US Patent 7592016 Methods for preparing and using implantable substance delivery devices

Method for preparing an implantable device for a sustained delivery of a substance within a body of a human or an animal subject, the method including; dissolving a biocompatible polymer in a suitable solvent solution to produce a polymer-solvent solution; adding the substance to the polymer-solvent solution to produce a polymer-solvent solution-substance admixture; drying the polymer-solvent solution-substance admixture to form a substantially dry mass; and one or more of the following three steps:(1) adding a second polymer-solvent solution-substance admixture to the dry mass and this second polymer-solvent solution-substance admixture is then allowed to dry; and/or,(2) refrigerating the mass; and/or,(3) adding a liquid to the mass to cause the mass to soften and thereafter manipulating the softened mass to a desired shape.