Multi-unit drug delivery devices and methods

Abstract

Implantable drug delivery devices include a housing defining a reservoir, a first unit within the reservoir, and a second unit within the reservoir. The first unit contains a drug and the second unit contains a functional agent that facilitates release of the drug. Intravesical drug delivery devices include a housing portion containing a drug formulation and a housing portion containing an excipient, and are configured to release the drug according to a first release profile and the excipient according to a second release profile. Methods include inserting any of these devices into a patient and releasing drug from the device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An intravesical drug delivery device comprising:
 a first housing portion loaded with a drug formulation which comprises a drug; and   a second housing portion loaded with an excipient,   wherein the device is configured to release the drug according to a first release profile and is configured to release the excipient according to a second release profile which differs from the first release profile.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug is released from the first housing portion, through an aperture in the first housing portion, primarily via osmotic pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the excipient is released from the second housing portion by diffusion. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug is released from the first housing portion by diffusion through a drug permeable wall in the first housing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the excipient is released from the second housing portion, through an aperture in the second housing portion, primarily via osmotic pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the excipient comprises a solubilizing agent, stabilizing agent, or permeation enhancing agent. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug formulation is in the form of one or more tablets and the excipient is in the form of one or more tablets. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion comprises an elongated, annular tube and the drug formulation is disposed within the annulus of the annular tube. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongated annular tube is formed of a water-permeable elastomeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is elastically deformable between a relatively straightened shape suited for insertion through the urethra of a patient and into the patient's bladder and a retention shape suited to retain the device within the bladder. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device is configured to spontaneously assume a shape in the absence of a compressive load, which shape comprises an interconnected and overlapping pair of coils. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second housing portion comprises a retention frame lumen and a retention frame positioned in the retention frame lumen. 
     
     
         13 . A drug delivery device comprising:
 a first housing portion loaded with a drug formulation in the form of a first plurality of tablets which comprises a drug; and   a second housing portion loaded with an excipient in the form of a second plurality of tablets,   wherein the device is configured to release the drug according to a first release profile and is configured to release the excipient according to a second release profile which differs from the first release profile.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the drug is released from the first housing portion, through an aperture in the first housing portion, primarily via osmotic pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the excipient is released from the second housing portion by diffusion. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the drug is released from the first housing portion by diffusion through a drug permeable wall in the first housing portion. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the excipient is released from the second housing portion, through an aperture in the second housing portion, primarily via osmotic pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the excipient comprises a solubilizing agent, stabilizing agent, or permeation enhancing agent. 
     
     
         19 . A method of administering a drug to a patient, the method comprising:
 inserting the device of  claim 13  into a patient; and then   releasing the drug from the device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the device is inserted into the patient's bladder.