coil 11) so that a vector potential is applied to a target site 101a in the living body 101 to which a drug is delivered.

[0017] The vector potential generated by the current flowing through the VP coil 11 becomes weaker the further away from the current, but since the VP coil 11 (its coil axis) is curved as described above, the vector potentials generated by the current at each position of the VP coil 11 overlap in the inside direction of the curve (the center of curvature if it is arc-shaped), and so the strength increases.

[0018] Returning to Fig. 1, the power supply device 2 generates a current based on power from a commercial power source or a battery (primary battery or secondary battery), and passes that current (here, an AC current of a predetermined frequency) through the VP coil 11. Here, the waveform of this AC current may be a sine wave, a square wave, a pulse wave, an impulse train, or a combination of these. Furthermore, the AC current may be output steadily, or may be a burst in which output and stop are repeated.

[0019] The controller 3 also controls the power supply 2 to cause the vector potential coil device 1 to generate a vector potential under predetermined conditions. As a result, the power supply device 2 causes the vector potential coil device 1 to generate a vector potential so that the drug is delivered to the target site 101a by electrophoresis due to the electric field formed by the vector potential.

[0020] Next, the operation of the drug delivery device according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0021] The living body 101 is placed on the bed 41, and the position of the living body 101 is adjusted as described above by moving the bed 41. For example, the position of the bed 41 is adjusted so that the target site 101a of the living body 101 on the bed 41 is placed at the center of the above-mentioned accommodation space.

[0022] The power supply device 2 then generates a vector potential in the vector potential device 1 under the conditions (frequency, waveform, intensity, etc.) specified by the controller 3. As a result, a vector potential of sufficient intensity for drug delivery is generated in the target site 101a.

[0023] When a drug is administered orally, transdermally, by injection, or the like into the living body 101 and guided to the vicinity of the target site 101a within the living body 101, the drug penetrates into the target site 101a due to electrophoresis caused by the vector potential. Specifically, electrical stimulation due to the vector potential facilitates the opening and closing of ion channels in the cell membrane, and the drug penetrates into the target site 101a due to electrophoresis.

[0024] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the vector potential coil device 1 (VP coil 11) generates a vector potential. The power supply device 2 drives the vector potential coil device 1. The bed 41 positions the vector potential coil device 1 so that a vector potential is applied to a target site 101a in the living body 101 to which a drug is to be delivered. The power supply device 2 causes the vector potential coil device 1 to generate a vector potential so that the drug is delivered to the target site 101a by electrophoresis due to the electric field formed by the above-mentioned vector potential.

[0025] As a result, electrical stimulation is applied to the target site 101a non-invasively and non-contactingly by the vector potential, and drug delivery is performed non-invasively and non-contactingly.

[0026] Embodiment 2

[0027] In the drug delivery device according to the second embodiment, a solenoid coil whose coil axis is not revolutionary (whose coil axis has less than one turn or is linear) is used as the VP coil 11.

[0028] In the drug delivery device according to the second embodiment, the VP coil 11 is built into and supported by a probe member (not shown), and the probe member is placed at a position corresponding to the target site 101a of the living body 101. That is, in the second embodiment, the probe member functions as the above-mentioned placement means.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vector potential coil device 1 in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in Embodiment 2, the vector potential coil device 1 includes multiple VP coils 11. Each VP coil 11 in Embodiment 2 has a linear coil axis, and is a multiple solenoid coil that extends along the coil axis. These multiple VP coils 11 are arranged in a linear arrangement direction. In other words, the external shape of the vector potential coil device 1 is approximately plate-shaped. The power supply unit 2 conducts current to the multiple VP coils 11. The multiple VP coils 11 may be electrically connected in series or in parallel. Also, multiple power supply units 2 may conduct current to the multiple VP coils 11, respectively. In that case, the multiple power supply units 2 conduct AC current to the multiple VP coils 11, respectively, so that the AC currents conducted to the multiple VP coils 11 are synchronized. In this way, by providing multiple VP coils 11, the strength of the vector potential applied to the application target is increased.

[0030] Other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to the second embodiment are similar to those of the other embodiments, and therefore will not be described again.

[0031] Embodiment 3

[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vector potential coil device 1 in a drug delivery device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in Embodiment 3, the vector potential coil device 1 includes multiple VP coils 11. Each VP coil 11 in Embodiment 3 has a linear coil axis, and is a multiple solenoid coil extending along the coil axis. The multiple VP coils 11 are arranged along a curved (curved) arrangement direction. The power supply device 2 passes current through the multiple VP coils 11. The multiple VP coils 11 may be electrically connected in series or in parallel. Here, this arrangement direction is a closed curve, and the multiple VP coils 11 are arranged along the arc-shaped arrangement direction. In particular, the multiple VP coils 11 are arranged within a range of a predetermined central angle θ about a circle that includes the arc of the arrangement direction (here, at equal angular intervals). Because the vector potentials of the two VP coils 11 cancel out at the midpoint between the two VP coils 11, for example, this central angle θ is set to any angle less than 180 degrees.

[0033] For example, as in embodiment 2, the VP coil 11 is built into a probe member (not shown), and the probe member is positioned so that the target portion 101a of the living body 101 is located within the space inward of the arranged multiple VP coils 11.

