Bioartificial endocrine device

• US 5,614,205 A
• Filed: 11/28/1994
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Surgical Technology Incorporated (Surgalign Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Encelle, Inc. (Surgalign Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Usala, Anton-Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Azpuru, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US08/346,340
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 424/423, 424/424, 514/772.3
• US Class Current: 424/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/022 Artificial gland structures using bioreactors hemodialysis A61M1/16; hemofiltration A61M1/34; other extracorporeal blood treatment A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L

Abstract

A device for the effective release of hormones wherein a matrix containing a hormone producing cellular moiety is encapsulated with a non-immunogenic polymeric material of poly-para-xylyene having a membrane portion with a porosity blocking passage therethrough of immunogenic agents and permitting passage therethrough of effective nutrients for said cellular moiety and the hormone produced thereby.

Claims

1. A bioartificial pancreas for releasing insulin in a recipient patient, comprising:

a matrix containing an insulin producing cellular moiety; and

capsule means enveloping said matrix comprising a polymeric membrane selected from the group consisting of poly-para-xylyene, poly-monochloro-xylyene, and poly-dichloro-xylyene, said polymeric membrane having a porosity blocking passage therethrough of immunogenic agents and permitting passage therethrough of nutrients for said cellular moiety and the insulin produced thereby.

2. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 1 wherein said polymeric membrane is poly-para-xylyene.

3. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 2 wherein said polymeric membrane has a thickness of around 2,000 to 5,000 Angstroms.

4. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 1 wherein said matrix comprises a liquid.

5. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 1 wherein said matrix comprises a gel.

6. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 1 wherein said matrix comprises culture media.

7. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 1 wherein said polymeric membrane has a thickness less than 5,000 Angstroms.

8. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 1 wherein said cellular moiety comprises pancreatic islets.

9. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 8 wherein said pancreatic islets are porcine islets.

10. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 1 wherein said membrane has a thickness of around 2,500 to 3,500 Angstroms.

11. A bioartificial pancreas comprising:

capsule means for containing insulin producing cells formed of a biocompatible material including a permeable membrane formed of poly-para-xylyene, said membrane having a thickness less than about 5,000 Angstroms and permitting the passage therethrough of insulin.

12. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 11 wherein said capsule means comprises a plurality of chambers having openings covered by said permeable membrane.

13. A bioartificial pancreas, comprising:

a matrix for releasing insulin from a cellular moiety; and

capsule means enveloping said matrix comprising a paraxylyene polymeric membrane having a porosity blocking passage therethrough of immunogenic agents and permitting passage therethrough of insulin from said cellular moiety, said membrane having a molecular weight porosity of between about 5,000 and 500,000.

14. The bioartificial pancreas as recited in claim 13 wherein said polymeric membrane has a thickness of between about 2,000 to 5,000 Angstroms.