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

• US 20120041286A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Goodall, Eleanor V., Hyde, Roderick A., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US12/931,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20120041286A1
• 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. A system comprising:

circuitry configured for operating a insertable device,

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

one or more anti-microbial regions proximate at least one of an outer surface, an inner surface, or embedded in the internal body structure;

the body structure including at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir operably coupled to the one or more anti-microbial regions; and

circuitry configured for operating the at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for operating at least one sensor operably coupled to at least one of the one or more anti-microbial regions.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for operating at least one sensor operably coupled to at least one of the at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect information related to at least one microbial component.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to control the at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for operating one or more sensor transmitters operably coupled to the at least one sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for operating one or more sensor receivers operably coupled to the at least one sensor.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for providing information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the circuitry configured for providing information includes circuitry configured for providing status information.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the circuitry configured for providing information includes circuitry configured for providing information regarding the detection of at least one microbial component.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for obtaining information;

and circuitry configured for storing the obtained information.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a cryptographic logic component.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for operating one or more central processing units.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one computing device.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising one or more instructions that when executed on the at least one computing device cause the at least one computing device to generate at least one output to a user.

7-8. -8. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

18-25. -25. (canceled)

29-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A system comprising:

means for operating a insertable device,

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

one or more anti-microbial regions proximate at least one of an outer surface, an inner surface, or embedded in the internal body structure;

the body structure including at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir operably coupled to the one or more anti-microbial regions; and

means for operating the at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising means for operating one or more sensor transmitters.

40. The system of claim 38, further comprising means for operating one or more sensor receivers.

41. A system comprising:

a computer recordable medium bearing;

one or more instructions for operating an insertable device,

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

one or more anti-microbial regions proximate at least one of an outer surface, an inner surface, or embedded in the internal body structure;

the body structure including at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir operably coupled to the one or more anti-microbial regions; and

one or more instructions for operating the at least one anti-microbial agent reservoir.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising one or more instructions for operating one or more sensor receivers.

43. The system of claim 41, further comprising one or more instructions for operating one or more sensor transmitters.

44-45. -45. (canceled)

46. A method of inhibiting microbial growth or presence associated with a insertable device, comprising:

selectively releasing at least one anti-microbial agent from an anti-microbial agent reservoir operably coupled to one or more anti-microbial regions proximate at least one of an outer surface, inner surface, or embedded in the internal body structure of an insertable device, the insertable device including a body structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining one or more fluid-flow passageways,

in response to an automatically detected signal associated with at least one microbial component proximate at least one of the outer surface or inner surface of the insertable device, or present in the fluid-flow passageway.

47-64. -64. (canceled)

65. A insertable device, comprising:

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

one or more actuatable anti-microbial regions configured to direct at least one anti-microbial agent to one or more regions proximate at least one of the outer surface or inner surface of the body structure.

69. The insertable device of claim 65, further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to detect at least one characteristic associated with one or more regions proximate at least one of the outer surface or the inner surface of the body structure; and

at least one controller operably coupled to one or more of the plurality of spaced-apart release ports and configured to actuate one or more of the plurality of spaced-apart release ports between an anti-microbial agent discharge state and an anti-microbial agent retention state based on a comparison of a detected characteristic to stored reference data.

70. The insertable device of claim 65, further comprising:

at least one receiver configured to acquire information based at least in part on whether a detected microbial component from one or more regions proximate at least one of the outer surface or the inner surface of the body structure satisfies a target condition.

66-68. -68. (canceled)

71-75. -75. (canceled)