Treatment of Chronic Diseases is Possible with Remote Control Implant

Release Date: 26-Sep-2019



A new Nano channel delivery system (nDS) is developed by the Researchers of Houston Methodist, which is able to deliver the medicament in a continuous and predetermined manner. The delivery can be controlled by remote control using a remote control device, and it can be used in two chronic diseases. They deliver the drug without using pumps, valves or a power supply.

 

The need of this device arise as the people with chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes and heart disease observe an medication error as they forgot the daily regimen of pills. This device eliminates such chance of error and the patient received a scheduled dosage of medication through this implant.

 

This study was published in Lab on a Chip on 25 June, which includes the all research work performed by the researchers of Houston Methodist. They work on the long term delivery of drug in rheumatoid arthritis and high blood pressure. The medications that are often administered at specific times of the day or at varying dosages based on patient needs.

 

According to the Alessandro Grattoni, Ph.D., corresponding author and chair of the department of nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute, We see this universal drug implant as part of the future of health care innovation. Some chronic disease drugs have the greatest benefit of delivery during overnight hours when it's inconvenient for patients to take oral medication. This device could vastly improve their disease management and prevent them from missing doses, simply with a medical professional overseeing their treatment remotely.

 

The implant used may be battery operate in which a microchip is incorporated. This enables the implant to setup a connection with Bluetooth and wireless communication. To deliver the drug at different rates, the microchip was programed for three different rates of drug release. The delivery rate may be standard, decreased and increased. The delivery rate is adjusted by controlling the votage.

 

 The Hoston Methodist device is implanted under the skin and uses a nanofludic membrane made with similar technology, which is used in silicon semiconductor industry. The drug dosage and schedule was designed according to the need of patient and the developed implant is able to deliver the drug for several months to a year.

 

Current drug delivery devices, such as pain or insulin implants, rely on pumping mechanisms or external ports and typically need refills every couple of months. The Houston Methodist device is implanted under the skin and uses a nanofluidic membrane made with similar technology used in the silicon semiconductor industry. The drug dosage and schedule can be tailored to each patient, and the implant delivers the drugs for many months, even a year, before refills are needed.

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