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  Systems and methods for intra-oral drug deliveryRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Having Intra-oral Dispensing MeansThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060115785. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention is related to systems and methods for intra-oral drug delivery. [0002] As noted in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,382 entitled "Methods and systems for concurrent tooth repositioning and substance delivery," the content of which is incorporated herewith, the repositioning of teeth may be accomplished with the use of a series of removable elastic positioning appliances such as the Invisalign.RTM. system available from Align Technology, Inc., the assignee of the present invention. Such appliances have a thin shell of elastic material that generally conforms to a patient's teeth but is slightly out of alignment with an initial or immediately prior tooth configuration. Placement of the elastic positioner over the teeth applies controlled forces in specific locations to gradually move the teeth into the new configuration. Repetition of this process with successive appliances comprising new configurations eventually moves the teeth through a series of intermediate configurations or alignment patterns to a final desired configuration. A full description of an exemplary elastic polymeric positioning appliance is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,893, and in published PCT application WO 98/58596, the content of these documents are incorporated by reference for all purposes. [0003] The appliance is effective in repositioning teeth when it is placed over the patient's teeth. Removal of the appliance for any reason interrupts the treatment plan and lengthens the overall period of treatment. Therefore, removal of the appliance should be minimized for effective and timely treatment. However, a number of dental and periodontal therapies which may be desired or required by the patient may not be effectively utilized while the appliance is in place. Such therapies may be prescribed by a practitioner to improve oral health or they may be requested by the patient for cosmetic purposes. [0004] The '382 patent discloses devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patient's mouth. The '382 system eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance. [0005] United States Patent Application 20040115587, the content of which is incorporated herewith, discloses an orthodontic treatment involving applying force to reposition teeth and administering a tissue remodeling and/or an angiogenic substance(s) to the periodontal tissue surrounding the teeth to be moved. The substance(s) may be delivered before, during, or after the teeth are moved, and the substance(s) may be selectively applied only to those teeth undergoing movement at any particular time. The substance(s) may be applied from the dental repositioning appliance or may be applied separately, either topically or by injection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary method for intra-oral delivery of a substance to an individual. [0007] FIGS. 2A-2B are exemplary removable appliances adapted to fit over teeth on a jaw. [0008] FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of the appliance of FIG. 2B on an exemplary tooth. [0009] FIG. 2D is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2C without the tooth and gum line. [0010] FIGS. 2E-2F show additional embodiments of appliances for delivery of drugs or agents. [0011] FIG. 3 illustrates another drug delivery system. [0012] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate various views of a bracket with a reservoir. [0013] FIGS. 5A-5E show various embodiments of drug delivery systems. [0014] FIG. 6A illustrates an embodiment where energy is applied to an appliance to effect teeth movement or drug delivery. [0015] FIG. 6B illustrates an embodiment where energy is applied to wires to effect teeth movement or drug delivery. SUMMARY [0016] Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs. [0017] Advantages of the system include one or more of the following. The system enables drugs or therapeutic agents to be delivered through the mouth. The system provides ideal drug delivery for certain diseases relating to periodontics, tooth surface, endodontics, and diseases associated with cancer and medical conditions. [0018] For dental diseases, the system is placed so that release of the therapeutic agent occurs in the immediate vicinity of the disease process. As the volume of distribution is limited to the volume of gum pocket or crevice, relatively high concentrations of therapeutic agent can be delivered by devices with small therapeutic agent reservoir capacities. The small amount of therapeutic agent required under these conditions, typically a few milligrams, greatly reduces the effect of the therapeutic agent at distal sites within the body, thereby greatly decreasing the potential for systemic side effects. Thus, a high degree of effectiveness is achieved using a relatively small amount of drug. DESCRIPTION Appliance for Drug Delivery [0019] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary method for intra-oral delivery of a substance to an individual such as a patient, for example. The substance can be a drug or a bio-active agent, among others. The process of FIG. 1 includes attaching the substance to an oral structure (10) and allowing the substance to intra-orally interact with the body of the individual (12). In one embodiment, the substance is fluidly provided from the oral structure into the body at a predetermined rate. The substance eventually affects or alters the individual's physiology in a desired manner (14). The term "oral structure" refers to all areas within the mouth, including teeth, gingiva, cheeks, gums, lips, tongue, thorax, back of the throat, and beneath the tongue. Continue reading... Full patent description for Systems and methods for intra-oral drug delivery Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Systems and methods for intra-oral drug delivery patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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