Implantable Devices With Photocatalytic Surfaces

• US 20080125838A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Francis, Richard W.
• Application Number:
  US11/463,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125838A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/92
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/167 with energizing means, e.g. light, vibration, electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0233 Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body

Abstract

A medical device comprising a least one photocatalytic layer or superhydrophilic layer. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a waveguide. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises an electrode comprising an optically transparent conductive oxide. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a electroluminescent layer. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a photovoltaic cell. According to some embodiments, the medical device comprises a doped semiconductor oxide. A method for increasing the energy efficiency of a photocatalytic surface comprises electrically biasing a transparent conductive oxide layer. A method for illuminating a complex three-dimensional surface comprises illuminating a photocatalytic layer with electromagnetic radiation from an electroluminescent layer. A method for removing or preventing the formation of organic matter on a sensor window.

Claims

1. An implant comprising:

a base material having an outer surface;

a wave guide comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the wave guide is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the base material; and

a photocatalytic layer comprising a semiconductor oxide having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface of the photocatalytic layer is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the wave guide.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the wave guide comprises a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, CaF, titania, single crystal-sapphire, polyurethane, epoxy, polycarbonate, nitrocellulose, polystyrene, PCHMA.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the photocatalytic layer comprises titania.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the wave guide comprises a light port adapted for receiving a light signal.

5. The implant of claim 1, further comprising a reflective layer disposed upon the photocatalytic layer.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor oxide is doped.

7. An implant comprising:

a base material having an outer surface;

a wave guide comprising an inner surface, wherein the inner surface of the wave guide is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the base material; and

a light port coupled to the waveguide and adapted to receiving a light signal.

10. An implant comprising a photocatalytic layer comprising a semiconductor oxide having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the semiconductor oxide is doped.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the dopant comprises an ion-implanted metal.

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of vanadium and chromium.

13. The implant of claim 10, wherein the dopant comprises nitrogen.

14. The implant of claim 10, wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting of Nd⁺³, Pd⁺², Pt⁺⁴ and Fe⁺³.

15. The implant of claim 10, wherein the semiconductor oxide is titania.

16. The implant of claim 15, wherein the titania is a bulk layer.

17. An implant comprising a semiconductor oxide having an outer surface, wherein the semiconductor outer surface has a light absorption maximum at a wavelength of at least 400 nm.

18. The implant of claim 17, wherein the semiconductor oxide comprises titania.

19. The implant of claim 18, wherein at least the outer surface of the titania is doped.

20. The implant of claim 19, wherein the dopant comprises an ion-implanted metal.

21. The implant of claim 20, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of vanadium and chromium.

22. The implant of claim 19, wherein the dopant comprises nitrogen.

23. The implant of claim 19, wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting of Nd⁺³, Pd⁺², Pt⁺⁴ and Fe⁺³.

24. The implant of claim 17, wherein the semiconductor oxide is a composite layer including a waveguide.

25. The implant of claim 24, further comprising a reflective layer disposed upon the composite layer.

26. An implant comprising:

a base material having an outer surface;

a semiconductor oxide comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the semiconductor oxide is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the base material; and

a reflective material having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface of the reflective material is disposed upon the outer surface of the semiconductor oxide.

27. An implant comprising a composite material comprising:

a first material having a transmissivity of at least 50% when exposed to a predetermined wavelength of light; and

a second material having photocatalytic activity when exposed to the predetermined wavelength of light.

28. The implant of claim 27, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of silica and alumina, and mixtures thereof.

29. The implant of claim 27, wherein the second material comprises titania.

30. A biomedical implant comprising:

a photocatalytic surface; and

a light source adapted to irradiate the photocatalytic surface;

wherein the light source and the photocatalytic surface are configured such that the irradiation of the photocatalytic surface with the light source produce a photocatalytic effect.

31. A photocatalytic system comprising:

an implant having a photocatalytic surface; and

an external light source adapted to irradiate the photocatalytic surface of the implant.

