Neural drug delivery system with fluidic threads
First Claim
1. A neural drug delivery system, which comprises:
- a) at least one fluid delivery conduit comprising a conduit sidewall defining a lumen configured to transport fluid;
b) at least two fluid delivery ports extending through the conduit sidewall;
c) a respective port gate supported by the conduit sidewall at each of the at least two fluid delivery ports, each port gate comprising;
i) a thin-film mesh structure; and
ii) an electroactive polymer supported by at least a portion of the mesh structure,d) wherein each port gate is selectively operable between the following modes;
i) in the absence of a conductive signal applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer is stable in an oxidized and expanded state occluding the mesh structure to thereby provide the port gate in a closed mode that prevents transfer of the fluid through the corresponding fluid delivery port; and
ii) in response to a conductive signal applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer volumetrically contracts to thereby provide an open mode that allows transfer of the fluid through the fluid delivery port;
e) a voltage source that provides the conductive signal to the electroactive polymer of the port gates; and
f) an interconnect network configured to carry the conductive signal to the port gates from the voltage source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neural drug delivery system with fluidic threads implantable into tissue, including: a plurality of fluid delivery conduits configured to transport fluid and having an array of fluid delivery ports through which the fluid is selectively released; a plurality of port gates each including a mesh structure coupled to a corresponding fluid delivery port and coated with an electroactive polymer; a voltage source providing a conductive signal; and an interconnect network that carries the conductive signal to the port gates. In response of the electroactive polymer to the conductive signal, each port gate is selectively operable between a closed mode that prevents transfer of fluid through its corresponding fluid delivery port to the tissue, and an open mode that allows transfer of the fluid through its corresponding fluid delivery port to the tissue.
115 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A neural drug delivery system, which comprises:
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a) at least one fluid delivery conduit comprising a conduit sidewall defining a lumen configured to transport fluid; b) at least two fluid delivery ports extending through the conduit sidewall; c) a respective port gate supported by the conduit sidewall at each of the at least two fluid delivery ports, each port gate comprising; i) a thin-film mesh structure; and ii) an electroactive polymer supported by at least a portion of the mesh structure, d) wherein each port gate is selectively operable between the following modes; i) in the absence of a conductive signal applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer is stable in an oxidized and expanded state occluding the mesh structure to thereby provide the port gate in a closed mode that prevents transfer of the fluid through the corresponding fluid delivery port; and ii) in response to a conductive signal applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer volumetrically contracts to thereby provide an open mode that allows transfer of the fluid through the fluid delivery port; e) a voltage source that provides the conductive signal to the electroactive polymer of the port gates; and f) an interconnect network configured to carry the conductive signal to the port gates from the voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A neural drug delivery device, which comprises
a) at least one fluid delivery conduit comprising a conduit sidewall defining a lumen configured to transport fluid; -
b) at least one fluid delivery port extending through the conduit sidewall; and c) a port gate supported by the conduit sidewall at the fluid delivery port, the port gate comprising; i) a mesh structure; and ii) an electroactive polymer supported by at least a portion of the mesh structure, d) wherein the port gate is selectively operable between the following modes; i) in the absence of a conductive signal applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer is stable in an oxidized and expanded state occluding the mesh structure to thereby provide the port gate in a closed mode that prevents transfer of the fluid through the fluid delivery port; and ii) in response to a conductive signal applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer volumetrically contracts to thereby provide an open mode that allows transfer of the fluid through the fluid delivery port. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A neural drug delivery system, which comprises:
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a) at least one fluid delivery conduit comprising a conduit sidewall defining a. lumen configured to transport fluid; b) at least one fluid delivery port extending through the conduit sidewall; c) a port gate supported by the conduit sidewall at the fluid delivery port, the port gate comprising; i) a thin-film mesh structure; and ii) an electroactive polymer supported by at least a portion of the mesh structure, d) wherein the port gate is selectively operable between the following modes; i) in the absence of a conductive signal applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer is stable in an oxidized and expanded state occluding the mesh structure to thereby provide the port gate in a closed. mode that prevents transfer of the fluid through the fluid delivery port; ii) in response to a conductive signal being applied to the electroactive polymer, the polymer volumetrically contracts to thereby provide an open mode that allows transfer of the fluid through the fluid delivery port; and iii) one or more gradient open modes, wherein in each gradient open mode the port gate volumetrically contracts by a discrete amount corresponding to one of a range of conductive signal levels; and e) a voltage source that provides the conductive signal to the electroactive polymer of the port gate; and f) an interconnect network configured to carry the conductive signal to the port gate from the voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification