Systems, devices, and methods including implantable devices with anti-microbial properties

• US 20110295088A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Boyden, Edward S., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Diaz, Roy P.
• Application Number:
  US12/931,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/145 Coating
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/232 layered or coated
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/10 containing or releasing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/108 Elemental carbon, e.g. charcoal
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/28 Materials for coating prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/306 Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L27/303 - A61L27/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/00 Materials for catheters, medical tubing, cannulae, or endoscopes or for coating catheters shape or structure of catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/08 Materials for coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/024 Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/026 Ceramic or ceramic-like structures, e.g. glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/08 : Materials for coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 : Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 : Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 : multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 : Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 : Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 5/00 : Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable implant configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent microbial growth or adherence to the implant.

Claims

1. An insertable device, comprising:

a body structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining one or more fluid-flow passageways;

wherein at least one of the outer surface, or the inner surface of the body structure includes at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure.

2. The insertable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect one or more microorganisms present proximate to the body structure.

3. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein at least one anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least one high aspect ratio nanofibrillar structure.

4. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein at least one anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least one nanoscale projection.

5. The insertable device of claim 4, wherein the at least one nanoscale projection includes at least one of a nanoscale irregularity, nanoscale elongation, nanoscale valley, or nanoscale ridge.

6. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least one of a spike.

12. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer surface or inner surface includes at least one switchable surface.

13. The insertable device of claim 12, wherein the at least one switchable surface is configured to alter the liquid-solid contact angle of the at least one actuatable anti-microbial nanostructure.

14. The insertable device of claim 12, wherein the at least one switchable surface includes poly(dimethylsiloxane).

35. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-microbial nanostructure is configured to inhibit at least one of microbial movement, microbial attachment, microbial growth, or microbial persistence on the surface of the body structure.

36. The insertable device of claim 1, further comprising one or more anti-microbial regions including at least one microbial tactic agent surface property.

37. The insertable device of claim 36, wherein the at least one microbial tactic surface property includes at least one chemotactic agent.

85. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes a plurality of nanostructures configured in at least one spatial pattern.

86. The insertable device of claim 85, wherein the at least one spatial pattern includes at least one of a repeating pattern, non-repeating pattern, or partially repeating pattern.

87. The insertable device of claim 85, wherein the at least one spatial pattern is derived from information relating to the type of microorganism expected to be present in or around the body structure.

91. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least one electrically actuatable contact.

92. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least two electrically actuatable contacts.

101. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner or the outer surface further comprises at least one surface coating.

108. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the insertable device includes at least one of a shunt, catheter, implant, valve, medical port, endoscope, or other catheter assembly.

114. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect the presence of at least one microorganism proximate at least one of the anti-microbial nanostructures.

120. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one microbial component.

128. The insertable device of claim 1, further comprising a power source.

129. The insertable device of claim 128, wherein the power source includes at least one of a thermoelectric generator, piezoelectric generator, electromechanical generator, alternating-current nanogenerator, or biomechanical-energy harvesting generator.

132. The insertable device of claim 128, wherein the power source comprises at least one of a button cell, chemical battery cell, fuel cell, secondary cell, lithium ion cell, micro-electric patch, nickel metal hydride cell, silver-zinc cell, capacitor, super-capacitor, thin film secondary cell, ultra-capacitor, or zinc-air cell.

133. The insertable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a battery, capacitor, or a mechanical energy store.

137. The insertable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one active agent reservoir configured to release at least one active agent to at least one of the outer surface or inner surface of one or more fluid-flow passageways.

138. The insertable device of claim 137, wherein the at least one active agent includes at least one of an anti-clotting factor, anti-inflammatory agent, vaccine, small molecule, nutraceutical, vitamin, mineral, or other agent.

139. The insertable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is operably coupled to at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure.

140. The insertable device of claim 1, further comprising at least one controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor.

141. The insertable device of claim 140, wherein the at least one controller is configured to be responsive to the detected presence of at least one microorganism by the at least one sensor.

142. The insertable device of claim 140, wherein the at least one controller is programmable.

7-11. -11. (canceled)

15-34. -34. (canceled)

38-42. -42. (canceled)

44-84. -84. (canceled)

88-90. -90. (canceled)

93-100. -100. (canceled)

102-107. -107. (canceled)

109-113. -113. (canceled)

115-119. -119. (canceled)

121-127. -127. (canceled)

130-131. -131. (canceled)

134-136. -136. (canceled)

143-149. -149. (canceled)

150. An insertable device, comprising:

a body structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining one or more fluid-flow passageways;

wherein at least one of the outer surface, or the inner surface of the body structure includes at least one actuatable anti-microbial nanostructure.

151. (canceled)

152. An insertable device, comprising:

a body structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining one or more fluid-flow passageways;

at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure projecting from at least one of the outer surface, or the inner surface, and

at least one sensor configured to detect one or more microorganisms present proximate the body structure.

155. The insertable device of claim 152, wherein the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is configured for patterned activation.

156. The insertable device of claim 155, wherein the patterned activation includes at least one of a spatial pattern or temporal pattern.

157. The insertable device of claim 152, wherein the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is configured to be randomly or nonrandomly actuated.

153-154. -154. (canceled)

158. A method of reducing microbial growth or presence of at least a portion of an insertable device, comprising:

activating via control circuitry at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure of at least one of the outer surface or the inner surface in a body structure of an insertable device.

159. The method of claim 158, wherein the body structure defines one or more fluid-flow passageways, based on at least one of an automatically detected biomarker, temporal randomness, or a heuristically determined parameter associated with at least one microorganism.

160. The method of claim 158, wherein activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes activating a spatially patterned anti-microbial nano structure.

161. The method of claim 158, wherein activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes activating a temporally patterned anti-microbial nanostructure.

162. The method of claim 158, wherein the activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is based at least in part on detection of at least one microorganism.

163. The method of claim 158, wherein the activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is based at least in part on a schedule.

164. The method of claim 158, wherein the activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is based at least in part on a command from an implant.

165. The method of claim 164, wherein the activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is based at least in part on a command from one or more sensors.

166. The method of claim 165, wherein the activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is based at least in part on an external command.

167. The method of claim 158, wherein activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes activating a spatially patterned anti-microbial nanostructure based on at least one of detected fluorescence, detected impedance, detected optical reflectance, detected thermal transfer, detected change in conductance, detected change in index of refraction, detected pH, or detected microbial component.

175. The method of claim 158, wherein activating the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is initiated at least one of prior to, during, or subsequent to insertion of the insertable device into a biological subject.

176. The method of claim 158, wherein the method includes electrically activating a computing device to execute the method.

177. The method of claim 176, further comprising generating at least one output to a user.

179. The method of claim 177, wherein generating at least one output to the user includes generating at least one output to at least one entity.

168-174. -174. (canceled)

178. (canceled)

180-187. -187. (canceled)