Techniques to improve polyurethane membranes for implantable glucose sensors
First Claim
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1. A method for preparing an implantable homogeneous membrane, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a composition comprising a dispersion of a hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer within a matrix of a hydrophobic polymer;
maintaining the composition at a temperature sufficient to maintain solubility of the hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer and the hydrophobic polymer;
applying the composition at the temperature to a substrate to form a film thereon; and
drying the film to form a membrane.
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Abstract
The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400× magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor.
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6 Claims
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1. A method for preparing an implantable homogeneous membrane, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a composition comprising a dispersion of a hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer within a matrix of a hydrophobic polymer; maintaining the composition at a temperature sufficient to maintain solubility of the hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer and the hydrophobic polymer; applying the composition at the temperature to a substrate to form a film thereon; and
drying the film to form a membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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