Patents Assigned to Alza
  • Sustained delivery of an active agent using an implantable system
    Patent number: 6156331
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for delivering an active agent formulation for a predetermined administration period. An impermeable reservoir is divided into a water-swellable agent chamber and an active agent formulation chamber. Fluid from the environment is imbibed through a semipermeable plug into the water-swellable agent chamber and the active agent formulation is released through a back-diffusion regulating outlet. Delivery periods of up to 2 years are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Peery, Keith E. Dionne, James B. Eckenhoff, deceased, Felix A. Landrau, Scott D. Lautenbach, Judy A Magruder, Jeremy C. Wright
  • Injection-moldable composition and article of manufacture comprising same
    Patent number: 6153678
    Abstract: Polymeric compositions are disclosed comprising a poly(caprolactone), a poly(alkylene oxide), a poly(oxyethylenated fatty acid ester), or a poly(oxyethylenated fatty acid), or a poly(oxyethylene-co-oxypropylene).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Liang-Chang Dong, Crystal Pollock, Patrick S.-L. Wong, Keru O. Shafi, Vincent J. Ferrari, Ted Smith
  • System for delaying drug delivery up to seven hours
    Patent number: 6146662
    Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising means for delaying the delivery of drug from the dosage form following the administration of the dosage form to a patient in need of drug therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Jao, Patrick S.-L. Wong, Hoa T. Huynh, Kathy Mc Chesney, Pamela K. Wat
  • Stereospecific delivery of a drug using electrotransport
    Patent number: 6136327
    Abstract: Preferential delivery via electrotransport of a preferred isomeric form of a pharmaceutically active chiral compound from a mixture of the isomeric forms of said compound is provided. A method of decreasing the delivery via electrotransport of a less preferred isomer of a drug is also provided. Drug delivery devices suitable for such preferential delivery and methods of making the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Suneel K. Gupta, Gayatri Sathyan, Rama Padmanabhan
  • Osmotic delivery system and method for enhancing start-up and performance of osmotic delivery systems
    Patent number: 6132420
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an osmotically driven agent delivery system for delivering a beneficial agent. The osmotic delivery system includes an osmotic agent which operates by imbibing fluid from an outside environment, causing the release of a beneficial agent. The osmotic delivery system includes a liquid or gel additive surrounding the osmotic agent for enhancing start-up and lubricating the osmotic agent. The liquid or gel additive is an incompressible lubricating fluid which fills any air gaps between the osmotic agent and the walls of a chamber and substantially reduces start-up delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Dionne, Scott D. Lautenbach
  • Gel composition and methods
    Patent number: 6130200
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for systemically or locally administering by implantation a beneficial agent to a subject are described, and include, for example, compositions having burst indices of 8 or less for systemic applications and systems releasing 10% or less of the total dose of beneficial agent in the first 24 hours after implantation for local applications. The compositions include a biocompatible polymer, a biocompatible solvent having low water miscibility that forms a viscous gel with the polymer and limits water uptake by the implant, and a beneficial agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Brodbeck, Ann T. Gaynor-Duarte, Theodore Tao-Ian Shen
  • Non-aqueous polar aprotic peptide formulations
    Patent number: 6124261
    Abstract: This invention relates to stable non-aqueous polar aprotic formulations of peptide compounds. These stable formulations comprise peptide in non-aqueous polar aprotic solvent. They may be stored at elevated temperatures for long periods of time and are especially useful in implantable delivery devices for long term delivery of drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Cynthia L. Stevenson, Steven J. Prestrelski
  • Liposome-entrapped polynucleotide composition and method
    Patent number: 6120798
    Abstract: A liposome composition for administration of a polynucleotide and a method of preparing the composition are described. The liposomes in the suspension are composed predominantly of liposomes having a bilayer membrane formed of cationic vesicle-forming lipids and neutral vesicle forming lipids. The polynucleotide is entrapped in the central core of the liposomes and is localized predominantly on the inner surface of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Theresa M. Allen, Darrin D. Stuart
  • Prolonged release active agent dosage form adapted for gastric retention
    Patent number: 6120803
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an active agent dosage form which is adapted for retention in the stomach and useful for the prolonged delivery of an active agent formulation to a fluid environment of use. The active agent dosage form is a polymer matrix that swells upon contact with the fluids of the stomach. A portion of the polymer matrix is surrounded by a band of insoluble material that prevents the covered portion of the polymer matrix from swelling and provides a segment of the dosage form that is of sufficient rigidity to withstand the contractions of the stomach and delay expulsion of the dosage form from the stomach until substantially all of the active agent has been dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S. L. Wong, Liang-Chang Dong, David E. Edgren, Felix Theeuwes, Phyllis I. Gardner, Francisco Jao, Jason J. Wan
  • Beneficial agent delivery system with membrane plug and method for controlling delivery of beneficial agents
    Patent number: 6113938
    Abstract: An osmotic delivery system for controlled delivery of a beneficial agent includes an implant capsule containing a beneficial agent and an osmotic agent which swells on contact with water causing the release of the beneficial agent over time. The osmotic delivery system has a membrane plug which allows water to pass through the plug from an exterior of the capsule while preventing the compositions within the capsule from passing out of the capsule. A delivery rate for delivery of the beneficial agent from the implant capsule is controlled by varying a core diameter of the membrane plug within a constant diameter capsule. The membrane plug has a variable water permeation rate depending on an extent to which the membrane plug is constrained by the capsule walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Guohua Chen, Scott Lautenbach, Keith Dionne, Lawton Hom
