Drug delivery device with compressible drug reservoir

Abstract

A drug delivery device ( 50 ) is provided comprising a drug reservoir ( 10 ) and a piston ( 11 ). The drug reservoir ( 10 ) is provided for comprising a drug and comprises a flexible wall ( 22 ) and a dispensing hole ( 15 ) for dispensing the drug into an environment of the drug delivery device ( 50 ). The piston ( 11 ) is provide for pressing against the flexible wall ( 22 ) to compress the drug reservoir ( 10 ) for pushing an amount of the drug through the dispensing hole ( 15 ). An adhesion interface ( 51 ) between a surface of the piston ( 11 ) and the flexible wall ( 22 ) prevents sliding between the surface of the piston ( 11 ) and the flexible wall ( 22 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device having an opening, the device comprising:
 a reservoir comprising a movable portion;   a piston; and   an adhesion interface between the piston and the movable portion,   wherein the device is configured so that, when the piston moves away from the opening, the adhesion interface keeps the movable portion conformed to the piston so that a substance external to the reservoir is drawn into the reservoir via the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable portion defines a portion of a boundary of the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured so that, when piston moves toward the opening, the adhesion interface keeps the movable portion conformed to the piston so that a substance contained in the reservoir exits the reservoir via a dispensing hole at the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesion interface is disposed on the piston. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesion interface is disposed on the movable portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesion interface comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesion interface comprises an electrostatically charged material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesion interface comprises a silicon based resin. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesion interface comprises a magnetic material. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a non-flexible portion at which the adhesion interface is located. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is swallowable. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is implantable. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein device is a capsule. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid portion in which the opening is disposed. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the rigid portion is dome-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is opposite to the piston. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a microprocessor. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a battery configured to power the microprocessor. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the piston. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a battery configured to power the actuator. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a clock configured to trigger movement of the piston. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a detector configured to trigger movement of the piston. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the detector comprises a pH sensor. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the detector comprises an electrical detector. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the detector comprises a chemical detector. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is compressible. 
     
     
         27 . A device having an opening, the device comprising:
 a reservoir comprising a movable portion;   a piston; and   an adhesion interface between the piston and the movable portion,   wherein the device is configured so that, when the piston moves away from the opening, the adhesion interface keeps the movable portion conformed to the piston so that a volume defined by the reservoir increases and a substance external to the reservoir is drawn into the reservoir via the opening.   
     
     
         28 . A device having an opening, the device comprising:
 a reservoir comprising a movable portion;   a piston; and   an adhesion interface between the piston and the movable portion,   wherein the device is configured so that, when the piston moves away from the opening, the adhesion interface keeps the movable portion conformed to the piston so that a pressure within the reservoir decreases and a substance external to the reservoir is drawn into the reservoir via the opening.