The device consists of a stainless steel housing, a pump and custom valves to regulate the drug flow, a microprocessor, batteries, and a reservoir for the drug pill. It is currently a block the size of two teeth and strapped to the side of teeth so it hugs the inside of the cheek. Developers hope to ultimately turn it into a replacement tooth.
The unit can be removed from the mouth, where a technician can refill the drug reservoir, clean the system, and replace the battery if needed.
IntelliDrug also has a communication port that allows the user to control the device via remote control with hopes of eventually linking it with a cellular phone or to a nearby hospital or care center.
"This approach combines dentistry with software, communication and technology," Wolff said.
Ongoing clinical trials, on pigs, have been successful. Dr. Axel Schumacher, who is helping design the pumps, said he hopes to have a prototype ready for human testing by the end of the year. Schumacher works for the research institute HSG-IMIT, which is based in southern Germany.
So far, the prototypes can only be worn for a limited period. There are hopes that when the components become small enough, they can become a permanent fixture.
The concept of IntelliDrug could solve the problem of compliance, said Dr. Charles Smith, professor of pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina. While he isn't familiar with the device, he said, "Having an automated delivery system might be interesting."
