Enhanced drug delivery pill

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016015648-A1
Application number	US-201414319808-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2014
Priority date	Jul 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ingestible pill includes a coating configured to dissolve in a small intestine; a core, which includes a medication-delivery element, which (a) has a compressed shape when disposed within the coating, and (b) is configured to assume, after the coating dissolves, an expanded shape; a medication; and a mucoadhesive. When unconstrained in the expanded shape, the medication-delivery element (a) is shaped so as to define first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the medication-delivery element, which have respective outer perimeters, which surround respective spaces of the respective surfaces, which spaces have respective greatest dimensions equal to between 2 and 10 cm, and each of which spaces has an area equal to at least 50% of the square of the greatest dimension; and (b) has an average thickness between the first and the second surfaces of less than 6 mm. Each of the medication and the mucoadhesive at least partially coats the first surface.

First claim

1 . Apparatus comprising an ingestible pill, which comprises:
a coating configured to dissolve in a small intestine of a subject; a core, which comprises a medication-delivery element, which (a) has a compressed shape when disposed within the coating, and (b) is configured to assume, after the coating dissolves, an expanded shape; a medication; and a mucoadhesive, wherein, when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape:
the medication-delivery element is shaped so as to define first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the medication-delivery element, which first and second surfaces have respective outer perimeters, which surround respective spaces of the respective surfaces, which spaces have respective greatest dimensions equal to between 2 and 10 cm, and each of which spaces has an area equal to at least 50% of the square of the greatest dimension thereof, and
the medication-delivery element has an average thickness between the first and the second surfaces of less than 6 mm,
wherein each of the medication and the mucoadhesive at least partially coats the first surface.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the area of each of the spaces is equal to at least 75% of the square of the greatest dimension thereof.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the greatest dimensions are at least 3 cm.

4 - 5 . (canceled)

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the medication-delivery element, when unconstrained in the expanded shape, is generally flat.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the mucoadhesive, by weight, is disposed on the first surface.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the medication, by weight, is disposed on the first surface.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least 75% of the first surface faces at least partially radially outwardly, when the medication-delivery element has the compressed shape when disposed within the coating.

13 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the average thickness is at least 1 mm when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the average thickness is less than 4 mm when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape.

24 - 39 . (canceled)

40 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the medication-delivery element comprises a biodegradable polymer mixed with a flexible material.

41 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the medication-delivery element, when unconstrained in the expanded shape, is shaped so as to define one or more openings therethrough.

42 . The apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein the medication-delivery element, when unconstrained in the expanded shape, is shaped so as to define a plurality of openings therethrough.

43 . The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein an aggregate area of the plurality of openings equals at least 10% of the area of the space surrounded by the outer perimeter of the first surface, when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape.

44 - 46 . (canceled)

47 . The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein an average area of the plurality of openings equals at least 0.5% of the area of the space surrounded by the outer perimeter of the first surface, when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape.

48 - 52 . (canceled)

53 . The apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein an area of one of the one or more openings equals between 25% and 90% of the area of the space surrounded by the outer perimeter of the first surface, when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape.

54 . The apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein the area of the one of the one or more openings equals between 50% and 85% of the area of the space surrounded by the outer perimeter of the first surface, when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape.

55 - 61 . (canceled)

62 . The apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein an average width of the medication-delivery element, measured between the outer perimeter of the first surface and the one of the one or more openings, equals at least 3 times the average thickness, when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape.

63 - 67 . (canceled)

68 . The apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein, when the medication-delivery element has the compressed shape, the medication-delivery element is in a folded configuration that is rolled.

69 . The apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein, when the medication-delivery element has the compressed shape, the medication-delivery element is in a folded configuration that is twisted.

70 - 76 . (canceled)

77 . A method comprising:
receiving, by a subject, an ingestible pill, which includes (i) a coating configured to dissolve in a small intestine of the subject, and (ii) a core, which includes a medication-delivery element, which (a) has a compressed shape when disposed within the coating, and (b) is configured to assume, after the coating dissolves, an expanded shape, (iii) a medication, and (iv) a mucoadhesive; and swallowing the ingestible pill by the subject, so that the coating dissolves in the small intestine and the medication-delivery element assumes the expanded shape, wherein, when the medication-delivery element is unconstrained in the expanded shape:
the medication-delivery element is shaped so as to define first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the medication-delivery element, which first and second surfaces have respective outer perimeters, which surround respective spaces of the respective surfaces, which spaces have respective greatest dimensions equal to between 2 and 10 cm, and each of which spaces has an area equal to at least 50% of the square of the greatest dimension thereof, and
the medication-delivery element has an average thickness between the first and the second surfaces of less than 6 mm,
wherein each of the medication and the mucoadhesive at least partially coats the first surface.

78 - 195 . (canceled)

196 . Apparatus comprising an ingestible pill, which comprises:
a coating configured to dissolve in a small intestine of a subject; and a core, which comprises a medication-delivery ring, which (a) has a compressed shape when disposed within the coating, (b) is configured to assume, after the coating dissolves, an expanded shape, and (c) comprises a medication, wherein, when the medication-delivery ring is unconstrained in the expanded shape, the medication-delivery ring has (a) an outer perimeter of between 6 and 30 cm, and (b) a thickness, measured in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the outer perimeter, of less than 0.5 cm, and wherein the medication-delivery ring is configured such that the medication contacts an intestinal wall of the subject when the medication-delivery ring has the expanded shape.

197 - 198 . (canceled)

199 . The apparatus according to claim 196 , wherein the thickness is less than 0.3 cm wh

Assignees

• Rainbow Medical Ltd

Inventors

• Gross Yossi
• Sohn Zev

Classifications

• A61K9/4808 Primary

  characterised by the form of the capsule or the structure of the filling; Capsules containing small tablets; Capsules with outer layer for immediate drug release (capsules filled with granules or microparticles A61K9/16; filled with microcapsules or coated microparticles A61K9/50; with mixture of different granules, microcapsules, (coated) microparticles A61K9/5084) · CPC title

• A61M31/00

  Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body (A61M25/00 takes precedence {; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008}) · CPC title

• A61K9/48

  Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate {(A61K9/0004 takes precedence; bite capsules A61K9/0056)} · CPC title

• A61K9/0065

  Forms with gastric retention, e.g. floating on gastric juice, adhering to gastric mucosa, expanding to prevent passage through the pylorus · CPC title