Osmotic delivery device with membrane plug retention mechanism

Abstract

An osmotic delivery device includes a delivery device body having a first end with a beneficial agent delivery orifice and a second open end. An expandable, semipermeable membrane plug is secured in an open end of the delivery device body by a plurality of holes formed in the delivery device body around the open end of the delivery device body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An osmotic delivery device comprising: 
 a delivery device body comprising a first end having a beneficial agent delivery orifice, and a second open end; and    an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug secured in an open end of the delivery device body by a plurality of holes formed in the delivery device body around the open end of the delivery device body.    
     
     
         2 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery device body further comprises a movable piston separating a first reservoir containing the beneficial agent from a second reservoir containing an osmotic agent and causing the beneficial agent to be delivered through the delivery orifice when the osmotic agent draws the external liquids through the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug.  
     
     
         3 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein external liquid is drawn into the delivery device body through the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug by way of the open end of the delivery device body and the plurality of holes.  
     
     
         4 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are cylindrical bores.  
     
     
         5 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced in an annular manner around a side wall of the delivery device body adjacent the open end of the delivery device body.  
     
     
         6 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivery device body has a substantially cylindrical side wall and the plurality of holes are formed in the substantially cylindrical side wall.  
     
     
         7 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 6 , wherein the substantially cylindrical side wall includes an inwardly directed annular lip at the open end of the delivery device body which provides additional retention of the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug in the delivery device body.  
     
     
         8 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 2 , wherein the movable piston is movable longitudinally in a direction defined by a longitudinal-axis of the osmotic delivery device.  
     
     
         9 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug provides a semipermeable closure of the open end of the delivery device, the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug allowing fluid to pass into the osmotic engine and preventing the osmotic engine from passing out of the capsule.  
     
     
         10 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of holes is cylindrical bores spaced in an annular manner around the side wall.  
     
     
         11 . An osmotic delivery device comprising: 
 a delivery device body comprising a first end having a beneficial agent delivery orifice, a second open end, a beneficial agent, and an osmotic agent for drawing external liquids into the delivery device body to cause the beneficial agent to be delivered; and    an expandable, semipermeable membrane plug secured in an open end of the delivery device body by a plurality of holes formed in the delivery device body around the open end of the delivery device body.    
     
     
         12 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 11 , wherein the delivery device body further comprises a movable piston separating a first reservoir containing the beneficial agent from a second reservoir containing the osmotic agent and causing the beneficial agent to be delivered through the delivery orifice when the osmotic agent draws the external liquids through the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug.  
     
     
         13 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 11 , wherein external liquid is drawn into the delivery device body through the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug by way of the open end of the delivery device body and the plurality of holes.  
     
     
         14 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of holes are cylindrical bores.  
     
     
         15 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced in an annular manner around a side wall of the delivery device body adjacent the open end of the delivery device body.  
     
     
         16 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 11 , wherein the delivery device body has a substantially cylindrical side wall and the plurality of holes are formed in the substantially cylindrical side wall.  
     
     
         17 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 16 , wherein the substantially cylindrical side wall includes an inwardly directed annular lip at the open end of the delivery device body which provides additional retention of the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug in the delivery device body.  
     
     
         18 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 12 , wherein the movable piston is movable longitudinally in a direction defined by a longitudinal axis of the osmotic delivery device.  
     
     
         19 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug provides a semipermeable closure of the open end of the delivery device, the expandable, semipermeable membrane plug allowing fluid to pass into the osmotic engine and preventing the osmotic engine from passing out of the capsule.  
     
     
         20 . The osmotic delivery device according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of holes is cylindrical bores spaced in an annular manner around the side wall.