Drug Reservoir Core Region Segmentation for Controlled Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug delivery devices face challenges in achieving complete drug release over a treatment period, leading to issues like dose dumping, wasted drug, and difficulty in measuring released doses, especially with higher potency drugs, due to insufficient drug release rates and the use of excipients that can impact stability and homogeneity.
Innovation Solution
The development of drug delivery devices with a drug reservoir configuration that positions the drug close to the reservoir wall for efficient diffusion, using a core region without drug to minimize drug quantity and enhance release efficiency, and incorporating a ribbon-shaped reservoir lumen to increase surface area for drug release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the reservoir is filled entirely with drug or drug-excipient mixture to achieve desired release rate, then the drug release rate is improved, but the amount of unreleased drug wasted at the end of treatment period increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is segmented into a drug-containing region and a drug-free core region. The drug formulation is disposed between the inner surface of the reservoir wall and the core region, creating distinct functional zones that optimize both release rate and drug utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the reservoir are assigned different qualities: the region adjacent to the reservoir wall contains drug formulation for efficient release, while the core region is drug-free to minimize waste. This local differentiation ensures high drug release efficiency without excessive drug loading.
2Quantity of substance
If excipients are added to minimize potent drug loading, then the drug payload amount is reduced, but the drug stability and release profile are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful element (excipients) is extracted from the drug formulation by placing the drug adjacent to the reservoir wall without mixing it with excipients. The drug-free core region further eliminates excipient contamination, preserving drug stability while minimizing payload amount.
Solution Approach 2:
The drug formulation is localized in a specific region adjacent to the reservoir wall, separated from the core region. This local positioning allows the drug to maintain stability without excipients while still achieving the desired release profile through controlled diffusion across the reservoir wall.
3Quantity of substance
If the drug is positioned away from the reservoir wall, then the drug payload capacity is increased, but the drug release efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drug formulation is positioned in a specific spatial dimension adjacent to the reservoir wall, creating a gradient from the wall inward. This dimensional arrangement ensures that drug molecules are in close proximity to the release interface, maximizing release efficiency while maintaining adequate payload capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir is designed with localized drug placement where the drug formulation occupies the region between the inner surface of the reservoir wall and the core region. This local quality optimization ensures high release efficiency at the wall interface while the overall reservoir capacity remains sufficient for therapeutic payload.
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
This configuration allows for more complete and controlled drug release, reducing the amount of drug needed, minimizing waste, and improving patient safety by ensuring consistent dosing without negatively impacting the drug release profile.
Implementation Method 1
drug diffusion through a polymeric reservoir wall
Implementation Method 2
water permeable polymeric material
Data Source
AI summary
Drug delivery devices are provided in which much of a drug payload within the device remains within an area proximal to a wall of the device through which the drug must pass for release of the drug from the device into a patient. In one case, the device may include a drug reservoir portion which has a drug reservoir lumen bounded by a reservoir wall having an inner surface; a drug located in the drug reservoir lumen; and a core region which does not comprise the drug, wherein the drug is disposed between the inner surface of the reservoir wall and the core region. The device may be elastically deformable between a first shape suited for insertion through a lumen into a body cavity of the patient and a second shape suited to retain the device within the body cavity.