Biopore, Inc.

Sunstorm Research Corp.

James R Benson

Nai-Hong Li

Naotaka Kitagawa

The invention relates to delivery devices and methods for providing more uniform delivery of agents such as drugs. In some embodiments, a delivery device is provided made of one or more implantable materials having predetermined agent-permeable and agent-impermeable regions and a reservoir containing one or more active agents, either alone or in an acceptable composition, as well as methods of administering one or more agents using such a device. Also provided are methods of equilibrating such devices, so that a steady state of agent delivery can be achieved at or soon after introduction of the device to its intended location of use. Methods of use of such devices to deliver an agent are also provided.

Implantable delivery device

The present invention relates to porous crosslinked polymeric microbeads having cavities joined by interconnecting pores wherein at least some of the cavities at the interior of each microbead communicate with the surface of the microbead. The present invention also relates to a process for producing a porous, crosslinked polymeric microbead as well as the product of this process. This process involves combining an oil phase with an aqueous discontinuous phase to form an emulsion, adding the emulsion to an aqueous suspension medium to form an oil-in-water suspension of dispersed emulsion droplets, and polymerizing the emulsion droplets to form microbeads. At least 10% of the microbeads produced in accordance with the present invention are substantially spherical or substantially ellipsoidal or a combination of the two.

Polymeric microbeads and methods of preparation

Polymeric microbeads

Methods of preparing polymeric microbeds

Polymeric microbeads and method of preparation

The present invention relates to porous crosslinked polymeric microbeads having cavities joined by interconnecting pores wherein at least some of the cavities at the interior of each microbead communicate with the surface of the microbead. Approximately 10% of the microbeads of the present invention are substantially spherical or substantially ellipsoid or a combination of the two. The present invention also relates to a process for producing a porous, crosslinked polymeric microbead as well as the product of this process. This process involves combining a continuous phase with an aqueous discontinuous phase to form an emulsion, adding the emulsion to an aqueous suspension medium to form an oil-in-water suspension of dispersed emulsion droplets, and polymerizing the emulsion droplets to form microbeads. Also included in the invention are modifications of the microbeads as well as methods for using the microbeads in a variety of applications.

Growing community of inventors

Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

James R Benson