FR2613942A1 - DEVICE FOR SLOWLY DELIVERING CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, IN PARTICULAR IN CAVITIES OF THE BODY OF AN ANIMAL - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A DEVICE FOR BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE VAGINAL CAVITY OF AN ANIMAL AND FOR PRODUCING A CONTROLLED RATE OF RELEASE OF CHEMICAL IMPREGNANTS INTO THE BODY OF THE ANIMAL. THE DEVICE INCLUDES A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT 2 PROVIDED WITH A FIRST MATRIX LAYER 20 CONTAINING ONE OR MORE CHEMICAL IMPREGNANTS SUCH AS PROGESTERONE, PART OR ALL OF THIS FIRST MATRIX LAYER 20 BEING PROTECTED BY A SECOND MATRIX LAYER 7 OF SUCH MATRIX 7, ON INSERTION INTO AN ANIMAL BODY, AN EXPOSED PART OF THE FIRST MATRIX LAYER 20 IS LEASED TO RELEASE CHEMICAL IMPREGNANTS AND, AT THE END OF A CERTAIN TIME, ACTION OF THE FLUIDS FROM THE ANIMAL BODY ON THE PROTECTIVE LAYER 7 PRODUCES A RELEASE OF CHEMICAL IMPREGNANTS FROM PREVIOUSLY PROTECTED PARTS OF THE FIRST MATRIX LAYER 20, IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH, AFTER INSERTION INTO AN ANIMAL, IT IS PRODUCED WITH DESIRABLE CONCENTRATIONS OF THE CHEMICAL IMPREGNANTS CONTAINED IN THIS DEVICE. APPLICATION TO LIVESTOCK FACILITIES.

Description

The present invention relates to devices which are adapted for

  slowly release chemicals such as hormones, drugs and

  mineral substances and it relates more specifically to

  but not exclusively to devices that are suitable for use in body cavities

  animals, including vaginal cavities.

  An object of the present invention is to create a device adapted to slowly release chemicals such as hormones, drugs and minerals and which, at least, allows the public

to have a useful choice.

  Accordingly, according to one aspect of the invention, this relates to a device for introduction into a cavity of the body of an animal and to produce a controlled rate of release of chemical impregnants into the body of the animal. , said device comprising a body-element, said body-element having a first matrix layer forming part of at least one zone of

  the surface of said element-body, the first matrix layer

  comprising an impregnated material which has been impregnated with one or more chemical impregnants which are released from said material when exposed to fluids of the body of the animal, a part or all of the first matrix layer being protected by a second protective matrix layer such that, upon insertion into an animal, an exposed portion of said first matrix layer is leached to release said chemical impregnants and, after a time, an action of body fluids on said protective matrix layer produced or allows a release of chemical impregnants from previously protected portions of said first matrix layer in sufficient quarlities so as to lengthen the period of time during which it occurs, after insertion into the animal, leaching release of desirable concentration levels of said chemical impregnants from the device.

  Other features and advantages of the

  will be highlighted later in the

  description, given by way of non-limiting example, in

  reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of an intravaginal device according to the invention and shown in an "open attitude"; Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in a "closed" arrangement as for an insertion; FIG. 3 shows the details of the articulations forming part of a structure of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the device of FIG.

  Figure 1, with another form of removal filament.

  S15 In the drawings is represented a form of.

  intravaginal device in which a body-element 2 is mounted on a flexible flexible frame 1, said element-body 2 comprising several, and

  preferably two articulated branches 3, by means of articulated

  flexible terms 4, intrinsically elastic. A first matrix or skin layer 20 of polymers, preferably liquid silicone rubber, covers a portion of the main body member 2. A second matrix or skin layer 7 of polymers, also formed of liquid silicone rubber, is then deposited to partially or completely cover the first layer 20 on the branches 3 and the main body element 2 and thus to form a protective matrix on a part or the whole of the first matrix layer 20. A gap 10 is provided on the inner faces of the branches in areas adjacent to the joints 4 to facilitate the easy closure of the branches towards each other. Projections 5 provided on the limbs 3 and 6 of the element 2 facilitate placement and holding in position at least the first layer 20. The first polymeric matrix layer 20 constitutes a drug support and release matrix and it advantageously contains a high concentration of progesterone as a chemical impregnant and it could also contain an accelerator to increase the release rate of progesterone,

  for example Cetiol "A". It goes without saying that we could use

  other chemical impregnants. The part of the second matrix layer 7 which covers the first matrix layer 20 may be formed of an active or inactive material. By the term "active ingredient" is meant a matrix similar to the first matrix but containing a lower concentration of

  progesterone and preferably not containing the accelerating

  for example the Cetiol "A", but which may contain a

  substance delaying the activation of the active ingredient.

