Electrochemical Implant For Delivering Beneficial Agents
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a load-bearing implant; and
a device integrated into the implant to generate a beneficial agent, the device comprising;
first and second electrodes to conduct an electrical current, the electrical current electrochemically generating a beneficial agent upon flowing between the first and second electrodes; and
a substantially solid layer interposed between the first and second electrodes.
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Abstract
An apparatus for providing beneficial agents to the body is disclosed in one aspect of the invention as including an implant and a device integrated with the implant to generate a beneficial agent, such as iodine, chlorine, or other halogens. The device includes electrodes to conduct an electrical current and a substantially solid layer between the electrodes. An electrical current passes between the electrodes to electrochemically generate the beneficial agent. The implant may include a variety of devices to produce the beneficial agent, including for example an electrochemical cell, a capacitor, an electrochemical capacitor, a galvanic cell, or the like. Similarly, because of the solid state construction of the device, the device may, in certain embodiments, be incorporated into a load-bearing implant. This may be useful for use with certain types of implants, such as orthopedic implants.
101 Citations
68 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a load-bearing implant; and a device integrated into the implant to generate a beneficial agent, the device comprising; first and second electrodes to conduct an electrical current, the electrical current electrochemically generating a beneficial agent upon flowing between the first and second electrodes; and a substantially solid layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing a beneficial agent with an implant, the method comprising:
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providing an implant; and electrochemically generating a beneficial agent by generating an electrical current between first and second electrodes incorporated into the implant, the first and second electrodes separated by a substantially solid layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus comprising:
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an implant; and an electrochemical cell integrated into the implant to generate a beneficial agent, the electrochemical cell comprising; a layer comprising a beneficial agent chemically bound within a compound, the layer having a first side and a second side; and a first electrode in contact with the first side and a second electrode in contact with the second side, the first and second electrodes conducting an electrical current to create opposite charges on the first and second electrodes, the opposite charges breaking down the compound to release the beneficial agent. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An apparatus comprising:
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an implant; and a capacitor integrated into the implant to generate a beneficial agent, the capacitor comprising; first and second electrodes to conduct an electrical current and thereby store opposite electrical charges, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a beneficial agent chemically bound within a compound, the beneficial agent being released from the compound by inducing opposite electrical charges on the first and second electrodes; and an electrolyte layer to transport ions between the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An apparatus comprising:
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an implant; and a capacitor integrated into the implant to generate a beneficial agent, the capacitor comprising; first and second electrodes to conduct an electrical current, store opposite electrical charges, and discharge through the body fluids of an implantee to release a beneficial agent from the body fluids; and a dielectric layer between the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An apparatus comprising:
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an implant; and a galvanic cell integrated into the implant to generate a beneficial agent, the galvanic cell comprising; first and second electrodes to discharge an electrical current through the body fluids of an implantee to release a beneficial agent from the body fluids; and an electrolyte layer between the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. An orthopedic or spinal implant comprising a composite of a ceramic and a halide, wherein the ceramic comprises at least one of the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal carbide, and a metal nitride, and wherein said metal comprises at least one of the group consisting of Al, Ti, Ta, Co, Fe, and Nb, and wherein said halide comprises at least one of the group consisting of AgI, I2, AgCl, and AgBr.
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65. A method for providing an orthopedic or spinal implant comprising:
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providing an implant comprising a composite containing a ceramic and a halide; and exposing the implant to an electrical potential to release a beneficial agent from the implant. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
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68. A method for providing an orthopedic or spinal implant, the method comprising:
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providing an implant comprising first and second electrodes, the implant providing beneficial agents upon activation; and activating the implant by generating an electrical current between the first and second electrodes.
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Specification