Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements incorporating fuel cells for biomedical devices

• US 10,345,620 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Pugh, Randall B., Snook, Sharika, Toner, Adam, Flitsch, Frederick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fraser, Stewart A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Rachel L
• Application Number:
  US15/047,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20170242271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/8684 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/86 Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9008 Organic or organo-metallic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0256 Vias, i.e. connectors passing through the separator material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0271 Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0276 Sealing means characterised by their form H01M8/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0284 Organic resins; Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0286 Processes for forming seals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements are described. In some embodiments, the methods and apparatus to form the biocompatible energization elements involve forming cavities into a fuel cell. The active elements of a cathode, anode, membrane and fuel storage are sealed with a laminate stack of biocompatible material. In some embodiments, a field of use for the methods and apparatus may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.

Claims

1. A biocompatible energization element comprising

an anode spacer layer;

a first hole located in the anode spacer layer;

a cathode spacer layer;

at least a second hole, wherein the second hole is located in the cathode spacer layer, wherein the second hole is aligned to the first hole, and wherein the second hole is larger than the first hole such that when the first hole and the second hole are aligned there is a ridge of anode spacer layer exposed in the second hole;

a membrane layer, wherein the membrane layer is placed within the second hole and is adhered to the ridge of anode spacer layer;

a first cavity between sides of the first hole and a first surface of the membrane layer, wherein the first cavity is filled with an anode solution;

a second cavity between sides of the second hole and a second surface of the membrane layer, wherein the second cavity is filled with a cathode solution; and

a third cavity wherein the third cavity is filled with a fuel solution and wherein a channel connects the third cavity to the first cavity.

2. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 1 wherein the anode solution comprises a first enzyme.

3. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 2 wherein the anode solution comprises glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

4. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 2 wherein the anode solution comprises α

-glucan phosphorylase.

5. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 2 wherein the anode solution comprises phosphoglucomutase.

6. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 2 wherein the anode solution comprises 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase.

7. The biocompatible energization element of claim 3 wherein the biocompatible energization element is electrically connected to an electroactive element within a biomedical device.

8. The biocompatible energization element of claim 1 wherein the biocompatible energization element is electrically connected to an electroactive element within a biomedical device.

9. The biocompatible energization element of claim 7 wherein the biomedical device is an ophthalmic device.

10. The biocompatible energization element of claim 9 wherein the ophthalmic device is a contact lens.

11. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 10 further comprising maltodextrin.

12. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 10 further comprising glucose.

13. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 1 additionally comprising a seal between the anode spacer layer and the cathode spacer layer, wherein the seal also comprises any layers between the anode spacer layer and the cathode spacer layer.

14. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 13 wherein the seal is formed by laser welding.

15. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 13 wherein the seal is formed by ultrasonic welding.

16. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 13 wherein the seal is formed by photo-patterning of polymer seals.

17. A biocompatible energization element comprising:

an anode spacer layer;

a first hole located in the anode spacer layer;

a cathode spacer layer;

at least a second hole, wherein the second hole is located in the cathode spacer layer, wherein the second hole is aligned to the first hole, and wherein the second hole is larger than the first hole such that when the first hole and the second hole are aligned there is a ridge of anode spacer layer exposed in the second hole;

a membrane layer, wherein the membrane layer is placed within the second hole and is adhered to the ridge of anode spacer layer;

a first cavity between sides of the first hole and a first surface of the membrane layer, wherein the first cavity is filled with an anode solution;

a second cavity between sides of the second hole and a second surface of the membrane layer, wherein the second cavity is filled with a cathode solution;

a third cavity wherein the third cavity is filled with a fuel solution and

wherein a channel connects the third cavity to the first cavity; and

an electrically actuated channel blocking mechanism, wherein the channel blocking mechanism blocks the channel connecting the third cavity to the first cavity, and wherein the electrical actuation allows fuel to flow from the third cavity into the first cavity.

18. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 17 wherein the anode solution comprises a first enzyme.

19. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 18 wherein the anode solution comprises glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

20. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 18 wherein the anode solution comprises α

-glucan phosphorylase.

21. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 18 wherein the anode solution comprises phosphoglucomutase.

22. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 18 wherein the anode solution comprises 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase.

23. The biocompatible energization element of claim 19 wherein the biocompatible energization element is electrically connected to an electroactive element within a biomedical device.

24. The biocompatible energization element of claim 17 wherein the biocompatible energization element is electrically connected to an electroactive element within a biomedical device.

25. The biocompatible energization element of claim 24 wherein the biomedical device is an ophthalmic device.

26. The biocompatible energization element of claim 25 wherein the ophthalmic device is a contact lens.

27. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 24 further comprising maltodextrin.

28. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 24 further comprising glucose.

29. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 17 additionally comprising a seal between the anode spacer layer and the cathode spacer layer, wherein the seal also comprises any layers between the anode spacer layer and the cathode spacer layer.

30. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 29 wherein the seal is formed by laser welding.

31. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 29 wherein the seal is formed by ultrasonic welding.

32. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 29 wherein the seal is formed by photo-patterning of polymer seals.

33. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 17 further comprising a battery cell.

34. The biocompatible energization element according to claim 33 wherein the battery cell provides energy for the electrical actuation.