Osmotic pump with remotely controlled osmotic flow rate

Abstract

Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled osmotic pump device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, an osmotic pump device is placed in an environment in order to pump a material into the environment or into an additional fluid handling structure within the osmotic pump device. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.

1 . An osmotic pump device, comprising:
 a housing configured for placement in an environment;   a delivery reservoir capable of containing a delivery fluid;   an osmotic chamber;   an osmotic pressure-generating material contained within the osmotic chamber;   a pressure-responsive movable barrier separating the osmotic chamber from the delivery reservoir, the pressure-responsive barrier being substantially impermeable to the osmotic pressure-generating material and configured to move in response to a change in pressure in the osmotic chamber to produce a change in at least one of pressure or volume of the delivery reservoir;   a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an osmotic fluid source, the semi-permeable membrane being substantially permeable by fluid from the osmotic fluid source but substantially impermeable to the osmotic pressure-generating material; and   at least one remotely controllable valve configured to regulate the pumping of the material from the delivery reservoir in an on-going fashion responsive to a time-varying electromagnetic field control signal.   
     
     
         2 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , wherein the remotely controllable valve is located between the osmotic fluid source and the osmotic chamber to regulate the flow of osmotic fluid into the osmotic chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , wherein the remotely controllable valve is located downstream of the delivery reservoir to regulate the flow of delivery fluid out of the delivery reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , wherein the osmotic fluid source is the environment. 
     
     
         5 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , wherein the remotely controllable valve includes an electromagnetically responsive control element. 
     
     
         6 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetically responsive control element includes at least one of a permanently magnetizable material, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferrous material, a ferric material, a dielectric or ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, a diamagnetic material, a paramagnetic material, and an antiferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         7 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetically responsive control element includes a shape memory material. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetically responsive control element includes a bimetallic structure. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetically responsive control element includes at least one of a hydrogel, a ferrogel or a ferroelectric. 
     
     
         12 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetically responsive control element includes a polymer and a magnetically or electrically active component. 
     
     
         13 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetically responsive control element includes an expanding element. 
     
     
         14 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery reservoir includes an outlet through which the delivery fluid moves into the environment in response to the change in at least one of pressure or volume in the delivery reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , including a downstream fluid handling structure in fluid communication with the delivery reservoir and configured to receive fluid ejected from the delivery reservoir in response to the change in at least one of pressure or volume in the delivery reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 15 , wherein the downstream fluid handling structure includes at least one of a channel or a chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-responsive movable barrier includes a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-responsive movable barrier includes a piston. 
     
     
         19 . The osmotic pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the osmotic pressure-generating material includes an ionic or non-ionic water-attracting or water absorbing materials. 
     
     
         20 . The osmotic pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the osmotic pressure-generating material includes a non-volatile water-soluble species. 
     
     
         21 . The osmotic pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the osmotic pressure-generating material includes at least one of a salt, a sugar, a polysaccharide, a polymer, a hydrogel, an osmoopolymer, a hydrophilic polymer, or an absorbent polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The osmotic pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the osmotic pressure-generating material includes a hydrogel. 
     
     
         23 . The osmotic pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the osmotic pressure-generating material includes a polymer. 
     
     
         24 . The osmotic pump device of  claim 1 , including a body structure adapted for positioning in an environment selected from a body of an organism, a body of water, or a contained fluid volume. 
     
     
         25 .- 78 . (canceled)