[0034] For example, as shown in Fig. 4, when multiple VP coils 11 having linear coil axes are arranged symmetrically with respect to a predetermined symmetry plane (a plane perpendicular to the X-axis and parallel to the Z-axis and Y-axis) along a curved arrangement direction, a vector potential is generated in a direction perpendicular to the symmetry plane (the X-axis direction in Fig. 4) on an axis that passes through the center of a circle including the arc of the arrangement direction and is parallel to the coil axis as a result of vector synthesis of the vector potentials generated by the multiple VP coils 11. Therefore, for example, by combining a VP coil 11 having a curved coil axis as shown in Fig. 3 with multiple VP coils 11 having linear coil axes and arranged symmetrically with respect to a predetermined symmetry plane along the curved arrangement direction, it is possible to generate a vector potential in a desired direction in a two-dimensional plane of the X-axis and Y-axis.

[0035] Other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to embodiment 3 are similar to those of any of the other embodiments, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0036] Embodiment 4

[0037] Fig. 5 is a front view showing an example of a vector potential coil according to embodiment 4 of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a top view showing an example of a vector potential coil according to embodiment 4 of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a side view showing an example of a vector potential coil according to embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0038] The vector potential coil device 1 according to the fifth embodiment includes multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, these multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 are each wound along a curved coil axis, and are arranged so that the inside directions of the curved coil axes (in other words, planes including the coil axes) intersect with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 are arranged so that planes including the coil axes of the multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 are parallel to the Y-axis direction, and the angular intervals of the inclination angles of these planes with respect to the X-axis direction are approximately the same. Also, here, the inclination angle of vector potential coil 11-1 is 90 degrees.

[0039] Note that here, the vector potential coil device 1 is equipped with five vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5, but it may also be equipped with similar vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-M with a number M of either 2 to 4 coils, or 6 or more coils.

[0040] For example, the shape (curvature, etc.) and arrangement of the coil axes of multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 are determined so that the coil axes are contained in a single partial sphere (for example, a hemisphere), and the target is placed at the center of the sphere that contains the partial sphere (in other words, the center of curvature of all of the coil axes). Note that the shape (curvature, etc.) and arrangement of the coil axes may also be determined so that the coil axes of multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 are contained in a curved surface (partial aspheric surface) other than a single partial sphere.

[0041] Note that the multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 each generate a vector potential according to the AC current in the same manner as in the embodiment described above, and the vector potentials from the multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 are combined to obtain the vector potential VP(t). Here, power supply device 2 passes AC current through the multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 so that the amplitude of the combined vector potential VP(t) is maximized (for example, in phase with each other).

[0042] For example, as in embodiment 2, the VP coil 11 is built into a probe member (not shown), and the probe member is positioned so that the target portion 101a of the living body 101 is located within the space inward of the arranged multiple VP coils 11.

[0043] Other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to embodiment 4 are similar to those of any of the other embodiments, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0044] Embodiment 5.

[0045] Figure 8 is a plan view showing a vector potential device 1 in a drug delivery device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In Embodiment 5, for example, as shown in Figure 8, multiple VP coils 11 with linear coil axes are arranged on a sheet-like member 61. The sheet-like member 61 may be a hard flat or curved plate, or it may be a flexible member such as a silicone sheet.

[0046] For example, the sheet-like member 61 is placed so that the target site 101a of the living body 101 is located within the space on the inside of the multiple VP coils 11 that are arranged.

[0047] Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, the sheet-like member 61 is provided with a heater 62 (resistor) for temperature control and an ultrasonic element 63 for ultrasonic control, and when a vector potential is generated by the VP coil 11, the controller 3 drives at least one of the heater 62 and the ultrasonic element 63 to adjust the temperature of the target site 101a and apply ultrasonic waves to the target site 101a so that the above-mentioned ion channel is opened and closed efficiently. Furthermore, a light-emitting device may be provided on the sheet-like member 61 to irradiate the target site 101a with light, thereby opening and closing the above-mentioned ion channel efficiently.

[0048] Other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to embodiment 5 are similar to those of any of the other embodiments, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. In other words, such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

[0050] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, infertility may be treated by applying a vector potential to sperm using the above-mentioned drug delivery device to activate the sperm after artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, microscopic insemination, etc. Sperm have voltage-dependent phosphatase molecules, so it is expected that they will be activated by applying a vector potential. [Industrial Applicability]

[0051] The present invention is applicable, for example, to drug delivery devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Vector potential coil device 2 Power supply 3. Controller 41 Bed (an example of placement method) 61 Sheet-like member (an example of a placement means)

Claims

1. A vector potential coil device that generates a vector potential; a power supply device that drives the vector potential coil device; and a positioning means for positioning the vector potential coil device so that the vector potential is applied to a target site in a living body to which a drug is delivered, the power supply device causes the vector potential coil device to generate the vector potential so that a drug is delivered to the target site by electrophoresis due to an electric field formed by the vector potential; A drug delivery device comprising:

2. the vector potential coil device includes a solenoid coil whose coil axis extends helically around the accommodation space of the living body, The positioning means supports the living body within the accommodation space; 2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 .

3. the vector potential coil device includes a plurality of solenoid coils arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern, the arrangement means being a probe member or a sheet-like member supporting the plurality of solenoid coils; 2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 .

4. 4. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the target site is an internal organ or a brain.

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