  By the term "inactive material" is meant a matrix layer which protects the first layer against action by body fluids but which is removed either by erosion or by leaching for a period of time under the action of fluids. of the body, or which is of a porous or non-porous nature, thus controlling, and preferably limiting, access of fluids from the body of the animal to the first matrix 20 which is

thus protected.

  The relative extents of the protected and non-protected parts

  protected from the first layer 20, the presence of an

  chemical impregnation in the protective layer, or the absence of a chemical impregnating agent in this layer, as well as the relative impregnating power of the chemical impregnants used, are all determined by the requirements of the particular animals with regard to the period during which leaching is desired, the necessary leaching force of the impregnant at specified times during this period as well as other factors which correspond to design details and which are controlled by the designer of the device. However, it is obvious that the invention is directed to a device that can be designed to allow leaching release of necessary levels of impregnator concentration from the device for a period of time whose onset and duration can be controlled within limits. practice. An eyelet 8 placed at the outer end of the main body member 2 allows insertion and attachment of a removal cord or filament 9, but alternatively and as shown in FIG. removal filament 12 which is integral with the skin or molded coating 7 on the main body element but

  which is preferably secured to the frame 1.

  The frame 1 can be made by molding a flexible and non-toxic thermoplastic material

  appropriate, such as nylon or polypropylene, preferably

  a thermoplastic material having a relatively high heat bending temperature, so as to resist distortion during firing of the liquid silicone rubber, if it is used for the drug support matrix, or for oppose hot deformation during injection molding if another thermoplastic material, such as EVA, is used

  for the drug support matrix.

  The drug carrier polymer matrices are shaped so that the portion of the second polymer matrix 7 surrounding the element 2 has a

circular right section.

  The polymer matrices 11 placed around the branches 3 have a semicircular cross-section so that when the two branches of the framework are

  folded together as shown in Figure 2, they form

  A combined circular cross-section and they have cross-sectional dimensions which form an extension of the die 7 on the elements 2, having approximately the same outside diameter. We could

  provide for more than two, for example three branches 3

  to obtain by folding a circular cross section and again having substantially the same

  combined cross-sectional dimensions that the main body

  pal 2. Typically, the body-element 2 is longer than the branches 3, the element 2 having for example a length

  about twice that of branches 3.

  In use, the device is introduced into an animal and an initial leaching of progesterone from an unprotected portion of the matrix layer 20 demonstrates the known tendency of a high level release of chemical impregnants, which then decreases after a certain period of time. As the chemical impregnator, eg progesterone in unprotected portions of the first matrix, is consumed, the protected portion of the first matrix then releases impregnating agent as the protective coating is either removed by leaching, or made porous, or when the action of fluids of the body of the animal on the protected matrix allows this action. As a result, the concentration of released chemical impregnants is obtained for a longer period than this

  that it is possible to obtain with the known devices.

  Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown, from which we can provide other modes and other embodiments, without departing from the

framework of the invention.

Claims (7)

  A device intended to be introduced into a cavity of the body of an animal and to produce a controlled rate of release of chemical impregnants into the body of the animal, said device comprising an element-body (2), said element- body having a first matrix layer (20) forming part of at least one area of the surface of said body member, the first matrix layer (20) containing an impregnated material which has been impregnated with one or more chemical impregnants which are released of said material when exposed to fluids of the body of the animal, some or all of the first matrix layer (20) being protected by a second protective matrix layer (7) so that, when an insertion into an animal, an exposed portion of said first matrix layer (20) is leached to release said chemical impregnants and, after a period of time, a fluid action of the body on said protective matrix layer produced or allows release of chemical impregnants from previously protected portions of said first layer   matrix (20) in sufficient quantities so as to enable   the period of time, after insertion into the animal, a release by leaching of desirable levels of   chemical impregnants from the device.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first matrix layer (20) contains a chemical impregnant provided with a high concentration of progesterone, with or without the addition of a substance   which increases the rate of release of progesterone.   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second protective matrix layer (7) contains a lower concentration of chemical impregnant in a corresponding support, said support being arranged to be removed by leaching or otherwise made capable of transmitting chemical impregnator from the second protective matrix layer (7) and / or from previously protected portions of said first matrix layer (20) for removal by   leaching by fluids from the body of the animal.   4. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that said second protective matrix layer (7) protects only a part   said first matrix layer (20).   5. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 4, characterized in that said body member (2) is mounted on a frame (1) on which are fixed a plurality of branches (3).   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said branches (3) have dimensions and are   foldable in such a way that the size and dimensions   cross sections of said folded and   when they are in a folded position, are substantially the same as the size and   body dimensions (2) with matrix covering of the arrangement operative part.   7. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 6, to be inserted into the vaginal cavity of an animal.