Drug-Permeable Housing Wall for Sustained Intravesical Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intravesical drug delivery devices face challenges in maintaining consistent drug release rates beyond a few days, with osmotic pressure mechanisms failing to sustain effective drug concentrations, and conventional coatings complicating manufacturing and delaminating during device deformation.

Innovation Solution

The devices utilize a drug-permeable polymer component within the housing to control drug release through diffusion, employing a dual-wall structure of polyurethane compositions that are elastically deformable and manufactured via coextrusion, allowing for controlled drug release rates without altering mechanical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conformal coating or sheath is added over the housing to reduce water-permeability, then the drug release rate is controlled, but manufacturing complexity increases and coating reliability decreases during device deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug release kinetics consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing wall is segmented into two distinct wall structures: a first wall structure (impermeable to drug, water-permeable) and a second wall structure (permeable to both drug and water). This segmentation eliminates the need for separate conformal coatings while achieving controlled drug release, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining release consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs composite wall structures combining different material properties: the first wall structure uses water-permeable materials (e.g., polyurethane) to control water entry, while the second wall structure uses drug-permeable materials to enable controlled drug diffusion. This composite approach integrates multiple functions into the housing itself, eliminating additional coating layers and simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the housing is made elastically deformable for insertion and retention, then ease of operation improves, but coating integrity deteriorates during deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice insertion and retentionVSAvoidcoating integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing wall structures are integrally formed and connected with the elastically deformable housing, merging the drug delivery function directly into the housing structure. This eliminates separate coatings that would delaminate during deformation, while maintaining both elastic deformability for insertion and reliable drug release kinetics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If osmotic pressure mechanism is used for drug release, then initial drug release is achieved, but release duration is limited to three to four days

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial drug release rateVSAvoiddrug release duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device replaces the osmotic pressure mechanism (mechanical system) with a diffusion-based drug release mechanism through the second wall structure. This substitution enables sustained drug release over extended periods (beyond 36 hours) by controlling drug diffusion through the permeable wall structure, eliminating the rapid decline associated with osmotic mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Achieves sustained zero-order drug release for therapeutic periods up to 7-14 days, maintaining effective drug concentrations in the bladder and minimizing device size and manufacturing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

water from the bladder diffusing into drug reservoir lumen to solubilize the drug

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

the solubilized drug out of the device through a release aperture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3285850B1Drug delivery devices with drug-permeable component and method of manufacturing
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 JANSSEN BIOTECH INC
  • EP3285850B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3285850B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3285850B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Drug delivery devices (1000) having a drug-permeable component and methods of making and using the same are provided. Drug delivery devices include a housing (1002) having a first (1012) and second wall (1014) structures that are adjacent one another and together form a tube (1010) defining a drug reservoir lumen (1004). The second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water, and the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug while the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasablein vivoby diffusion through the second wall structure.