System, devices, and methods including actively-controllable superoxide water generating systems

• US 20090171263A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Boyden, Edward S., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C., Dacey, Ralph G. JR., Santiago, Paul, Stewart, Todd J., Dowling, Joshua L., Rocca, Gregory J. Della
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively-controllable disinfecting implantable device configured to, for example, treat or prevent an infection in a biological subject.

Claims

1. A powered surgical implant, comprising:

a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes configured to energize an aqueous salt composition in the presence of an applied potential;

a power source electromagnetically, magnetically, ultrasonically, optically, inductively, electrically, or capacitively to one or more of the plurality of electrodes; and

a control means operably coupled to the plurality of electrodes, the control means adapted to apply a potential across the plurality of electrodes from the power source, the applied potential sufficient to produce superoxide water from an aqueous salt composition proximate the plurality of electrodes when the powered surgical implant is implanted within a biological subject.

2. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the power source is configured to deliver a pulsed nondestructive field through tissue of the biological subject that is adjacent to the plurality of electrodes.

3. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, further comprising:

an active agent reservoir for storing a superoxide-forming composition.

4. The powered surgical implant of claim 3, further comprising:

one or more release ports configured to deliver a superoxide-forming composition stored in the active agent reservoir.

5. The powered surgical implant of claim 3, further comprising:

one or more controllable-release ports configured to deliver a superoxide-forming composition stored in the active agent reservoir.

6. The powered surgical implant of claim 3, wherein the superoxide-forming composition is an aqueous salt composition.

7. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes include a titanium or titanium alloy coating.

8. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes include a self-cleaning coating.

9. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the powered surgical implant comprises a cerebrospinal fluid shunt.

10. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the powered surgical implant comprises an artificial joint.

11. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, further comprising:

a first outer coating, the first outer coating including a superoxide-forming composition.

12. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, further comprising:

a first outer coating, the first outer coating including a self-cleaning coating composition.

13. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the applied potential is sufficient to produce superoxide species in an interstitial fluid proximate the plurality of electrodes when the powered surgical implant is implanted within the biological subject.

14. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the control means is adapted to apply a potential across the plurality of electrodes having parameters selected to produce superoxide species in an interstitial fluid proximate the plurality of electrodes when the powered surgical implant is implanted within the biological subject.

15. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source, the power source including at least one of a thermoelectric generator, piezoelectric generator, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) generator, or a biomechanical-energy harvesting generator.

16. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises at least one of a button cell, a chemical battery cell, a fuel cell, a secondary cell, a lithium ion cell, a micro-electric patch, a nickel metal hydride cell, silver-zinc cell, a capacitor, a super-capacitor, a thin film secondary cell, an ultra-capacitor, or a zinc-air cell.

17. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the power source is configured to manage a duty cycle associated with energizing an aqueous salt composition in the presence of an applied potential.

18. The powered surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises at least one rechargeable power source.

19. A method of forming an antimicrobial agent, in vivo, comprising:

providing an interstitial fluid with a sufficient amount of electrical energy, via an indwelling implant including a plurality of electrodes, to elicit the formation of superoxide water.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the interstitial fluids with the sufficient amount of electrical energy includes applying a voltage of greater than about 650 millivolts (mV) to at least a portion of the interstitial fluid proximate the indwelling implant.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the interstitial fluids with the sufficient amount of electrical energy includes applying a voltage of greater than about 800 millivolts (mV) to at least a portion of the interstitial fluid proximate the indwelling implant.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the interstitial fluids with the sufficient amount of electrical energy includes applying a voltage of greater than about 950 millivolts (mV) to at least a portion of the interstitial fluid proximate the indwelling implant.

23. A method of forming an antimicrobial agent, in vivo, comprising:

delivering an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition to tissue proximate an implanted or inserted surgical implant, the implanted or inserted surgical implant including

at least one antimicrobial agent reservoir, the antimicrobial agent reservoir configured to deliver an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition to tissue proximate an outer surface of the surgical implant, and

a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes operable to energize an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition in the presence of an applied potential; and

applying a sufficient potential to the delivered energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition to elicit the formation of superoxide species.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein applying the sufficient potential to the delivered energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition includes applying a sufficient potential to generate a potential of greater than about 650 millivolts (mV) in a region proximate the outer surface of the surgical implant that includes a portion of the energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein applying the sufficient potential to the delivered energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition includes applying a sufficient potential to generate a potential of greater than about 800 millivolts (mV) in a region proximate the outer surface of the surgical implant that includes a portion of the energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein applying the sufficient potential to the delivered energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition includes applying a sufficient potential to generate a potential of greater than about 950 millivolts (mV) in a region proximate the outer surface of the surgical implant that includes a portion of the energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein delivering an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition includes delivering an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition including at least one photoactive agent, or a metabolic precursor thereof.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein delivering the energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition includes delivering an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition including at least one X-ray absorber.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein delivering the energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition includes delivering an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition including at least one radiation absorber.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein delivering an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition includes delivering an energy-activateable antimicrobial agent composition including at least one active agent that selectively targets bacteria.