The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 04, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1998
Rupal Ayer, Santa Clara, CA (US);
James B. Eckenhoff, late of Los Altos, CA (US);
Stephen A. Berry, Saratoga, CA (US);
Gregory R. Stewart, Marlborough, MA (US);
Scott D. Jordan, San Francisco, CA (US);
ALZA Corporation, Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
Performance of delivery systems for delivering beneficial agents to an animal are monitored to determine the delivery rate of the beneficial agent and the proper operation of the beneficial agent delivery device. Performance monitoring can be achieved by monitoring the physical configuration of the implanted osmotic delivery device from the exterior of the body to determine the amount of beneficial agent delivered and/or the delivery rate of the beneficial agent. The monitoring of the physical configuration of the implanted osmotic delivery device may be performed in different manners such as by X-ray or fluoroscopic monitoring of the implant structure or magnetic determination of a piston location within the implant. Performance monitoring can also be achieved by use of a performance marker within the beneficial agent to produce a specifically detectable response which can be measured noninvasively in body fluids or by-products.