Microwave-powered reactor and method for in situ forming implants

• US 9,247,931 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Belcheva, Nadya
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayekar, Kishor
• Application Number:
  US13/807,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/005 hardenable using external energy source, e.g. laser, ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/043 Mixtures of macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/041 Mixtures of macromolecular compounds

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and process for forming medical devices from an injectable composition. The apparatus includes a supply assembly, a mixing assembly, and at least one source of microwave energy. The supply assembly is configured to maintain and selectively dispense a first precursor functionalized with a first reactive member and a second precursor functionalized with a second reactive member. The mixing assembly is configured to mix the first and second precursors within a mixing cavity defined therein. The microwave energy source is configured and adapted to irradiate the mixed first and second precursors within the mixing cavity.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a supply assembly configured to maintain and selectively dispense a first precursor functionalized with a first reactive member and a second precursor functionalized with a second reactive member;

a mixing assembly configured to mix the first and second precursors in a mixing cavity defined therein; and

at least one source of microwave energy configured and adapted to irradiate the mixed first and second precursors within the mixing cavity, wherein the source of microwave energy includes a microwave generator operably coupled to a microwave antenna, the microwave antenna including a radiating section disposed within the mixing cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixing cavity is configured as a substantially closed reactor for receiving microwave energy from a microwave generator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixing cavity includes a mixing element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mixing element comprises a static mixer including substantially fixed helical members extending along a length of the mixing cavity.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the mixing element includes a coating containing a catalyst.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the radiating section of the microwave antenna is disposed proximal to the mixing element in the mixing cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the mixing cavity includes a coating containing a catalyst.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the catalyst is a metal ion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the metal ion is a transition metal ion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of microwave energy emits microwave energy at a frequency from about 300 MHz to about 20,000 MHz.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first precursor possesses an azide group and the second precursor possesses an alkyne group.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first precursor and optionally the second precursor comprises a polyol core.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters, polyether-esters, polyalkanols, and combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microwave antenna passes through the supply assembly.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the radiating section of the microwave antenna is disposed in a proximal end of the mixing cavity.