Systems and methods for drug delivery

Abstract

A wearable device for monitoring the body parameters of an individual and for delivering a drug and/or therapeutic agent. The device comprises a processing unit and a drug delivery unit. The processing unit comprises a sensor to determine body parameters of a user; a reservoir to store the drug; a processor to receive signals indicative of the body parameters from the sensor and determine a quantity of the drug to be delivered from the reservoir based on the body parameters; and a signal generator to generate electrical signals based on control instructions received from the processor. The drug delivery unit comprises a chamber to receive the determined quantity of the drug from the reservoir and a transducer connected to the chamber, wherein the transducer transdermally delivers the drug from the chamber to skin based on an electrical signal received from the signal generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling administration of a substance to a user, the system comprising:
 a wearable device including
 a biosensor for non-invasively monitoring one or more parameters on skin of the user; 
 a processor coupled to the biosensor for determining, based on the one or more parameters, a quantity of the substance to be administered; 
 a transducer for trans-dermally administering the determined quantity of the substance to the skin of the subject; and 
   a band for detachably attaching the wearable device to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber and a transdermal patch, each coupled to the transducer, wherein the chamber receives the determined quantity of the substance and the transdermal patch is adhesively coupled to the skin of the subject, wherein the transdermal administering is achieved via the transdermal patch. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a signal generator for generating electrical signals, wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric plate that, responsive to the electrical signals, generates ultrasonic vibrations that facilitate widening of pores on the skin and the transdermal patch and dispenses the determined quantity of the substance through the pores of the skin from the transdermal patch. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a reservoir for maintaining a predetermined amount of substance, a tube connecting the reservoir and the chamber for delivering the determined quantity from the reservoir to the chamber, and a pump for regulating the administering of the substance from the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface disposed in the band for communicably coupling the processor and the transducer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the tube is disposed within the band. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display for displaying a user interface, the one or more parameters, and the determined quantity. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer is located in the chamber and the transdermal patch is disposed below the chamber, and wherein the transducer is made of piezoelectric material selected from any of piezo-ceramic polymer composites, lead zirconate titanate, polyvinyl fluoride, thin-film zinc oxide, lead titanate, lead metaniobate, barium titanate and modified lead titanate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transdermal patch encapsulates the substance received from the chamber and provides a controlled release of the substance into the pores of the skin. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transdermal patch comprises a plurality of layers of a porous membrane that allow the substance to pass to the skin, each of the plurality of layers comprises a coupling medium and the ultrasonic vibrations alternately compress and stretch a molecular spacing in the substance and the coupling medium. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controllably administering a substance to a user, the method comprising steps of:
 providing a wearable device including a biosensor, a processor coupled to the biosensor and a transducer;   detachably attaching, using a fastener, the wearable device to the user;   non-invasively monitoring, via the biosensor, one or more parameters of the user;   determining, by the processor from the one or more parameters, a quantity of the substance to be administered; and   administering, trans-dermally by the transducer, the determined quantity of the substance to the user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the wearable device further includes a chamber and a transdermal patch, each coupled to the transducer, and further comprising the steps of:
 receiving in the chamber the determined quantity of the substance; and   adhesively attaching the transdermal patch is to the user,   wherein the step of administering is achieved via the transdermal patch.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wearable device further includes a signal generator and the transducer comprises a piezoelectric plate and further comprising a step of
 generating electrical signals and, ultrasonic vibrations, responsive to the electrical signals, that facilitate widening of pores on the skin of the user and the transdermal patch and dispenses the determined quantity of the substance through the pores of the skin from the transdermal patch.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wearable device further includes a reservoir, a tube connecting the reservoir and the chamber, and a pump, and further comprising the steps of:
 maintaining a pre-determined amount of substance in the reservoir;   delivering the determined quantity from the reservoir to the chamber; and   regulating the administering of the substance from the reservoir via the pump.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener further comprises a band having a communication interface for communicably coupling the processor and the transducer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tube is disposed within the fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the wearable device further includes a display and further comprising a step of displaying a user interface, the one or more parameters, and the determined quantity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the transducer is located in the chamber and the transdermal patch is disposed below the chamber and wherein the transducer is made of piezoelectric material selected from any of piezo-ceramic polymer composites, lead zirconate titanate, polyvinyl fluoride, thin-film zinc oxide, lead titanate, lead metaniobate, barium titanate and modified lead titanate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving the substance from the chamber;   encapsulating the substance in the transdermal patch; and   controllably releasing the substance into the pores of the skin.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transdermal patch comprises a plurality of layers of a porous membrane that allow the substance to pass to the skin, each of the plurality of layers comprises a coupling medium and the ultrasonic vibrations alternately compress and stretch a molecular spacing in the substance and the coupling medium.