Respiratory aids

• US 6,306,491 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated (W.L. Gore and Associates)
• Inventors: Muehlbauer, Michael J., Bain, James R., Kram, Brian H., Mish, Stanley L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kopec, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOYER, CHARLES I
• Application Number:
  US09/282,384
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 428/305.5, 428/306.6, 428/314.4, 428/316.6, 428/319.1, 428/320.2, 428/322.7, 428/315.5, 424/422, 424/423, 424/424, 435/177, 435/180
• US Class Current: 428/315.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/00 Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by their form, structure or properties; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/08 Flask, bottle or test tube
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/24 Gas permeable parts
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/04 Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/22 Means for packing or storing viable microorganisms casings for storing cell samples A61B10/0096, preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249954 With chemically effective material or specified gas other than air, N, or carbon dioxide in void-containing component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249955 Void-containing component partially impregnated with adjacent component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249976 Voids specified as closed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249978 Voids specified as micro
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249981 Plural void-containing components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24999 Inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249994 Composite having a component wherein a constituent is liquid or is contained within preformed walls [e.g., impregnant-filled, previously void containing component, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249999 Differentially filled foam, filled plural layers, or filled layer with coat of filling material

Abstract

The present invention is directed to materials that assist respiration of living cells contained in cell-containing systems. The materials form air-filled conduits or channels through which gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, can readily exchange by diffusional means between regions of different gas partial pressures. When the present invention is placed within an aqueous environment, such as cell-culture media or host tissue, the invention provides aid to cellular respiration in cell-containing systems.

Claims

1. A separately gas and liquid permeable material comprising:

a first surface and a second surface, wherein said material is disposed therebetween;

at least one liquid-fillable portion traversing said material from said first surface to said second surface;

at least one gas-permeable portion traversing said material from said first surface to said second surface;

wherein said gas-permeable portion comprises at least one gas-filled void space in an interior region of said material;

wherein said gas-filled void space is surrounded with a gas-permeable material;

wherein said gas-permeable material has a transmissibility to oxygen of at least 5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> centimeters per second and prevents ingress of liquid into said gas-filled void space,

whereby passage of gas from said first surface to said second surface occurs through said gas-permeable portion.

2. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein passage of gas through said gas-permeable portion occurs by diffusion-based means.

3. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said material has a multiplicity of gas-permeable portions therein.

4. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 3 wherein said gas-permeable portions have interconnected gas-filled void spaces.

5. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

3</sup> centimeters per second.

6. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

2</sup> centimeters per second.

7. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

1</sup> centimeters per second.

8. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5 centimeters per second.

9. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said material is porous.

10. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 9 wherein said porous material is selected from the group consisting of porous polytetrafluoroethylene, porous polyethylene, and porous polypropylene.

11. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 10 wherein said porous material is a fluoropolymer.

12. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 11 wherein said fluoropolymer is porous polytetrafluoroethylene.

13. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 12 wherein said porous polytetrafluoroethylene is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

14. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said gas-permeable material is selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and fluorinated polysiloxanes.

15. The separately gas and liquid permeable material claim 1 wherein said gas-permeable material comprises poly(dimethyl)siloxane.

16. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said material is in the form of a membrane.

17. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said material is in the form of a foam.

18. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 wherein said material is in the form of a group of sintered microporous polymeric particles.

19. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 further comprising living cells in said liquid-fillable portion.

20. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 19 further comprising a polymeric material substantially enclosing said separately gas and liquid permeable material and said living cells;

wherein said polymeric material is permeable to aqueous liquids.

21. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 1 further comprising a hydrogel material in said liquid-fillable portion.

22. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 21 further comprising living cells in said hydrogel material.

23. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 22 further comprising a polymeric material substantially enclosing said separately gas and liquid permeable material and said living cells in said hydrogel material;

wherein said polymeric material is permeable to aqueous liquids.

