Drug delivery device

Abstract

In the present invention, 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) allows the vector potential coil device (1) to be positioned so that the vector potential is applied to a site (101a) to which a drug is delivered in a living body (101). The power supply device causes the vector potential coil device to generate a vector potential so that the drug is delivered to the site (101a) through electrophoresis using an electric field formed by the vector potential.

Description

Drug Delivery Devices

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

[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.

[0003] JP 2009-213585 A

[0004] Although iontophoresis is non-invasive, it requires conducting a weak electric current to 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 view of the above problems, and has an object to provide a drug delivery device that delivers drugs non-invasively and non-contact.

[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 to be delivered. The power supply device then 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.

[0007] According to the present invention, a drug delivery device that delivers drugs non-invasively and non-contact is provided.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a drug delivery device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vector potential coil device 1 in embodiment 2 of the present invention. 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. 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. 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.

[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 includes 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] 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 spiral 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 spiral coil axis is generated.

[0014] The hollow portion of the approximately cylindrical VP coil 11 serves as a space to accommodate a living body (here, a human body) 101, and a bed 41 that supports the living body 101 (such as a patient) is placed in this hollow portion. At least one of the bed 41 and the VP coil 11 is movable three-dimensionally 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 Embodiment 1, 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 the target site 101a in the living body 101 to which the drug is delivered.

[0017] The vector potential generated by the current flowing through the VP coil 11 weakens as the distance from the current increases, but because the VP coil 11 (the coil axis) is curved as described above, the vector potentials generated by the current at each position on the VP coil 11 overlap in the inward direction of the curve (the center of curvature in the case of an arc), and so the strength increases.

[0018] Returning to Fig. 1, the power supply device 2 generates current based on power from a commercial power source or a battery (primary battery or secondary battery), and conducts that current (here, AC current of a predetermined frequency) to 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 in bursts that alternate between output and stop.

[0019] Furthermore, the controller 3 controls the power supply 2, and under predetermined conditions, causes the vector potential coil device 1 to generate a vector potential. In this way, the power supply 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 positioned at the center of the above-mentioned storage 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] Then, when a drug is administered into the living body 101 by oral administration, transdermal administration, injection, or the like, and the drug is guided to the vicinity of the target site 101a within the living body 101, the drug permeates into the target site 101a due to electrophoresis caused by the vector potential. Specifically, the electrical stimulation caused by the vector potential facilitates the opening and closing of ion channels in the cell membrane, and the drug permeates 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 without contact by the vector potential, and drug delivery is carried out non-invasively and without contact.

[0026] Embodiment 2.

[0027] In the drug delivery device according to the second embodiment, a solenoid coil whose coil axis is not round (whose coil axis is less than one turn or 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 generally flat. A power supply 2 conducts current to the multiple VP coils 11. The multiple VP coils 11 may be electrically connected in series or in parallel. Alternatively, multiple power supply devices 2 may each conduct current to the multiple VP coils 11. In this case, the multiple power supply devices 2 each conduct AC current to the multiple VP coils 11 so that the AC currents conducted to the multiple VP coils 11 are synchronized. In this way, providing multiple VP coils 11 increases the strength of the vector potential applied to the target.

[0030] The other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to the second embodiment are the same as those of any 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. These multiple VP coils 11 are arranged along a curved (curved) arrangement direction. A power supply 2 conducts current to the multiple VP coils 11. Note that 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 an arc-shaped arrangement direction. In particular, the multiple VP coils 11 are arranged within a predetermined central angle θ (here, at equal angular intervals) of a circle that includes the arc of the arrangement direction. Because the vector potentials of the two VP coils 11 cancel out at the midpoint between the two VP coils 11, this central angle θ is set to any angle less than 180 degrees, for example.

[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] 4, for example, when multiple VP coils 11 having linear coil axes are arranged symmetrically with respect to a predetermined plane of symmetry (a plane perpendicular to the X-axis and parallel to the Z-axis and Y-axis) along a curved arrangement direction, on an axis that passes through the center of a circle that includes the arc of the arrangement direction and is parallel to the coil axes, a vector potential is generated in a direction perpendicular to the plane of symmetry (the X-axis direction in FIG. 4) 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 that have linear coil axes and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the predetermined plane of symmetry along the curved arrangement direction, it is possible to generate a vector potential in a desired direction within a two-dimensional plane of the X-axis and Y-axis.

[0035] The other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to the third embodiment are the same as 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 pertaining to Embodiment 5 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 inward direction of the curve of the coil axis (in other words, the planes including the coil axis) 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 the 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 between the inclination angles of these planes with respect to the X-axis direction are approximately the same. Furthermore, in this case, the inclination angle of vector potential coil 11-1 is 90 degrees.

[0039] 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 a number M of similar vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-M, which may be either two to four or six or more.

[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 they are contained in a single partial sphere (for example, a hemisphere), and the target is placed at the center of the sphere that contains that 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 aspherical surface) other than a single partial sphere.

[0041] The multiple vector potential coils 11-1 to 11-5 each generate a vector potential corresponding 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, the power supply 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, so that they are 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] The other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to the fourth embodiment are the same as those of any of the other embodiments, and therefore will not be described again.

[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, as shown in Figure 8, for example, 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 arranged so that the target site 101 a of the living body 101 is located within the space on the inside of the arranged VP coils 11 .

[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 also 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 channels are 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 allowing the above-mentioned ion channels to be opened and closed efficiently.

[0048] The other configurations and operations of the drug delivery device according to embodiment 5 are the same as those of any of the other embodiments, and therefore will not be described again.

[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, it is intended that such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the claims.

[0050] For example, in the above-described embodiments, infertility may be treated by applying a vector potential to sperm using the drug delivery device described above to activate the sperm after artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, microscopic insemination, etc. Sperm contain voltage-dependent phosphatase molecules, and therefore are expected to be activated by applying a vector potential.

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

Claims

1. A drug delivery device comprising: a vector potential coil device that generates a vector potential; a power supply device that drives the vector potential coil device; and positioning means that positions 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, wherein 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 by electrophoresis due to an electric field formed by the vector potential.

2. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the vector potential coil device comprises a solenoid coil whose coil axis extends helically around the accommodation space for the living body, and the positioning means supports the living body within the accommodation space.

3. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the vector potential coil device comprises a plurality of solenoid coils arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern, and the arrangement means is a probe member or a sheet-like member that supports the plurality of solenoid coils.

4. A drug delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the target site is an internal organ or a brain.

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