32. A method of performing a procedure upon a patient, comprising the acts of:

providing a cylinder comprising an outer surface having a photocatalytic layer;

advancing the cylinder through a tissue of the patient; and

irradiating the photocatalytic layer of the cylinder so that at least a portion of the irradiated photocatalytic layer is in contact with the tissue.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of irradiating is sufficient to produce a photocatalytic reaction to produce reactive oxygen species.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of advancing comprises advancing the cylinder through a dermal layer.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of advancing causes microbes present within the dermal layer to contact and attach to the cylinder.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of advancing causes microbes present within the dermal layer to contact and attach to the photocatalytic layer.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein at least a portion of the microbes are Staph epidermis.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the act of irradiating is sufficient to produce the reactive oxygen species in an amount effective to kill a least a portion of the microbes.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of providing the cylinder comprises providing a cannula having open proximal and distal ends.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the act of providing the cylinder comprises providing a dilator having a closed distal end.

41. A annulus for penetrating a tissue of a patient, the annulus comprising:

a base material forming an outer surface of the annulus;

a distal end portion of the annulus adapted to penetrate tissue;

an elongated intermediate portion of the annulus;

a proximal portion of the annulus; and

a photocatalytic layer disposed upon at least a portion of the outer surface of the base material.

42. The cylinder of claim 41, wherein the distal end portion is essentially closed and is adapted to penetrate tissue.

43. The cylinder of claim 42, further comprising an elongate inner barrel having an opening at the proximal end portion of the cylinder.

44. The cylinder of claim 41, further comprising having an elongate inner barrel having an opening at each of the proximal end portion and distal end portion of the cylinder.

45. The cylinder of claim 41, further comprising:

an inner barrel; and

a light source disposed within the inner barrel.

46. The cylinder of claim 41, wherein the photocatalytic layer is disposed upon at least a portion of the distal end portion of the cylinder.

47. The cylinder of claim 41, wherein the photocatalytic layer is disposed upon at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the cylinder.

48. The cylinder of claim 41, wherein the base material is made of a UV transmissive material.

49. The cylinder of claim 41 wherein the photocatalytic layer comprises titania.

50. The cylinder of claim 41, further comprising:

a fluid transmission channel that enters the cylinder at the proximal end portion of the cylinder surface and exits along the intermediate portion of the cylinder at the outer surface.

51. A sterilization system comprising:

an annulus for penetrating a tissue of a patient, the annulus comprising;

a distal end portion of the annulus adapted to penetrate tissue;

an elongated intermediate portion of the annulus;

a proximal portion of the annulus;

a base material forming an outer surface of the annulus, and

a photocatalytic layer disposed upon at least a portion of the base material at the outer surface of the annulus, and a light transmission device coupled to the proximal end portion of the annulus.

55. A shunt device comprising a structural component housed within a tubing, wherein the tubing comprises:

an outer tube having an outer wall and an inner wall;

a photocatalytic layer attached to the inner wall of the outer tube; and

a light port.

56. The shunt of claim 55, wherein the outer tube comprises silicone.

57. The shunt of claim 55, wherein the structural component comprises:

a baseplate having a first surface; and

a photocatalytic layer disposed upon a first portion of the first surface of the baseplate.

58. The shunt of claim 57, wherein the structural component further comprises a valve component disposed upon a second portion of the first surface of the baseplate.

59. The shunt of claim 55, wherein the inner photocatalytic layer comprises titania.

60. The shunt of claim 55, adapted to be hydrocephalus shunt.

61. A shunt device comprising a structural component housed within a tubing, wherein the structural component comprises:

a baseplate having a first surface; and

a photocatalytic layer disposed upon a first portion of the first surface of the baseplate.

62. The shunt of claim 61, wherein the structural component further comprises a valve component disposed upon a second portion of the first surface of the baseplate.

63. The shunt of claim 61, wherein the photocatalytic layer comprises titania.

64. A method of performing a procedure upon a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a shunt comprising a tubing having an inner surface and a structural component housed within the tubing,

wherein at least one of the structural component and the inner surface of the tubing has a photocatalytic layer disposed thereon, implanting the shunt in the patient, and irradiating the photocatalytic layer.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the act of irradiating is sufficient to produce reactive oxygen species.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the act of irradiating is sufficient to produce the reactive oxygen species in an amount effective kill or destroy a biofilm present on a surface of the shunt.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the act of providing comprises providing the structural component with a photocatalytic layer disposed thereon.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein the act of providing comprises providing the inner surface of the tubing with a photocatalytic layer disposed thereon.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the act of irradiating the photocatalytic layer includes introducing a light source into the shunt.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the act of providing the photocatalytic layer comprises providing the photocatalytic layer comprising doped titania including a dopant.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the act of providing the titania comprises providing the dopant comprising nitrogen.