An Implantable Microfabricated Drug Delivery System
We report on the development of a fully implantable drug delivery system capable of delivering hundreds of individual doses. This product is intended for the controlled release of potent therapeutic compounds that might otherwise require frequent injections. Our system has the following capabilities: • Stable, hermetic storage of therapeutic drugs in solid, liquid, or gel form; • Individual storage of discrete doses for multiple-drug regimens; • Wireless communication with an external controller for device monitoring and therapy modification; • Choice of preprogrammed release or release on command; • Controlled pulsatile or continuous release. MicroCHIPS’ drug release technology has been successfully demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. We are proceeding with long-term in vivo studies of a fully implantable device containing one hundred individual doses. A future device intended for human clinical trials will contain four hundred doses, enough for a daily release of drug for more than one year.