Space-efficient containment devices and method of making same

• US 10,441,765 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DARE MB Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchips Biotech, Inc. (Keratin Biosciences, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farra, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Schmidt, Emily L
• Application Number:
  US13/595,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20130053671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,605 Days
• Field of Search: 6048911
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases

Abstract

Containment devices and methods of manufacture and assembly are provided. In an embodiment, the device includes at least one microchip element, which includes a containment reservoir that can be electrically activated to open, and a first electronic printed circuit board (PCB) which comprises a biocompatible substrate. The first PCB may have a first side on which one or more electronic components are fixed and an opposed second side on which the microchip element is fixed in electrical connection to the one or more electronic components. The device may further include a second PCB and a housing ring securing the first PCB together with the second PCB. The microchip element may include a plurality of containment reservoirs, which may be microreservoirs, and/or which may contain a drug formulation or a sensor element.

Claims

1. A containment device comprising:

a first microchip element which comprises a containment reservoir that can be electrically activated to open;

a first electronic printed circuit board (PCB) which comprises a biocompatible substrate, wherein the first PCB has a first side on which one or more electronic components are fixed and an opposed second side on which the first microchip element is fixed in electrical connection to the one or more electronic components;

a second electronic printed circuit board (PCB) which comprises a biocompatible substrate, wherein the second PCB has a first side on which one or more electronic components are fixed and an opposed second side; and

a housing ring securing the first PCB together with the second PCB,

wherein the first side of the first PCB is oriented in a facing relationship toward the first side of the second PCB, and

wherein the biocompatible substrate of the first PCB comprises a hermetic material and defines part of a hermetically sealed enclosure containing the one or more electronic components.

2. The containment device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible substrate of the first PCB is a ceramic.

3. The containment device of claim 2, wherein the ceramic is alumina.

4. The containment device of claim 1, wherein the first PCB comprises at least one via electrically connecting at least one of the one or more electronic components to the first microchip element.

5. The containment device of claim 4, wherein the at least one via is electrically connected to a metallized conductive surface on the second side of the first PCB, and the metallized conductive surface is wirebonded to the first microchip element.

6. The containment device of claim 1, wherein the containment reservoir is a microreservoir which contains a drug formulation or a sensor element.

7. The containment device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible substrates of the first and second PCBs form the outer surfaces of the second sides of the first and second PCBs, respectively.

8. The containment device of claim 7, wherein the housing ring is formed of a biocompatible metal and, together with the first and second PCBs, defines the hermetically sealed enclosure containing the electronic components of the first and second PCBs.

9. The containment device of claim 8, wherein the biocompatible substrate of each of the first and second PCBs is ceramic.

10. The containment device of claim 9, wherein the ceramic is alumina.

11. The containment device of claim 1, wherein second side of the second PCB comprises a second microchip element which comprises a containment reservoir that can be electrically activated to open.

12. The containment device of claim 11, wherein the containment reservoir of the second microchip element is a microreservoir which contains a drug formulation or a sensor element.

13. A containment device comprising:

a first microchip element which comprises a containment reservoir that can be electrically activated to open;

a first electronic printed circuit board (PCB) which comprises a biocompatible substrate, wherein the first PCB has a first side on which one or more electronic components are fixed and an opposed second side on which the first microchip element is fixed in electrical connection to the one or more electronic components;

a second electronic printed circuit board (PCB) which comprises a biocompatible substrate, wherein the second PCB has a first side on which one or more electronic components are fixed and an opposed second side; and

a housing ring securing the first PCB together with the second PCB,

wherein the first side of the first PCB is oriented in a facing relationship toward the first side of the second PCB.

14. The containment device of claim 13, wherein the biocompatible substrates of the first and second PCBs each comprise a hermetic material that at least partially forms an outer surface of the containment device.

15. The containment device of claim 13, wherein:

the housing ring comprises a biocompatible metal;

the biocompatible substrates of the first and second PCBs each comprise a ceramic; and

the housing ring and the first and second PCBs are secured together to define a hermetically sealed enclosure containing the electronic components of the first and second PCBs.

16. The containment device of claim 13, further comprising a second microchip element fixed to the opposed second side of the second PCB and in electrical connection to the one or more electronic components fixed on the first side of the second PCB, the second microchip element comprising a containment reservoir that can be electrically activated to open.

17. An implantable medical device comprising:

a first microchip element which comprises an array of containment reservoirs which are configured to be opened independently in vivo to release s drug contained in the containment reservoirs or to expose sensors contained in the containment reservoirs;

a first electronic printed circuit board (PCB) which comprises an alumina substrate, wherein the first PCB has a first side on which one or more electronic components are fixed and an opposed second side on which the first microchip element is fixed in electrical connection to the one or more electronic components;

a second electronic printed circuit board (PCB) which comprises an alumina substrate; and

a titanium housing ring securing the first PCB together with the second PCB,

wherein the first PCB, the second PCB, and the housing ring form a hermetic enclosure about the one or more electronic components.