24. A separately gas and liquid permeable material comprising a multiplicity of porous elements in the form of a network;

wherein substantially all of said porous elements of said network have at least one exterior surface and at least one gas-filled void space in an interior region thereof;

wherein said gas-filled void space is in fluid communication with at least a portion of the exterior surface of said porous element;

wherein said porous elements have locations where said porous elements contact one another for transport of gas therebetween;

wherein said network has spaces between said porous elements;

wherein at least one space in said network comprises a liquid-fillable portion;

a gas permeable material covering said exterior surface of said porous elements, except the exterior surface at the locations where said porous elements contact one another;

wherein said gas permeable material maintains gas in said gas-filled void space and resists ingress of liquid into said gas-filled void space, while permitting fluid communication between said porous elements at the locations where said porous elements contact one another; and

wherein said gas permeable material has a transmissibility to oxygen of at least 5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> centimeters per second,

whereby passage of gas through said separately gas and liquid permeable material occurs through said gas-filled void spaces.

25. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein passage of gas through said gas-filled void spaces occurs by diffusion-based means.

26. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said porous elements each have a multiplicity of gas-filled void spaces therein.

27. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein substantially all of said gas-filled void spaces in each porous element are interconnected.

28. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

3</sup> centimeters per second.

29. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

2</sup> centimeters per second.

30. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

1</sup> centimeters per second.

31. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5 centimeters per second.

32. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said porous elements are in the form of hollow fibers.

33. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said porous elements are selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, porous polyethylene, and porous polypropylene.

34. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said porous elements comprise a fluoropolymer.

35. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 34 wherein said fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene.

36. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 35 wherein said polytetrafluoroethylene is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

37. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 wherein said gas-permeable material is selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and fluorinated polysiloxanes.

38. The separately gas and liquid permeable material claim 24 wherein said gas-permeable material comprises poly(dimethyl)siloxane.

39. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 further comprising living cells in said liquid-fillable portion.

40. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 39 further comprising a polymeric material substantially enclosing said separately gas and liquid permeable material and said living cells;

wherein said polymeric material is permeable to aqueous liquids.

41. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 24 further comprising a hydrogel material in said liquid-fillable portion.

42. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 41 further comprising living cells in said hydrogel material.

43. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 42 further comprising a polymeric material substantially enclosing said separately gas and liquid permeable material and said living cells in said hydrogel material;

wherein said polymeric material is permeable to aqueous liquids.

44. A cell-containment device comprising:

a separately gas and liquid permeable membrane capable of retaining living cells, said membrane comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein said membrane is disposed therebetween;

at least one liquid-fillable portion traversing said membrane from said first surface to said second surface;

at least one gas-permeable portion traversing said material from said first surface to said second surface;

wherein said gas-permeable portion comprises at least one gas-filled void space in an interior region of said material;

wherein said gas-filled void space is surrounded with a gas-permeable material;

wherein said gas-permeable material has a transmissibility to oxygen of at least 5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> centimeters per second and prevents ingress of liquid into said gas-filled void space,

whereby passage of gas from said first surface to said second surface occurs through said gas-permeable portion,

wherein said separately gas and liquid permeable membrane forms at least a portion of a chamber for containing living cells; and

wherein said chamber comprises at least one void volume in which living cells are placed.

45. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein passage of gas through said gas-permeable portion occurs by diffusion-based means.

46. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said separately gas and liquid permeable membrane has a multiplicity of gas-permeable portions therein.

47. The cell-containment device of claim 46 wherein said gas-permeable portions have interconnected gas-filled void spaces.

48. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

3</sup> centimeters per second.

49. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

2</sup> centimeters per second.

50. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

1</sup> centimeters per second.

51. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5 centimeters per second.

52. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said membrane is porous.

53. The cell-containment device of claim 52 wherein said porous membrane is selected from the group consisting of porous polytetrafluoroethylene, porous polyethylene, and porous polypropylene.

