Evaluation of a readily-fabricated infusion device.

Abstract

Drug delivery by controlled-release devices is used extensively in clinical practice and laboratory experiments. There are many external and implantable pumps available, but their cost is high and modification, when desired, to suit any special requirement is often difficult. We have tested a plastic infusion device fabricated from materials readily available in our research laboratory. The infusion device consists of a collapsible solution reservoir protected by a double jacket with vents to prevent the permeation of the volatile propellant contained in a rigid external casing. The flow moderator is a hollow glass-fibre, and flow rates as low as 100 microliter/h or less were maintained for an extended period without becoming occluded. In vivo tests on Wistar rats using a heparin solution demonstrate that controlled release of the anticoagulant was achieved, as indicated by the delay in the normal Lee-White clotting time. Since its size, service life and flow rate may be selected to suit the infusion requirement in an experiment, the device should be readily adaptable for the delivery of other drugs.