Implantable oxygen generator and transporter

• US 9,763,825 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology, Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology, Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California
• Inventors: Tai, Yu-Chong, Scianmarello, Nicholas E., Murali, Karthik, Humayun, Mark S., Ribeiro, Ramiro Magalhaes
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Nathan R
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUBRAVA, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US15/261,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20170071785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 continuous direct currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/00 Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

An implantable medical device is described. The implantable medical device includes a small molecule generator, a small molecule diffusor, and a cannula that connects the two. The small molecule generator includes an electrolyte reservoir and a set of electrodes. A first portion of the electrolyte reservoir is impermeable to a predetermined class of small molecules. A second portion of the electrolyte reservoir is permeable to the small molecules. The set of electrodes is disposed inside the electrolyte reservoir and is configured to facilitate electrolysis of the small molecules based on an electric power application to the set of electrodes and on presence of electrolyte inside the electrolyte reservoir. At least a portion of the small molecule diffusor is permeable to the small molecules.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a small molecule generator comprising an electrolyte reservoir and a set of electrodes, wherein;

a first portion of the electrolyte reservoir is impermeable to a predetermined class of small molecules,

a second portion of the electrolyte reservoir is permeable to the small molecules, and

the set of electrodes is disposed inside the electrolyte reservoir and is configured to facilitate electrolysis of the small molecules based on an electric power application to the set of electrodes and on presence of electrolyte inside the electrolyte reservoir;

a small molecule diffusor, wherein at least a portion of the small molecule diffusor is permeable to the small molecules; and

a cannula impermeable to the small molecules and comprising a lumen, wherein the lumen connects the small molecule generator to the small molecule diffusor.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a chamber, wherein at least the chamber and the electrolyte reservoir form a bag that is impermeable to the small molecules, wherein the second portion of the electrolyte reservoir is shared with the chamber, and wherein an end of the lumen is connected to an opening of the chamber.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the small molecule generator is remote from the small molecule diffusor, wherein the cannula is narrower than the bag and the small molecule diffusor, wherein the small molecules comprise oxygen molecules, wherein the chamber comprises an oxygen transport substance.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 3, wherein the oxygen transport substance comprises at least one of:

perfluorocarbon, air, nanoporous glass, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or an array of suspended carbon nanotubes.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1 further comprising an absorption bag that is permeable to the small molecules, wherein the lumen further connects the absorption bag to the small molecule diffusor.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the electrolyte reservoir and the absorption bag share the first portion of the electrolyte bag that is impermeable to the small molecules.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the cannula comprises material that is impermeable to the small molecules, wherein the material splits the lumen in at least two channels, wherein a first channel connects the small molecule generator to the small molecule diffusor, and wherein a second channel connects the absorption bag to the small molecule diffusor.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 7, wherein the small molecule diffusor forms a permeable sac comprising two interiors separated by the material that is impermeable to the small molecules, wherein the first channel of the lumen is connected to a first interior of the interiors, and wherein the second channel of the lumen is connected to a second interior of the interiors.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 7, wherein the small molecule diffusor forms a permeable sac, wherein the first channel and the second channel are connected to a single interior of the permeable sac.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1 further comprising a coil configured to inductively couple circuitry of the implantable medical device to an external power source, wherein the circuitry comprises a microcontroller.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 10, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the electric power application to the set of electrodes.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the electric power application is controlled based on a feedback loop to the microcontroller about the electrolysis of the small molecules.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the feedback loop facilitates measurement of a level of the electrolyte in the electrolyte reservoir, wherein the measurement is based on electrical resistivity between the electrodes or amount of current drawn by the electric power application.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller is configured to measure a level of the electrolyte in the electrolyte reservoir, and wherein the circuitry further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit data about the level of the electrolyte to an external computing device.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the circuitry comprises a rechargeable power source, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the electric power application from the rechargeable power source based on a time of day.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte reservoir comprises a transparent view port configured to facilitate a visual inspection of a level of the electrolyte in the electrolyte reservoir.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte reservoir is refillable with amounts of the electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte reservoir comprises an internal hydrophilic surface arranged to facilitate condensation of the amounts of the electrolyte.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 1 further comprising a bag permeable to the electrolyte, wherein an opening of the bag is connected to an opening of the electrolyte reservoir, wherein the electrolyte reservoir is refillable with amounts of the electrolyte, and wherein the amounts of electrolyte are available based on osmosis through the bag given an ionic concentration within the electrolyte reservoir.

19. A method of using an implantable medical device, the method comprising:

providing an implantable medical device, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a small molecule generator comprising an electrolyte reservoir and a set of electrodes, wherein;

a first portion of the electrolyte reservoir is impermeable to a predetermined class of small molecules, a second portion of the electrolyte reservoir is permeable to the small molecules, the set of electrodes is disposed inside the electrolyte reservoir and is configured to facilitate electrolysis of the small molecules based on an electric power application to the set of electrodes and on presence of electrolyte inside the electrolyte reservoir;

a small molecule diffusor, wherein at least a portion of the small molecule diffusor is permeable to the small molecules; and

a cannula impermeable to the small molecules and comprising a lumen, wherein the lumen connects the small molecule generator to the small molecule diffusor;

placing the small molecule diffusor inside an eyeball;

placing the small molecule generator between a conjunctiva and sclera of the eyeball; and

attaching the small molecule generator to the sclera.