Microchip substance delivery devices having low-power electromechanical release mechanisms
First Claim
1. An electromechanical device, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate;
a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity;
a seal disposed between the membrane and the surface of the substrate, wherein the seal surrounds the opening of the cavity, and wherein the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity; and
an electrode structure configured to locally heat a portion of the membrane in response to a control voltage applied to the electrode structure, and create a stress that causes a rupture in the locally heated portion of the membrane to release the substance from within the cavity;
wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of voids formed within the membrane, wherein the plurality of voids are configured to reduce a strength of the locally heated portion of the membrane and facilitate rupturing of the locally heated portion of the membrane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electromechanical substance delivery devices are provided which implement low-power electromechanical release mechanisms for controlled delivery of substances such as drugs and medication. For example, an electromechanical device includes a substrate having a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate, a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity, and a seal disposed between the membrane and the surface of the substrate. The seal surrounds the opening of the cavity, and the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity. An electrode structure is configured to locally heat a portion of the membrane in response to a control voltage applied to the electrode structure, and create a stress that causes a rupture in the locally heated portion of the membrane to release the substance from within the cavity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate; a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity; a seal disposed between the membrane and the surface of the substrate, wherein the seal surrounds the opening of the cavity, and wherein the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity; and an electrode structure configured to locally heat a portion of the membrane in response to a control voltage applied to the electrode structure, and create a stress that causes a rupture in the locally heated portion of the membrane to release the substance from within the cavity; wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of voids formed within the membrane, wherein the plurality of voids are configured to reduce a strength of the locally heated portion of the membrane and facilitate rupturing of the locally heated portion of the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate; a seal disposed on the surface of the substrate surrounding an opening of the cavity; a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering the opening of the cavity, wherein the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity; an electrode structure comprising a first contact, a second contact, and a plurality of filaments arranged adjacent to each other, wherein the plurality of filaments are electrically connected in parallel to the first contact and the second contact of the electrode structure, wherein the filaments are configured to melt in succession in response to a control voltage applied to the first contact and the second contact, and cause a rupture in a portion of the membrane adjacent to the plurality of filaments to release the substance from within the cavity; wherein the plurality of filaments comprises parallel filaments disposed between the first contact and the second contact, wherein each filament includes a fuse portion that is configured to melt, wherein a centrally disposed one of the filaments has a width that is greater than widths of the other filament structures, and wherein the widths of the other filaments disposed on each side of the centrally disposed filament are made successively smaller; wherein the fuse portions of the filaments are arranged along a V-shaped line, wherein a fuse portion of the centrally disposed filament is aligned to an apex of the V-shaped line; and wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of voids formed within the membrane along the V-shaped line, wherein the plurality of voids is configured to reduce a strength of the membrane and facilitate rupturing a portion of the membrane adjacent to the fuse portions of the filaments.
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11. The An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate; a seal disposed on the surface of the substrate surrounding an opening of the cavity; a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering the opening of the cavity, wherein the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity; an electrode structure comprising a first contact, a second contact, and a plurality of filaments arranged adjacent to each other, wherein the plurality of filaments are electrically connected in parallel to the first and second contacts of the electrode structure, wherein the filaments are configured to melt in succession in response to a control voltage applied to the first and second contacts, and cause a rupture in a portion of the membrane adjacent to the plurality of filaments to release the substance from within the cavity; wherein the plurality of filaments comprises circular filament structures that are concentrically arranged and connected to the first and second contacts. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate; a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity, wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of voids formed within the membrane, wherein the plurality of voids are configured to reduce a strength of a portion of the membrane within which the voids are formed; a seal disposed between the membrane and the surface of the substrate, wherein the seal surrounds the opening of the cavity, wherein the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity; and an electrode structure configured to thermally expand in response to a control voltage applied to the electrode structure and apply a tensile stress to the portion of the membrane within which the voids are formed and cause a rupture in said portion of the membrane to release the substance from within the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate; a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity; a seal disposed between the membrane and the surface of the substrate, wherein the seal surrounds the opening of the cavity, and wherein the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity; and an electrode structure formed on the membrane, wherein the electrode structure is formed in a tensile-stressed state, and comprises a fuse portion, wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of voids formed within the membrane along one or more edges of the electrode structure, wherein the plurality of voids are configured to reduce a strength of a portion of the membrane along the one or more edges of the electrode structure, and wherein the fuse portion of the electrode structure is configured to melt in response to a control voltage applied to the electrode structure and cause the electrode structure to peel back and rupture the portion of the membrane in which the plurality of voids are formed along the one or more edges of the electrode structure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification