Injectable controlled release fluid delivery system

Abstract

Embodiments of a material delivery device including a deformable reservoir and associated controllable output mechanism are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, a material delivery device may be placed in an animal in order to controllably dispense at least one material into the animal. The material delivery device may include a programmable mechanism to control the release of the material into the animal. In selected embodiments, a remote controller may be used to program or to control the material delivery device. Some embodiments are described wherein a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.

1 . An injectable material delivery device deployable in an animal, comprising:
 at least one deformable reservoir configured to receive, retain and dispense at least one material, including at least one outlet through which the at least one material may exit the at least one deformable reservoir; and   at least one controllable output mechanism operably linked to the at least one outlet to control the dispensing of at least a portion of the at least one material from the at least one deformable reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformable reservoir further comprises at least one inlet mechanism for receiving external delivery of material while deployed in the animal. 
     
     
         3 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further including RFID circuitry. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is a human. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor, at least one timer, at least one counter. 
     
     
         13 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a quantity of the at least one material in the at least one deformable reservoir. 
     
     
         19 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising hardware, firmware or software configured to control the at least one controllable output mechanism. 
     
     
         25 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one memory location for recording information. 
     
     
         29 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one memory location is configured to record information regarding at least one of a sensed condition, history, or performance of the device. 
     
     
         32 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes a MEMS device or a NEMS device. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes at least one thermally, magnetically, electrically or electromagnetically responsive material. 
     
     
         41 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A material delivery system, comprising:
 at least one material delivery device configured for injection into an animal, including:
 at least one deformable reservoir configured to receive, retain and dispense at least one material, including at least one outlet through which the at least one material may exit the at least one deformable reservoir; 
 at least one controllable output mechanism operably linked to the at least one outlet to control the dispensing of at least a portion of the at least one material from the at least one deformable reservoir; and 
   at least one remote controller configured to generate and transmit at least one control signal to the at least one material delivery device.   
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one deformable reservoir further comprises at least one inlet mechanism for receiving external delivery of a material. 
     
     
         69 - 74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one material delivery device includes RFID circuitry. 
     
     
         76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the animal is a human. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 67 , further comprising at least one sensor, at least one timer, or at least one counter. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism is responsive to the at least one sensor, the at least one timer, the at least one counter, or the at least one remote controller. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the at least one sensor is located on the at least one material delivery device. 
     
     
         81 - 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises hardware, firmware or software configured to control the at least one controllable output mechanism. 
     
     
         91 - 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises at least one electronic memory location for recording information. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the at least one electronic memory location is configured to record information regarding at least one sensor, counter, remote controller or timer. 
     
     
         96 - 102 . (canceled) 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes a MEMS device or a NEMS device. 
     
     
         104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes at least one thermally, magnetically, electrically or electromagnetically responsive material. 
     
     
         106 - 131 . (canceled) 
     
     
         132 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one remote controller comprises at least one of hardware, firmware, or software configured to control transmission of the at least one control signal. 
     
     
         133 . (canceled) 
     
     
         134 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one control signal includes instructions configured to program the at least one material delivery device. 
     
     
         135 - 152 . (canceled) 
     
     
         153 . A material delivery kit, comprising:
 at least one deployment mechanism;   at least one material delivery device configured for injection into an animal, including:
 at least one deformable reservoir configured to receive, retain and controllably release at least one material, including at least one outlet through which the at least one material may be released from the at least one deformable reservoir; and 
 at least one controllable output mechanism operably linked to said at least one outlet and configured to control the release of the at least one material from the at least one deformable reservoir. 
   
     
     
         154 . The kit of  claim 153 , further comprising at least one remote controller configured to generate and transmit at least one control signal to the at least one deployable material delivery device. 
     
     
         155 . The kit of  claim 153 , further comprising at least one delivery material. 
     
     
         156 . The kit of  claim 153 , wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises at least one inlet mechanism for receiving external delivery of at least one material. 
     
     
         157 - 161 . (canceled) 
     
     
         162 . The kit of  claim 153 , wherein the at least one deployable material delivery device includes RFID circuitry. 
     
     
         163 . (canceled) 
     
     
         164 . The kit of  claim 153 , wherein the at least one deployable material delivery device further comprises at least one sensor, at least one timer, or at least one counter. 
     
     
         165 . (canceled) 
     
     
         166 . The kit of  claim 164 , wherein the at least one sensor is located on the at least one deployable material delivery device. 
     
     
         167 - 175 . (canceled) 
     
     
         176 . The kit of  claim 153 , wherein the at least one deployable material delivery device further comprises hardware, firmware or software configured to control the at least one controllable output mechanism. 
     
     
         177 . The kit of  claim 176 , wherein the at least one deployable material delivery device further comprises at least one control circuitry configured to activate the at least one controllable output mechanism. 
     
     
         178 - 179 . (canceled) 
     
     
         180 . The kit of  claim 177 , wherein the at least one deployable material delivery device further comprises at least one electronic memory location for recording information. 
     
     
         181 - 188 . (canceled) 
     
     
         189 . The kit of  claim 153 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes a MEMS device or a NEMS device. 
     
     
         190 . (canceled) 
     
     
         191 . The kit of  claim 153 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes at least one thermally, magnetically, electrically or electromagnetically responsive material. 
     
