Patent ID: 6569152
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: A61K,A61P

Abstract:
A device for the continuous, linear, sustained release of one or more solutes comprising at least one dispenser, said dispenser comprisingi) a solute reservoir element, said solute reservoir element defined by a fluid-impervious and solute-impervious wall and comprising a shape of a hemisphere, said hemisphere having a flat face, a center of said flat face, and a radius; ii) a source element in said wall, said source element consisting of a circular passageway at said center of said flat face of said hemisphere, said source element having a radius, said passageway allowing the diffusion of a solute from said solute reservoir element into a gradient-forming element; iii) a gradient-forming element in fluid registry with said source element and into which said solute diffuses from said solute reservoir element, said gradient-forming element having a fluid-impervious and solute impervious wall and a shape of a truncated right circular cone with a base, a vertex, and a height from said base to said vertex; iv) a release orifice defined by said vertex of said gradient-forming element for the diffusion of said solute from said dispenser, said release orifice having a radius; wherein a ratio of said radius of said hemisphere to said radius of said source element is equal to or greater than about two, and said height of said gradient-forming element is equal to or less than about four times a ratio of said radius of said source element squared to said radius of said release orifice, and equal to or greater than about 0.1 times said ratio of said radius of said source element squared to said radius of said release orifice.