54. The cell-containment device of claim 52 wherein said porous membrane is a fluoropolymer.

55. The cell-containment device of claim 54 wherein said fluoropolymer is porous polytetrafluoroethylene.

56. The cell-containment device of claim 55 wherein said porous polytetrafluoroethylene is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

57. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said gas-permeable material is selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and fluorinated polysiloxanes.

58. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein said gas-permeable material comprises poly(dimethyl)siloxane.

59. The cell-containment device of claim 44 wherein material of said membrane having at least one gas-filled void space therein extends from an interior region of said membrane beyond said first or second surface;

wherein said gas-filled void space is surrounded with a gas-permeable material;

wherein said gas-permeable material has a transmissibility to oxygen of at least 5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> centimeters per second and prevents ingress of liquid into said gas-filled void space.

60. The cell-containment device of claim 59 wherein passage of gas through said gas-filled void space occurs by diffusion-based means.

61. The cell-containment device of claim 59 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

3</sup> centimeters per second.

62. The cell-containment device of claim 59 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 6×

10<sup>−

2</sup> centimeters per second.

63. The cell-containment device of claim 59 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

1</sup> centimeters per second.

64. The cell-containment device of claim 59 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5 centimeters per second.

65. A cell-containment device comprising:

at least one permeable membrane capable of retaining living cells;

wherein said membrane forms at least a portion of a chamber for containing living cells;

wherein said chamber comprises at least one void volume in which living cells are placed;

a separately gas and liquid permeable material placed within said chamber;

wherein said separately gas and liquid permeable material comprises a multiplicity of porous elements in the form of a network;

wherein substantially all of said porous elements of said network have at least one exterior surface and at least one gas-filled void space in an interior region thereof;

wherein said gas-filled void space is in fluid communication with at least a portion of said exterior surface of said porous element;

wherein said porous elements have locations where said porous elements contact one another for transport of gas therebetween;

wherein said network has spaces between said porous elements;

wherein at least one space in said network comprises a liquid-fillable portion;

a gas permeable material covering said exterior surface of said porous elements, except the exterior surface at the locations where said porous elements contact one another;

wherein said gas permeable material maintains gas in said gas-filled void space and resists ingress of liquid into said gas-filled void space, while permitting fluid communication between said porous elements at the locations where said porous elements contact one another; and

wherein said gas permeable material has a transmissibility to oxygen of at least 5×

10<sup>−

4</sup> centimeters per second,

whereby passage of gas through said separately gas and liquid permeable material occurs through said gas-filled void spaces.

66. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein passage of gas through said gas-filled void spaces occurs by diffusion-based means.

67. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said porous elements each have a multiplicity of gas-filled void spaces therein.

68. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 67 wherein substantially all of said gas-filled void spaces in each porous element are interconnected.

69. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

3</sup> centimeters per second.

70. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

2</sup> centimeters per second.

71. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5×

10<sup>−

1</sup> centimeters per second.

72. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said transmissibility to oxygen is at least 5 centimeters per second.

73. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said porous elements are in the form of hollow fibers.

74. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said porous elements are selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, porous polyethylene, and porous polypropylene.

75. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said porous elements comprise a fluoropolymer.

76. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 75 wherein said fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene.

77. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 76 wherein said polytetrafluoroethylene is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

78. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 wherein said gas-permeable material is selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and fluorinated polysiloxanes.

79. The separately gas and liquid permeable material claim 65 wherein said gas-permeable material comprises poly(dimethyl)siloxane.

80. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 further comprising living cells in said liquid-fillable portion.

81. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 65 further comprising a hydrogel material in said liquid-fillable portion.

82. The separately gas and liquid permeable material of claim 81 further comprising living cells in said hydrogel material.

83. The cell-containment device of claim 65 wherein at least one porous element surrounded by said gas-permeable material extends across said chamber.

84. The cell-containment device of claim 83 wherein said at least one porous element surrounded by said gas-permeable material extends beyond said chamber.