  • Phenytoin therapy
    Patent number: 6110499
    Abstract: A therapeutic composition, a dosage form and a method are disclosed for administering phenytoin indicated for the management of epilepsy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Padmaja Shivanand, Zahedeh Hatamkhany, Barbara F. Laidlaw, Atul D. Ayer
  • Oral delivery of discrete units
    Patent number: 6106845
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an oral active agent delivery system and method for delivering discrete units of an active agent formulation to a patient. An active agent formulation chamber containing the active agent formulation and having a fluid passing active agent formulation retainer is placed at a first end into a fluid and at a second end into a patient's mouth. The active agent is delivered when the patient sips on the second end of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S. -L. Wong, Howard B. Rosen, Nathan Roth, Phyllis I. Gardner
  • Flow controller configurations for an active agent delivery device
    Patent number: 6103265
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an oral active agent delivery system comprising improved flow controllers. A hollow tubular member (10) containing the active agent formulation and having a fluid passing controller (14) is placed at one end (16) into a fluid and at a second end (18) into a patient's mouth. The active agent is delivered when the patient sips on the end of the chamber. The improved controllers prevent leakage of the active agent formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S.-L. Wong, Vincent J. Ferrari, Jeffrey W. Etter, Miriam A. Martin, Nathan Roth, Christopher M. G. Ohms, Andrew I. Poutiatine, James Horvath
  • Dosage form, process of making and using same
    Patent number: 6096339
    Abstract: The invention disclosed pertains to a dosage form comprising an agent formulation comprising drug and pharmaceutical carrier of cooperating particle size and means for dispensing the agent formulation from the dosage form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Atul D. Ayer, Andrew Lam, Judy A. Magruder, Lawrence G. Hamel, Patrick S. L. Wong
  • Closure system for an active agent delivery device
    Patent number: 6096003
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a closure system for an oral active agent delivery device. The device comprises an elongate tubular member having first and second ends. The closure system includes a deformable closure means adapted to allow delivery of the active agent upon deformation. The closure system prevents spillage and maintains the integrity of the dose within the device. In use, the closure system is deformed and separated from the second end of the tubular member, liquid is drawn up into the first end of the member, and the liquid and active agent are drawn out of the second end of the member and into the patient's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S.-L. Wong, James Horvath, Radomir N. M. Vukadin, Joyce C. Anthony, Vincent J. Ferrari, Jeffrey W. Etter, Christopher M. G. Ohms
  • Minimally invasive detecting device
    Patent number: 6091975
    Abstract: An agent detecting device comprising a plate (6) having a plurality of microprotrusions (4) for piercing the skin of a patient. Each of the microprotrusions (4) having an electrode (14, 16 and 18) thereon for detecting the presence of an agent in the patient's interstitial fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Peter E. Daddona, Gregory T. Fieldson, Avtar S. Nat, Wei-Qi Lin
  • Electrotransport delivery device
    Patent number: 6090095
    Abstract: An electrotransport delivery device (410) includes control circuitry for discontinuously delivering a beneficial agent (eg, a drug) through a body surface (eg, skin 400). For example, the device may be the type which is manually activated by the patient or other medical personnel to activate electrotransport drug delivery. Once electrotransport delivery has been activated, a timer (221) counts a transition interval, typically about one minute, during which the device is allowed to operate and the impedance of the body surface (400) is allowed to stabilize. Thereafter, the electrotransport current and voltage are then monitored and compared to predetermined limits. Allowing for the transition interval permits tighter tolerances in monitoring the applied current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Larry A. McNichols, John D. Badzinski, Ronald P. Haak
  • Electrotransport device and method of setting output
    Patent number: 6086572
    Abstract: A two-part electrotransport drug delivery device (20) is comprised of a controller (22) which has a plurality of different electronic outputs. The controller (22) is adapted to be mechanically and electrically coupled to a plurality of different drug-containing units (24). Each drug unit (24) includes a means (40, 42, Rx, Cx) for signaling the controller (22). The signal is read by the controller (22) and a predetermined electronic output is thereby selected and applied through the drug unit (24) in order to deliver the drug contained therein by electrotransport. The signal sent by the drug unit (24) to the controller (22) may be an optical signal (e.g., reflected light), a signal sent by an electro-mechanical connector, an electrical signal (e.g., resistance or capacitance), a magnetic signal or a metal detector sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Susan A. Johnson, Gary A. Lattin, Larry A. McNichols
  • Device for enhanced electrotransport agent delivery
    Patent number: 6083190
    Abstract: An electrotransport composition comprises at least one C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 lower alcohol, unsaturated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof, and at least one C.sub.8 -C.sub.4 higher alcohol, unsaturated derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. An electrotransport device and a method of increasing transdermal electrotransport flux utilize the composition of the invention for delivering pharmaceutically-acceptable agents across a body surface such as skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: J. Richard Gyory, Jane Yieh, James A. Huntington, Michel Cormier
  • Device for enhancing transdermal agent flux
    Patent number: 6083196
    Abstract: A device (3) comprising a sheet member (6) having a plurality of microprotrusions (4) for penetrating the skin and a substantially incompressible agent reservoir housing (15) contacting and extending across the sheet member (6) for transmitting a hold-down force applied the sheet member (6) to maintain the microprotrusions (4) in skin-piercing relation to the skin, even during and after normal patient body movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Creagan Trautman, Michel J. N. Cormier, Hyunok Lynn Kim, Michael G. Zuck