Method of actuating implanted medical device

• US 7,776,024 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microchips Biotech, Inc. (Keratin Biosciences, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MicroCHIPS Inc.
• Inventors: Cima, Michael J., Santini, John T. Jr., Sheppard, Norman F. Jr., Ausiello, Dennis, Langer, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhisma
• Application Number:
  US11/925,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/19, 604/20, 604/500, 604/521, 604/65, 604/66, 604/93.01, 604/113
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0097 Micromachined devices; Microelectromechanical systems [MEMS]; Devices obtained by lithographic treatment of silicon; Devices comprising chips intradermal microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; MEMS in general B81B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/96 the devices being encapsulated in a common layer, e.g. neo-wafer or pseudo-wafer, said common layer being separable into individual assemblies after connecting
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01004 Beryllium [Be]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01005 Boron [B]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01006 Carbon [C]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01011 Sodium [Na]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01013 Aluminum [Al]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01015 Phosphorus [P]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0102 Calcium [Ca]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01027 Cobalt [Co]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01033 Arsenic [As]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01074 Tungsten [W]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01075 Rhenium [Re]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01079 Gold [Au]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/014 : Solder alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12041 : LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12042 : LASER
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12043 : Photo diode
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1461 : MEMS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 : being a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19043 : being a resistor

Abstract

Methods are provided for medical treatment or diagnosis of a patient. The method includes implanting into the patient a device which comprises (i) a substrate in which at least one reservoir is located and covered by a first reservoir cap, (ii) a drug or sensor located in the reservoir, and (iii) control circuitry and a power source for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap, and (iv) an external interface to receive incident light energy; and directing focused light to the external interface of the implanted device to actuate disintegration or permeabilization of the reservoir cap to release the drug or expose the sensor. The device may implanted onto or into the sclera or other tissue surface of the eye of the patient. The focused light may be laser light, which may be used to transmit power or data to the device.

Claims

1. A method for medical treatment or diagnosis of a patient, the method comprising:

implanting into the patient a device which comprises (i) a substrate in which at least one reservoir is located and covered by a reservoir cap, (ii) a drug or sensor located in the reservoir, and (iii) control circuitry and a power source for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap, and (iv) an external interface to receive incident light energy, the external interface being operatively coupled to the control circuitry or the power source; and

directing focused light to the external interface of the implanted device to actuate, via the control circuitry and power source, disintegration or permeabilization of the reservoir cap to release the drug or expose the sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is implanted onto or into the sclera or other tissue surface of the eye of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the focused light is laser light.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the laser light transmits power to the device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the laser light transmits data to the device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the external interface comprises a photocell, photodiode, phototransistor, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the focused light is directed through the cornea of the eye to the external interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the drug comprises an angiogenesis inhibitor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the drug comprises a steroid.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a chemical sensor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.