Medicament delivery systems

Abstract

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for the delivery of substances to, or the sampling of substances from, a patient using a portable and preferably implantable device. The substances introduced to and/or taken from the patient are preferably fluidic and are driven by a miniature pump, such as a microimpedance pump. A number of design variations are explicitly and implicitly described, such as the use of multiple pumps and multiple reservoirs for containing medicaments. Methods of manufacture of these systems and devices are also described, for instance, using molding, micromachining, or lithographic processes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an implantable drug delivery system including an impedance pump, comprising:
 forming a first layer of a substrate having a pump chamber wall on which an activation element can be mounted;   forming a second layer of the substrate having an elongate recess connected to a plurality of elongate channels;   coupling the first layer to the second layer such that the pump chamber wall is positioned over the elongate recess and such that the elongate recess and the plurality of elongate channels are covered by the first layer; and   coupling the activation element to the pump chamber wall.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is formed with a reservoir, and wherein the first and second layers are coupled together such that the reservoir is in communication with at least one of the plurality of elongate channels. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising inserting a medicament into the reservoir and sealing the reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongate channels terminate in two or more openings in the sidewall of the substrate, the method further comprising:
 inserting drug perfusion tubing into the two or more openings; and   overmolding the tubing to secure and seal the tubing to the substrate.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising adding adhesive to further secure and seal the tubing to the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second layers are formed with a mold having features micromachined thereon. 
     
     
         7 . A medicament delivery system, comprising:
 a substrate;   an impedance pump coupled to the substrate; and   at least one medicament reservoir formed in the substrate and in fluid communication with the impedance pump.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an activation element disposed on the impedance pump, wherein activation of the activation element causes a cross-section of a portion of the impedance pump to decrease.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the activation element is a magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first tube and a second tube, each coupled to the substrate;   a first channel in the substrate adapted to provide fluid communication between the impedance pump and the first tube; and   a second channel in the substrate adapted to provide fluid communication between the impedance pump and the second tube.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein a first cross-section of the first channel and a second cross-section of the second channel are less than a cross-section of the impedance pump. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second tubes extend laterally from the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second tubes are coupled to an interface component. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a dual lumen tube, wherein the first tube and the second tube are in fluid communication with lumens in the dual-lumen tube. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein portions of the first and second tubes are covered by a sheath. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one medicament reservoir is in fluid communication with the first channel or the second channel. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a medicament stored in the at least one medicament reservoir.