Electromechanical ingestible device for delivery of a dispensable substance

Abstract

Ingestible devices capable of delivering a dispensable substance, such as, for example, a therapeutic agent, as well as related components, systems and methods, are disclosed. A removably attachable storage reservoir configured to be used with an ingestible device and capable of storing dispensable substance, such as, for example, a therapeutic agent, as well as related components, systems and methods, are also disclosed.

1 .- 138 . (canceled) 
     
     
         139 . An ingestible device, comprising:
 a storage reservoir configured to store a dispensable substance; and   a force generator component configured so that, when the force generator generates a force, the dispensable substance exits the ingestible device via an opening in the ingestible device.   
     
     
         140 .- 146 . (canceled) 
     
     
         146 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the storage reservoir is attachable to the ingestible device. 
     
     
         147 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the storage reservoir is an integral component of the ingestible device. 
     
     
         148 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising an injection device configured so that, when the force generator generates the force, the force moves the injection device to force the dispensable substance out of the ingestible device via the opening. 
     
     
         149 .- 154 . (canceled) 
     
     
         155 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising a membrane configured so that, when the force generator generates the force, the force moves the membrane to force the dispensable substance out of the ingestible device via the opening. 
     
     
         156 .- 160 . (canceled) 
     
     
         161 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising an electronic component within the housing, wherein the electronic component is configured to activate the force generator. 
     
     
         162 . (canceled) 
     
     
         163 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising a safety device configured to relieve an internal pressure within the housing. 
     
     
         164 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the storage reservoir stores the dispensable substance. 
     
     
         165 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising an occluder, wherein:
 the occluder has a first state in which it is configured to prevent the dispensable substance from exiting the ingestible device via the opening in the ingestible device; and   the occluder has a second state in which it is configured to allow the dispensable substance to exit the ingestible device via the opening in the ingestible device.   
     
     
         166 .- 178 . (canceled) 
     
     
         179 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising a bellow between the force generator and the storage reservoir. 
     
     
         180 . (canceled) 
     
     
         181 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising a member in the opening of the ingestible device. 
     
     
         182 . The ingestible device of  claim 181 , wherein the member is in the shape of a plug. 
     
     
         183 . (canceled) 
     
     
         184 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the force generator comprises a gas generating cell configured to generate a gas to provide the force. 
     
     
         185 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the force generator comprises a pressurized gas chamber. 
     
     
         186 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the force generator comprises a vacuumed chamber. 
     
     
         187 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the force generator comprises a spring. 
     
     
         188 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the force generator comprises a compressed spring and a tensioned spring. 
     
     
         189 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the force generator comprises a gear motor. 
     
     
         190 .- 193 . (canceled) 
     
     
         194 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the ingestible device comprises a housing configured to maintain its mechanical integrity during use of the ingestible device. 
     
     
         195 . (canceled) 
     
     
         196 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising a mechanism configured to reduce a gas pressure within ingestible device. 
     
     
         197 .- 199 . (canceled) 
     
     
         200 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the storage reservoir comprises a plurality of chambers. 
     
     
         201 .- 203 . (canceled) 
     
     
         204 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , comprising an electronic component configured to control generation of the force by the force generator to provide a metered dose of the dispensable substance to exit the opening in the ingestible device. 
     
     
         205 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the dispensable substance comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         206 . (canceled) 
     
     
         207 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising a mechanism to attach the ingestible device to a wall of the GI tract of a subject. 
     
     
         208 .- 212 . (canceled) 
     
     
         213 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising an enteric coating supported by at least a portion of a housing of the ingestible device. 
     
     
         214 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , further comprising an actuator. 
     
     
         215 .- 217 . (canceled) 
     
     
         218 . An ingestible device, comprising:
 a housing;   an enteric coating supported by at least a portion the housing;   a storage reservoir in the housing,   wherein the storage reservoir is configured to store a dispensable substance.   
     
     
         219 .- 220 . (canceled) 
     
     
         221 . An ingestible device, comprising:
 a housing;   an actuator located within the housing;   a storage reservoir located within the housing,   wherein the storage reservoir is configured to store a dispensable substance.   
     
     
         222 .- 235 . (canceled) 
     
     
         236 . An ingestible device, comprising:
 a housing;   a first actuation component in the housing;   a second actuation component, both located within the housing;   a first enteric coating attached to the first actuation component;   a second enteric coating attached to the second actuation component; and   a storage reservoir located within the housing,   wherein the storage reservoir is configured to store a dispensable substance, and the housing has an opening in fluid communication with the storage reservoir.   
     
     
         237 .- 250 . (canceled) 
     
     
         251 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , comprising a plurality of openings configured so that, when the force generator generates a force, the dispensable substance exits the ingestible device via the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         252 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the opening has a tapered sidewall. 
     
     
         253 . The ingestible device of  claim 139 , wherein the opening has a straight sidewall. 
     
     
         254 .- 262 . (canceled) 
     
     
         263 . A reservoir configured for use in an ingestible device, wherein the reservoir comprises a dispensable substance. 
     
     
         264 . The reservoir of  claim 263 , wherein the reservoir is configured to partially fit within the housing of the ingestible device. 
     
     
         265 . The reservoir of  claim 263 , wherein the reservoir is configured to entirely fit within the housing of the ingestible device. 
     
     
         266 . The reservoir of  claim 263 , wherein the reservoir comprises a housing, and the housing comprises a plastic. 
     
     
         267 . (canceled) 
     
     
         268 . The reservoir of  claim 263 , wherein the reservoir comprises a housing, and the housing comprises a metal-based material. 
     
     
         269 .- 279 . (canceled) 
     
     
         280 . The reservoir of  claim 263 , wherein the reservoir is configured to be used with an ingestible device according to  claim 139 . 
     
     
         281 . A kit, comprising:
 an ingestible device; and   a reservoir configured for use in an ingestible device, wherein the reservoir is a reservoir according to  claim 263 .   
     
     
         282 .- 284 . (canceled) 
     
     
         284 . A method, comprising:
 delivering a therapeutic agent to a subject using an ingestible device according to  claim 139 .   
     
     
         285 .- 292 . (canceled)