Implantable device with magnetically rotating disk for needle‐free administrations of emergency drug

Abstract

Prompt administration of first‐aid drugs can save lives during medical emergencies such as anaphylaxis and hypoglycemia. However, this is often performed by needle self‐injection, which is not easy for patients under emergency conditions. Therefore, we propose an implantable device capable of on‐demand administration of first‐aid drugs (i.e., the implantable device with a magnetically rotating disk [iMRD]), such as epinephrine and glucagon, via a noninvasive simple application of the magnet from the outside skin (i.e., the external magnet). The iMRD contained a disk embedded with a magnet, as well as multiple drug reservoirs that were sealed with a membrane, which was designed to rotate at a precise angle only when the external magnet was applied. During this rotation, the membrane on a designated single‐drug reservoir was aligned and torn to expose the drug to the outside. When implanted in living animals, the iMRD, actuated by an external magnet, delivers epinephrine and glucagon, similar to conventional subcutaneous needle injections.

Batteryless implantable device with built-in mechanical clock for automated and precisely timed drug administration

“…Fig. 6 B exhibits the fibrotic capsule, approximately 500 μm in thickness, formed around the IDC on 0 d (i.e., 14 d after IDC implantation), as previously reported with other implantable devices ( 32 , 33 ). The capsule thickness did not increase further and stabilized after 28 d, thereby contributing to the consistent pharmacokinetic profiles of IDC-MP throughout the entire experimental period of this study.…”