Importance

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Abstract

A low-profile multipathway automatic drug delivery system utilizing a battery powered control pad coupled to a disposable drug storage and delivery system and strapped to a patient's limb or torso. A preprogrammed or on-demand drug administration sequence is input to the control pad. When a drug is to be administered, the control pad ignites a high energy density propellant charge in the drug delivery system. Expanding propellant gas exerts pressure on a drug in a second chamber and forces it from the storage reservoir. Depending upon the type of drug delivery system required for the drug being administered, the propellant will either: (i) force a hypodermic needle into a patient's muscle tissue, propel the drug in the storage container into the needle embedded in the patient, and withdraw the needle; (ii) force the drug from the storage container through a jet nozzle where the drug is injected into subcutaneous tissue; (iii) force the drug from the storage container into a patch for passive transdermal delivery; (iv) force the drug into a patch for iontophoretic transdermal diffusion; or (v) force together two drugs stored separately that are unstable when mixed, and then administer them through one of the methods described in steps (i) to (iv).

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First Claim