Systems and methods for delivering drugs

Abstract

A patch pump device generally includes at least one fluid source, a fluid communicator, and an electrochemical actuator. The fluid communicator is in fluid communication with the fluid source. The electrochemical actuator is operative to cause fluid to be delivered from the fluid source into the fluid communicator.

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A device for delivering a therapeutic to a patient comprising:
 an electrochemical actuator including a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a species formulated to intercalate, de-intercalate, alloy with, oxidize, reduce, or plate with a first portion of the electrochemical actuator to an extent different than with a second portion of the electrochemical actuator, thereby imparting a differential strain between the first and second portions and causing a displacement of at least a portion of the electrochemical actuator; and   an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the electrochemical actuator so as to allow the electrochemical actuator to discharge therethrough, the electrical circuit including only fixed resistive elements, the electrical circuit configured to allow the electrochemical actuator to discharge such that the therapeutic is delivered to the patient with linear flow.   
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 a housing being movable between an unassembled configuration in which the electrochemical actuator is in a deactivated state, and an assembled configuration in which the electrochemical actuator is in an activated state such that the electrical circuit is closed causing the electrochemical actuator to discharge, thereby delivering the therapeutic to the patient.   
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein the housing includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion configured to form a cooperative fit when the housing is in the assembled position to activate the electrochemical actuator. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein when the housing is in the assembled position, the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing releasably lock together. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the first portion of the housing includes a first electrical contact and the second portion of the housing includes a second electrical contact, the first and second electrical contacts are positioned to contact each other when the housing is in the assembled position but not when the housing is in the unassembled position. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode is a bimorph electrode. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein the first portion of the electrochemical actuator and the second portion of the electrochemical actuator are formed of different materials. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein one of the first portion of the electrochemical actuator and the second portion of the electrochemical actuator comprises a dimensionally-active material. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein the first portion of the electrochemical actuator is configured to allow intercalation of a species to a different extent than to the second portion of the electrochemical actuator, thereby imparting differential strain between the first portion and the second portion to cause deflection of the electrode. 
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein the displacement of the electrochemical actuator is approximately proportional to a current though the electrical circuit, and the therapeutic is delivered to the patient at a rate approximately proportional to the displacement rate of the electrochemical actuator. 
     
     
         64 . A device for delivering a flowable material a patient comprising:
 a delivery system including a source, a cannula, and an electrochemical actuator including an electrode configured to deflect as the electrochemical actuator undergoes a change in electrical potential, the deflection of the electrode being operative to cause the flowable material to be delivered from the source; and   a housing configured for removably associating the delivery system with the body of the patient, the housing being movable between an unassembled configuration in which the delivery system is in a deactivated state, and an assembled configuration in which a first portion forms a cooperative fit with a second portion and activates the electrochemical actuator, thereby delivering the flowable material from the source through the cannula.   
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 64 , wherein the cannula is in fluidically isolated from the source in the unassembled configuration. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 64 , wherein the cannula is movable from a retracted position in which the cannula is disposed inside the housing when the housing is in the unassembled configuration and a deployed position in which the cannula protrudes outside the housing when the housing is in the assembled configuration. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 an insertion mechanism, the insertion mechanism configured to insert the cannula into the body of the patient when the housing is moved between an unassembled configuration and the assembled configuration.   
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 an insertion mechanism, the insertion mechanism including a needle slidably disposed within the cannula, the insertion mechanism configured to insert the cannula into the body of the patient when the housing is moved between an unassembled configuration and the assembled configuration.   
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 68 , wherein the insertion mechanism includes a spring coupled to the needle to urge the needle in a direction to insert the cannula into the body of the patient, and a latch configured to restrain the spring in a compressed state. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 64 , wherein the first portion of the housing includes a first electrical contact and the second portion of the housing includes a second electrical contact, the first and second electrical contacts positioned to contact each other when the housing is in the assembled position to activate the electrochemical actuator thereby delivering the flowable material from the source through the cannula. 
     
     
         71 . A method for administering a drug to a patient, the method comprising:
 securing a disposable infusion pump to the patient's skin, wherein the disposable infusion pump comprises (i) a reservoir storing a fluid which includes at least one drug; (ii) an electrochemical actuator including an electrode configured to deflect as the electrochemical actuator discharges; and (iii) at least one fluid communicator positionable to penetrate the patient's skin; and   activating the electrochemical actuator causing the electrode to deflect, thereby delivering fluid from the reservoir, through the fluid communicator, and into the patient.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising:
 discharging the electrochemical actuator through an electrical circuit having only fixed resistive elements, the discharging of the electrochemical actuator causing the electrochemical actuator to deflect at a rate approximately proportional to a current though the electrical circuit, thereby delivering fluid from the reservoir, through the fluid communicator, and into the patient at a substantially linear flow rate.   
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the drug includes at least one of an opioid narcotic, a NonSteroidal AntiInflamatory, a local anesthetic, a dopamine antagonist, an antihistamine, an antileukotriene, an anticholinergic, an immunotherapeutic agent, an antispastic, a vitamin, a selegiline and a rasagiline.