Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Convection space heater
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-26
2001-12-04
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Convection space heater
C392S395000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327426
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention comprises a beneficial agent delivery device, and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for delivering a beneficial agent into a surrounding area.
2. Background Art
Devices for delivery of beneficial agents to a surrounding area are well known in the art. While devices are known, there is a constant need for an improved delivery apparatus which serves to more accurately, more easily and more effectively deliver a beneficial agent to a surrounding area.
One particular type of delivery device for the delivery of beneficial agents has taken advantage of the galvanic effect between two different materials. For example, a prior art device is shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15
of the drawings generally as
200
. In such a prior art device, cathode
201
is paired with anode rod
202
having a stack of ring-like elements
204
associated with the rod. As shown in
FIG. 15
, the ring-like members include internal reservoirs
306
of capable of holding a beneficial agent
208
. The rings include seals
110
such that when the rings are stacked upon each other about the anode rod, the rings and seals serve to seal each of the internal reservoirs and portions of the anode from their surroundings. Due to the anode and cathode materials utilized, the anode corrodes when the materials are exposed to ambient conditions, or other predetermined conditions (i.e. a liquid or gas environment wherein the liquid or gas forms the electrolyte). As the anode corrodes beyond a ring member (as shown in FIG.
15
), the ring member is no longer retained by the rod, and the ring member releases from the stack of rings, thereby exposing the subsequent ring, and, the reservoir holding the beneficial agent. At such time, the beneficial agent is released. This process continues until the anode is no longer exposed to the ambient conditions, or until the anode completely corrodes and releases all of the rings.
While such an apparatus has facilitated the delivery of beneficial agents, the apparatus includes several drawbacks. For example, the apparatus utilizes a single anode. Due to the single anode, it is very difficult to vary or control the rate at which the beneficial agent is exposed, or the rate at which the beneficial agent is released.
Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus and method of delivering a beneficial agent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention comprises an apparatus for delivering a beneficial agent to a surrounding area. The apparatus includes a first electroactive electrode, a beneficial agent, a second electroactive electrode and electrical associating means. The first electroactive electrode includes an outer surface. At least a portion of the outer surface is exposable to the surrounding area. The beneficial agent is dispersed within the first electroactive electrode. The second electroactive electrode is associated with the first electroactive electrode. The electrical associating means electrically associates the first electroactive electrode and the second electroactive electrode, to, facilitate corrosion of the exposable surface of the first electroactive electrode when the first electroactive electrode is exposed to the surrounding area (i.e. the gas or liquid surrounding the electrodes forms an electrolyte). As the first electroactive electrode is corroded, the beneficial agent is delivered.
In one preferred embodiment, the first electroactive electrode and the beneficial agent are formed into a composite wherein the beneficial agent is encapsulated within a matrix formed by the first electroactive electrode. In another embodiment the first electroactive electrode, second electroactive electrode and beneficial agent are formed into a composite wherein the beneficial agent is encapsulated within a matrix formed by the first electroactive electrode and second electroactive electrode.
In another preferred embodiment, the first electroactive electrode comprises at least two spaced apart first electroactive electrode layers defining a space between the layers. In such an embodiment, the beneficial agent is positioned within the spaces. The electrical associating means further electrically associates the first electroactive electrode layers to each other, and, in turn, to the second electroactive electrode.
In one such embodiment, the first electroactive electrode includes multiple layers and multiple spaces between the layers. Different beneficial agents may be positioned within the multiple spaces. While not required, each first electroactive electrode layer may be substantially similar in thickness.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first electroactive electrode includes one or more voids, and, beneficial agents are disbursed within the voids. The voids may be substantially uniform in shape, and uniformly dispersed within the first electroactive electrode.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further includes means for controlling the rate of corrosion of the exposed surface of the first electroactive electrode. In one embodiment, the corrosion rate controlling means comprises a resistor. In another such embodiment, the corrosion rate controlling means comprises any one or more of the following devices: power source, a power cell, a battery, current limiting devices, electronic circuitry, diodes, capacitors, resistors, IC's, and transistors.
In a preferred embodiment, the first electroactive electrode comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and a cylindrical surface. In such an embodiment, a portion of the top surface comprises the exposed area.
In one preferred embodiment, the beneficial agent may comprise any one or more of pain medicaments, anti-parasitic drugs, growth hormones, diabetic agents, anesthetic agents, and, anti-bloating agents.
In another preferred embodiment, the exposable portion of the first electroactive electrode comprises at least two different first electroactive electrode materials.
The invention further includes a method for delivering a beneficial agent to a surrounding area. The method comprises the steps of providing a beneficial agent, dispersing the beneficial agent within a first electroactive electrode, exposing a portion of an outer surface of the first electroactive electrode, electrically associating the first electroactive electrode with a second electroactive electrode, corroding at least a portion of the exposed portion of the first electroactive electrode and releasing the beneficial agent disbursed within the first electroactive electrode upon corrosion thereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the method, the step of providing a beneficial agent may comprise the step of providing at least two beneficial agents, the step of dispersing the beneficial agent may comprise the step of dispersing at least two beneficial agents, and, the step of releasing the beneficial agent may comprise the step of sequentially releasing one of the at least two beneficial agents and then the other of the at least two beneficial agents.
In another preferred embodiment of the method, the step of providing a beneficial agent may comprise the step of providing at least two beneficial agents, the step of dispersing the beneficial agent may comprise the step of dispersing at least two beneficial agents, and, the step of dispersing the beneficial agent may comprise the step of alternatively releasing one of the at least two beneficial agents and the other of the at least two beneficial agents.
In another preferred embodiment, the method may further comprise the step of controlling the rate at which the first electroactive electrode corrodes.
In another preferred embodiment, the step of dispersing the beneficial agent comprises the step of molding the first electroactive electrode material (and, optionally, the second electroactive electrode) with the beneficial agent to form a composite.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the step of dispersing the beneficial agent comprises the steps of providing at least two spaced apart fir
Joshi Ashok V.
Wold Truman
Ceramatec, Inc.
Factor & Partners
Paik Sang
LandOfFree
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