Drug Delivery Devices with Drug-Permeable Component and Methods

Abstract

Drug delivery devices having a drug-permeable component and methods of making and using the same are provided. Drug delivery devices include a housing having a first and second wall structures that are adjacent one another and together form a tube defining a drug reservoir lumen. The second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water, and the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug while the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A drug delivery device comprising:
 an housing which comprises a first wall structure and a second wall structure that are integrally formed in a coextrusion process, and that are adjacent one another at two interface edges such that together the first and second wall structures define a tube having an elongated cylindrical drug reservoir lumen; and   a solid drug formulation, which comprises a drug, contained in the drug reservoir lumen,   wherein:   the second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water,   following solubilization of the drug within the drug reservoir lumen, the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug and the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure, and   the first wall structure comprises a first thermoplastic polyurethane composition, and the second wall structure comprises a second thermoplastic polyurethane composition, which is different from the first polyurethane composition.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second wall structure has an arc angle of the circumference of the tube in the cross section that is about 90 degrees or about 170 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second wall structure has an arc angle of the circumference of the tube in the cross section that is between 90 degrees and 170 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall structure is formed from Tecoflex™ TPU, Tecothane™ TPU, Carbothane™ TPU, or a combination or blend thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second wall structure is hydrophilic. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is elastically deformable from a coiled retention shape suited to retain the device within the urinary bladder of a patient to an uncoiled shape suited for insertion through the patient's urethra and into the bladder. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the solid drug formulation is in the form of a plurality of tablets. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a retention frame lumen loaded with an elastic retention frame. 
     
     
         9 . A drug delivery device comprising:
 an elongated, elastic housing having a drug reservoir lumen extending between a first closed end and a second closed end; and   a solid drug formulation, which comprises a drug, contained in the drug reservoir lumen,   wherein:   the housing comprises a tubular wall structure which comprises:
 a first annular segment formed entirely of a first material which is impermeable to the drug, and 
 a second annular segment formed at least partially of a second material which is permeable to the drug and configured to release the drug in vivo by diffusion through the second material in the second annular segment, and 
 the first annular segment has a first end which is integrally formed and connected with a first end of the second annular segment. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the solid drug formulation is in the form of a plurality of tablets.