OSMOTIC PUMP Meaning and
Definition
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An osmotic pump refers to a drug delivery system designed to release medication at a controlled rate over a prolonged period, often used in pharmaceutical formulations. It operates based on the principle of osmosis, which is the movement of solvent molecules from a region of low solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. Within an osmotic pump, the active drug is enclosed in a reservoir compartment, separated from an osmotic agent by the semi-permeable membrane.
Upon coming into contact with water or bodily fluids in the surrounding environment, the osmotic agent inside the pump absorbs the liquid, consequently creating an osmotic pressure difference. This pressure difference creates a driving force that propels the drug solution or suspension out of the reservoir through small delivery orifices. The rate of fluid uptake and subsequent drug release is typically influenced by various factors, such as the drug's solubility, the permeability of the membrane, and the design of the pump.
The key advantage of an osmotic pump is its ability to provide constant drug release, leading to optimal therapeutic concentrations within the body. This steady release helps maintain a consistent drug level, avoiding the fluctuations observed with other delivery systems. Additionally, osmotic pumps typically exhibit a zero-order release profile, wherein the drug is released at a fixed rate over time, maximizing efficacy and minimizing potential side effects.
Osmotic pumps find application in a wide range of therapeutic areas, including pain management, hormone replacement therapy, and treatment of chronic conditions.
Common Misspellings for OSMOTIC PUMP
- ismotic pump
- ksmotic pump
- lsmotic pump
- psmotic pump
- 0smotic pump
- 9smotic pump
- oamotic pump
- ozmotic pump
- oxmotic pump
- odmotic pump
- oemotic pump
- owmotic pump
- osnotic pump
- oskotic pump
- osjotic pump
- osmitic pump
- osmktic pump
- osmltic pump
- osmptic pump
- osm0tic pump
Etymology of OSMOTIC PUMP
The word "osmotic" comes from the Greek word "osmos", meaning "thrust" or "impulse". It was first coined in 1854 by the Scottish chemist Thomas Graham to describe the process of water passing through a semipermeable membrane from a solution of lower solute concentration to one of higher solute concentration.
The term "osmotic pump" combines the word "osmotic" with "pump", which refers to a device or mechanism that moves or transfers fluids. In the context of drug delivery systems, an osmotic pump is a type of controlled-release device that delivers a drug over an extended period by using osmotic pressure to push the drug from a reservoir through a small orifice.
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