Reduction of gas escape in membrane actuators

• US 8,652,085 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Gelvin, Michael L., Dos Santos, Cesario P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAK, LESLIE R
• Application Number:
  US13/539,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20140005587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/9, 607/88, 607/92, 607/94, 600/9
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

A membrane actuator device includes a housing with an entrance port and an exit port connected by a fluid flow passageway. A gas generation chamber is disposed within the housing, the gas generation chamber comprising a first opening and a gas generating element. A membrane actuation chamber has a second opening and may be defined at least in part by a flexible membrane configured to deflect and affect fluid flow through the fluid flow passageway. A barrier spans the width of the first opening of the gas generation chamber and is disposed in a manner that reduces the likelihood that gas molecules will pass from the gas generation chamber to the membrane actuation chamber.

Claims

1. A membrane actuator device, comprising:

a housing including an entrance port and an exit port connected by a fluid flow passageway;

a gas generation chamber within the housing, the gas generation chamber comprising a first opening and a gas generating element;

a membrane actuation chamber having a second opening and being defined at least in part by a flexible membrane configured to deflect and affect fluid flow through the fluid flow passageway; and

a barrier spanning the width of the first opening of the gas generation chamber and being disposed in a manner that reduces the likelihood that gas molecules will pass from the gas generation chamber to the membrane actuation chamber.

2. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the gas generation chamber comprises a plurality of sidewalls and comprises electrodes disposed along a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the first opening disposed along a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the first sidewall being adjacent the second sidewall.

3. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the barrier is disposed within the gas generation chamber.

4. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the barrier is curved and has a length greater than a width of the first opening, the barrier being disposed to extend in a direction substantially normal to the passageway at the first opening.

5. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the barrier is a slidable piston separating fluid in the gas generation chamber from fluid in the membrane actuation chamber.

6. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of parallel wall structures.

7. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a deviation in a sidewall, the deviation comprising a tapered surface configured to direct rising gas bubbles away from the first opening.

8. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the length of the passageway is the same thickness as a wall of the generation chamber.

9. The membrane actuator device of claim 1, wherein the flow control chamber includes an actuator liquid and an electrolysis system configured to affect the flow control chamber pressure by converting at least a portion of the actuator liquid to a gas.

10. The membrane actuator device of claim 6, wherein the flow control chamber includes at least one catalyst to increase a recombination rate of the first gas and the second gas.

11. A membrane actuator device for implantation in an eye of a patient to treat an ocular condition, comprising:

a housing including an entrance port and an exit port connected by a fluid flow passageway;

a gas generation chamber within the housing, the gas generation chamber comprising a first opening and a gas generating element;

a membrane actuation chamber having a second opening and being defined at least in part by a flexible membrane configured to deflect into and affect fluid flow through the fluid flow passageway;

a passageway extending between and connecting the first opening of the gas generation chamber and the second opening of the membrane actuation chamber in a manner that a pressure change in the gas generation chamber results in a corresponding pressure change in the membrane actuation chamber; and

a barrier configured to limit the introduction of gas from the gas generation chamber into the membrane actuation chamber.

12. The membrane actuator device of claim 11, wherein the gas generation chamber comprises a plurality of sidewalls and comprises electrodes along a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the first opening being disposed along a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the first sidewall being adjacent the second sidewall.

13. The membrane actuator device of claim 11, wherein the barrier is disposed within the gas generation chamber.

14. The membrane actuator device of claim 11, wherein the barrier is curved and has a length greater than a width of the first opening, the barrier being disposed to extend in a direction substantially normal to the passageway at the first opening.

15. The membrane actuator device of claim 11, wherein the barrier is a slidable piston separating fluid in the gas generation chamber from fluid in the membrane actuation chamber.

16. The membrane actuator device of claim 11, wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of parallel wall structures.

17. The membrane actuator device of claim 11, wherein the barrier comprises a deviation in a sidewall, the barrier comprising a tapered surface configured to direct rising gas bubbles away from the first opening.

18. A method of regulating drainage from an anterior chamber of an eye with a membrane valve, comprising:

directing fluid through a fluid flow passageway formed within a housing, the fluid flow passageway comprising a portion formed of a flexible membrane, the membrane separating the fluid flow passageway from a membrane actuation chamber;

modifying pressure in a gas generation chamber connected to the membrane actuation chamber in a manner that a pressure change in the gas generation chamber results in a pressure change in the membrane actuation chamber; and

limiting the passage of gas from the gas generation chamber to the membrane actuation chamber with a barrier shaped and configured to at least partially block gas from entering the membrane actuation chamber.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein limiting the passage of gas comprises at least partially blocking the gas with a barrier spanning the width of an opening to a passageway extending between the gas generation chamber and the membrane actuation chamber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the barrier is disposed within the gas generation chamber.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the barrier directs gas bubbles away from the opening with obliquely-extending surfaces.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the barrier is one of a piston and a wall structure.