Implantable drug-delivery devices, and apparatus and methods for refilling the devices

Abstract

In various embodiments, a needle is employed in refilling drug-delivery devices.

1 . A needle for refilling an implantable drug-delivery device having a needle entry port that comprises a throat for receiving the needle therethrough, the needle comprising:
 a hollow shaft terminating in a tip;   a fluid exit port along the shaft proximate to the tip; and   means for limiting an extent of entry of the needle into the entry port.   
     
     
         2 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the limitation means comprises a stop on the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The needle of  claim 2 , wherein the stop is a ring surrounding and fixedly mounted to the shaft, the ring having an outer diameter exceeding a width of the throat. 
     
     
         4 . The needle of  claim 2 , wherein the stop is spherically-shaped, cylindrically-shaped, rectangularly-shaped, or pyramidally-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the limitation means is constructed of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         6 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the limitation means is constructed of at least one of a metal, a plastic, or a composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the limitation means is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of PDMS, polyimide, polypropylene, PEEK, polycarbonate, an acetyl film, polyoxymethylene plastic, gold, stainless steel, nickel, and chrome. 
     
     
         8 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is conically-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid exit port is positioned intermediate to the tip and the limitation means. 
     
     
         10 . An implantable drug-delivery device, comprising:
 a drug reservoir;   a needle entry port comprising a throat for receiving a refill needle therethrough; and   a vestibule into which the throat opens, the vestibule (i) being wider than the throat, (ii) comprising a stop on a wall opposite the throat for halting progress of a needle into the vestibule through the throat, and (iii) being in fluid communication with the drug reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the stop is sized so as to halt the progress of a needle comprising an exit port at a point at which the exit port is in fluid communication with the vestibule. 
     
     
         12 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein a top surface of the stop is cup-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the stop is constructed of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         14 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the stop is constructed of at least one of a metal, a plastic, or a composite material. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the stop is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of PDMS, polyimide, polypropylene, PEEK, polycarbonate, an acetyl film, polyoxymethylene plastic, gold, stainless steel, nickel, and chrome. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 10  further comprising a check valve located between the vestibule and the drug reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the needle entry port further comprises a self-sealing material. 
     
     
         18 . An implantable drug-delivery device, comprising:
 a drug reservoir;   a needle entry port comprising a throat for receiving a refill needle therethrough, the throat opening into a vestibule that is in fluid communication with the drug reservoir; and   a visualization ring surrounding the needle entry port, the visualization ring being visible through ocular tissue so as to visually indicate a position of the needle entry port.   
     
     
         19 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the visualization ring is constructed of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         20 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the visualization ring is constructed of a material that withstands penetration by the refill needle. 
     
     
         21 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the visualization ring is visible through a patient's conjunctiva. 
     
     
         22 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the visualization ring comprises a fluorescent pigment. 
     
     
         23 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 22 , wherein the fluorescent pigment is selected from the group consisting of a luminescent aerogel, a nanoparticle, a phthalocyanine pigment, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, coumarin, cyanine, an Alexa Fluor, a DyLight Fluor, a quantum dot, a green fluorescent protein, and a luciferin. 
     
     
         24 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the visualization ring comprises a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         25 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18  further comprising a light emitting diode and optical fiber for conducting light from the light emitting diode to and around the visualization ring. 
     
     
         26 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the visualization ring comprises a material that enhances surface echogenicity and acoustic shadowing. 
     
     
         27 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18  further comprising electronics to move or vibrate the visualization ring. 
     
     
         28 . The implantable drug-delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the visualization ring comprises a magnetic material. 
     
     
         29 . A method for refilling a drug-delivery device implanted within a patient, comprising:
 inserting, into a needle entry port of the drug-delivery device, a distal tip of a needle that comprises a hollow shaft and a stop on the shaft;   advancing the needle into the needle entry port until the stop limits further entry of the needle into the entry port; and   delivering drug through the hollow shaft of the needle, out a fluid exit port positioned along the shaft of the needle proximate the tip, and into the drug-delivery device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the stop is a ring surrounding the shaft of the needle, the ring having an outer diameter exceeding a width of the entry port. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising locating, prior to inserting the distal tip of the needle into the needle entry port, a visualization ring visually indicating the position of the needle entry port. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the visualization ring surrounds the needle entry port and is visible through the patient's conjunctiva. 
     
     
         33 . A method for refilling a drug-delivery device implanted within a patient, comprising:
 inserting, into a needle entry port of the drug-delivery device, a distal tip of a needle;   advancing the needle through the needle entry port into a vestibule of the drug-delivery device until a stop positioned on a wall of the vestibule opposite the needle entry port halts further entry of the needle; and   delivering drug through a hollow shaft of the needle, out a fluid exit port positioned along the shaft of the needle proximate the tip, and into the vestibule.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the stop halts further entry of the needle at a point at which the exit port of the needle is in fluid communication with the vestibule. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising locating, prior to inserting the distal tip of the needle into the needle entry port, a visualization ring visually indicating the position of the needle entry port. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the visualization ring surrounds the needle entry port and is visible through the patient's conjunctiva.