Patent ID: 7917208

Claim:
A medical device for controlled drug delivery in cardiac care in a patient comprising: an implantable drug delivery module which comprises a plurality of reservoirs, a release system contained in each of the reservoirs, wherein the release system comprises at least one drug, a plurality of discrete electrically conductive reservoir caps separating the release system from an environment outside of the reservoirs, and a means for disintegrating one or more of the reservoir caps by electrothermal ablation to release the drug from one or more of the reservoirs; one or more electrodes or sensors for operable engagement with a cardiac tissue of a patient, wherein the one or more electrodes or sensors are useful for cardiac monitoring, cardiac stimulation, or both; and at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the cardiac electrode or sensor, wherein the means for disintegrating by electrothermal ablation comprises (i) an electrical input lead and an electrical output lead which are in direct physical and electrical connection to at least one of said reservoir caps, (ii) a power source, and (iii) a control means for controlling application of an electric current from the power source through said at least one of the reservoir caps, via the input and output leads.