Remote control of osmotic pump device
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an osmotic pump device including an osmotic chamber including a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall thereof and a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an osmotic fluid source, comprising:
- generating with a remote control signal source an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in an environment; and
wirelessly transmitting the electromagnetic control signal from the remote control signal source to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device with signal characteristics sufficient to activate the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device, wherein absorption of the electromagnetic control signal by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element is sufficient to control the concentration of an osmotic-pressure generating material in the osmotic fluid in the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device to thereby control the flow of osmotic fluid through the semi-permeable membrane into the osmotic chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled osmotic pump device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, an osmotic pump device is placed in an environment in order to pump a material into the environment or into an additional fluid handling structure within the osmotic pump device. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.
263 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an osmotic pump device including an osmotic chamber including a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall thereof and a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an osmotic fluid source, comprising:
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generating with a remote control signal source an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in an environment; and wirelessly transmitting the electromagnetic control signal from the remote control signal source to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device with signal characteristics sufficient to activate the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device, wherein absorption of the electromagnetic control signal by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element is sufficient to control the concentration of an osmotic-pressure generating material in the osmotic fluid in the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device to thereby control the flow of osmotic fluid through the semi-permeable membrane into the osmotic chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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11. A method of controlling an osmotic pump device including an osmotic chamber including a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall thereof and a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an osmotic fluid source, comprising:
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generating with a remote control signal source an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in an environment; and wirelessly transmitting the electromagnetic control signal from the remote control signal source to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in the environment with signal characteristics sufficient to produce mechanical, thermal or chemical activation of the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device, wherein absorption of the electromagnetic control signal by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element is sufficient to control the solubility of osmotic pressure generating material within the osmotic chamber to thereby control the pumping rate of the osmotic pump device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27)
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17. A system comprising:
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a recordable type signal-bearing medium bearing; instructions for generating with a remote control signal source an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall of an osmotic chamber of an osmotic pump device in an environment, the osmotic chamber including a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an osmotic fluid source; and instructions for wirelessly transmitting the electromagnetic control signal from the remote control signal source to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in the environment with signal characteristics sufficient to produce at least one of mechanical, thermal or chemical activation of the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device wherein absorption of the electromagnetic control signal by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element is sufficient to control the solubility of osmotic pressure generating material within the osmotic chamber to thereby control the pumping rate of the osmotic pump device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method of controlling an osmotic pump device including an osmotic chamber, comprising:
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generating with a remote control signal source an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in an environment, the osmotic pump device including an interaction region including interaction sites located on or adjacent to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element, and a semi-permeable membrane separating an osmotic fluid source from the osmotic chamber; and wirelessly transmitting the electromagnetic control signal from the remote control signal source to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device with signal characteristics sufficient to activate the magnetically or electrically responsive control element wherein absorption of the electromagnetic control signal by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element is sufficient to modify interaction of an osmotic pressure generating material within the osmotic chamber with the interaction sites by changing one or more characteristic of the interaction sites.
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31. A method of controlling an osmotic pump device including an osmotic chamber including a semi-permeable membrane separating the osmotic chamber from an environment, comprising:
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generating with a remote control signal source an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in the environment; wirelessly transmitting the electromagnetic control signal from the remote control signal source to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device with signal characteristics sufficient to activate the magnetically or electrically responsive control element wherein absorption of the electromagnetic control signal by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element is sufficient to heat or cool an osmotic fluid in the osmotic chamber.
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32. A method of controlling an osmotic pump device including an osmotic chamber, comprising:
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generating with a remote control signal source an electromagnetic control signal including frequency components absorbable by a magnetically or electrically responsive control element in a wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device in an environment, the osmotic chamber including a semi-permeable membrane separating an osmotic fluid source from the osmotic chamber; and wirelessly transmitting the electromagnetic control signal from the remote control signal source to the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device with signal characteristics sufficient to activate the magnetically or electrically responsive control element in the wall of the osmotic chamber of the osmotic pump device wherein absorption of the electromagnetic control signal by the magnetically or electrically responsive control element is sufficient to control the concentration of an osmotic-pressure generating material in the osmotic fluid in the osmotic chamber.
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Specification