ABSTRACT
JORGE HELLER / SRI In te rna t iona l , Menlo Pa rk , California
I . Diffusion-Controlled Devices 180
A. Monolithic Devices 180 B . Reservoir Devices 181 C. Examples of Diffusional Devices 184
I I . Solvent-Control led Devices 187
A. Osmotically Controlled Devices 187 B . Examples of Osmotic Devices 188 C. Swelling-Controlled Devices 190
III . Chemically Controlled Devices 191
A. Polymer Erosion Mechanisms 192 B . D r u g Release Mechanisms 193
References 210
Other than mechanicial p u m p s , all controlled re lease devices use polymers in t he r a t e control mechanism. Discussion of t he var ious devices for the release of active agents can be convenient ly classified into (a) diffusion-controlled devices , (b) solvent-control led devices , and (c) chemically controlled dev ices .