     
         192 - 217 . (canceled) 
     
     
         218 . The kit of  claim 154 , wherein the at least one remote controller comprises at least one of hardware, firmware, or software configured to control transmission of the at least one control signal. 
     
     
         219 - 237 . (canceled) 
     
     
         238 . The kit of  claim 155 , wherein the at least one delivery material comprises at least one therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         239 . (canceled) 
     
     
         240 . The kit of  claim 155 , wherein the at least one delivery material is a fluid. 
     
     
         241 . The kit of  claim 238 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent comprises an immunogenic amount of at least one vaccine. 
     
     
         242 - 246 . (canceled) 
     
     
         247 . The kit of  claim 238 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anti-infective agent. 
     
     
         248 . The kit of  claim 247 , wherein the at least one anti-infective agent includes at least one anti-viral agent. 
     
     
         249 . The kit of  claim 247 , wherein the at least one anti-infective agent includes at least one anti-microbial agent. 
     
     
         250 - 251 . (canceled) 
     
     
         252 . The kit of  claim 238 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat malaria. 
     
     
         253 . (canceled) 
     
     
         254 . The kit of  claim 238 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat tuberculosis. 
     
     
         255 . The kit of  claim 238 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat leschmaniasis. 
     
     
         256 . The kit of  claim 238 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat cholera. 
     
     
         257 . (canceled) 
     
     
         258 . The kit of  claim 238 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat diphtheria. 
     
     
         259 - 264 . (canceled) 
     
     
         265 . The kit of  claim 153 , wherein the at least one deployment mechanism is a syringe. 
     
     
         266 . A method of delivering at least one material to an animal, comprising:
 injecting at least one material delivery device into an in vivo environment of the animal, the at least one material delivery device including at least one deformable reservoir configured to receive, retain and controllably dispense the at least one material, and including at least one outlet, and at least one controllable output mechanism operably linked to the at least one outlet; and   delivering a quantity of the at least one material into the at least one deformable reservoir;   wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism dispenses the at least one material in response to at least one control signal.   
     
     
         267 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one deformable reservoir further comprises at least one inlet mechanism for receiving external delivery of a material. 
     
     
         268 - 272 . (canceled) 
     
     
         273 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one material delivery device includes RFID circuitry. 
     
     
         274 . (canceled) 
     
     
         275 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the animal is a human. 
     
     
         276 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises at least one sensor, at least one timer, or at least one counter. 
     
     
         277 . (canceled) 
     
     
         278 . The method of  claim 276 , wherein the at least one sensor is located on the at least one material delivery device. 
     
     
         279 - 280 . (canceled) 
     
     
         281 . The method of  claim 278 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a quantity of the at least one material in the at least one deformable reservoir. 
     
     
         282 - 287 . (canceled) 
     
     
         288 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises hardware, firmware or software configured to control the at least one controllable output mechanism. 
     
     
         289 - 291 . (canceled) 
     
     
         292 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one material delivery device further comprises at least one electronic memory location for recording information. 
     
     
         293 - 298 . (canceled) 
     
     
         299 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes a MEMS device or a NEMS device. 
     
     
         300 . (canceled) 
     
     
         301 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one controllable output mechanism includes at least one thermally, magnetically, electrically or electromagnetically responsive material. 
     
     
         302 - 326 . (canceled) 
     
     
         327 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one control signal is provided by at least one remote controller. 
     
     
         328 . The method of  claim 327 , wherein the at least one remote controller comprises at least one of hardware, firmware, or software configured to control transmission of the at least one control signal. 
     
     
         329 - 346 . (canceled) 
     
     
         347 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one material comprises at least one therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         348 . (canceled) 
     
     
         349 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the at least one material is a fluid. 
     
     
         350 . The method of  claim 347 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent comprises an therapeutically immunogenic amount of at least one vaccine. 
     
     
         351 - 355 . (canceled) 
     
     
         356 . The method of  claim 347 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anti-infective agent. 
     
     
         357 . The method of  claim 356 , wherein the at least one anti-infective agent includes at least one anti-viral agent. 
     
     
         358 . The method of  claim 356 , wherein the at least one anti-infective agent includes at least one anti-microbial agent. 
     
     
         359 - 361 . (canceled) 
     
     
         362 . The method of  claim 347 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat malaria. 
     
     
         363 . (canceled) 
     
     
         364 . The method of  claim 347 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat tuberculosis. 
     
     
         365 . The method of  claim 347 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat leschmaniasis. 
     
     
         366 . The method of  claim 347 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent to treat cholera. 
     
     
         367 - 374 . (canceled) 
     
     
         375 . The method of  claim 266 , wherein the animal is a mammal. 
     
     
         376 - 380 . (canceled) 
     
     
         381 . A method of delivering at least one therapeutic agent to an animal comprising:
 injecting a material delivery device into an in vivo environment of the animal; the material delivery device including at least one deformable reservoir configured to receive, retain and controllably release a therapeutic agent, and including at least one outlet; and at least one controllable output mechanism operably linked to the at least one outlet;   delivering a quantity of at least one therapeutic agent into the at least one deformable reservoir; and   transmitting an electromagnetic control signal to sufficient to activate the at least one controllable output mechanism to cause a release of a portion of the at least one therapeutic agent from the at least one deformable reservoir.   
     
     
         382 . (canceled)