Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microchip device for controlling the exposure of a secondary device. SOLUTION: The microchip device includes a substrate. The substrate has a plurality of reservoirs. The plurality of reservoirs contains the secondary device, and reactive components or a combination thereof. At least one barrier layer covers the each reservoir to protect a content of the each reservoir from one or more environmental components existing in an outside of the reservoir. The barrier layer can be selectively decomposed or permeable, and a separated contents is thereby exposed to the one or more environmental components. The secondary device preferably includes a sensor or sensing component (for example, a biosensor, or a photodetecting or image generating device (for example, optical fiber)). A catalysts and a reagent are mentioned as preferable reactive components, and may be immobilized in the reservoir. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide compression cold welding methods for sealing parts together, joint structures, and hermetically sealed containment devices.SOLUTION: The method includes: providing a first substrate 12 having at least one first joint structure 16 which comprises a first joining surface 18, which surface comprises a first metal; providing a second substrate 14 having at least one second joint structure which comprises a second joining surface 22, which surface comprises a second metal; and compressing together the at least one first joint structure and the at least one second joint structure to locally deform and shear the joining surfaces at one or more interfaces in an amount effective to form a metal-to-metal bond between the first metal and second metal of the joining surfaces. Overlaps at the joining surfaces are effective to displace surface contaminants and facilitate intimate contact between the joining surfaces without heat input. Hermetically sealed devices can contain drug formulations, biosensors, or MEMS devices.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide microchip device arrays that can conform to a curved surface for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents. SOLUTION: The arrays 50 comprise two or more microchip device elements 54, each of the two or more microchip device elements includes a plurality of reservoirs 62 that contain molecules for controlled release or components for selective exposure, and a means for flexibly connecting the device elements. The reservoirs can contain one or more drugs and/or one or more secondary devices (for example, sensors or elements thereof). Preferably, these microchip devices contain and controllably release therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic molecules on and into the eye of a patient in need thereof. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which can control a reservoir content to be released and exposed, and a method. SOLUTION: The device 50 comprises electric input and electric output wires 62a which are connected to reservoir caps 58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d made of an electroconductive material to prevent a reservoir content 56 from being released out of the device 50 and exposed to a molecule outside the device 50, so that the reservoir caps are broken down by loading them when an electric current is impressed via the electric input and electric output wires 62a to release and expose the reservoir content 56: the reservoir content 56 can comprise a releasing system containing a drug molecule to release or can comprise a secondary device (such as a sensor). COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide microchip device arrays that can conform to a curved surface for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents. SOLUTION: The arrays comprise two or more microchip device elements 54, each of the two or more microchip device elements includes a plurality of reservoirs 62 that contain molecules for controlled release or components for selective exposure, and a means for flexibly connecting the device elements. The reservoirs can contain one or more drugs and/or one or more secondary devices (for example, sensors or elements thereof). Preferably, this microchip devices contain and controllably release therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic molecules on and into the eye of a patient in need thereof. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
Methods and devices are provided for enhancing corrosion of an electrode in a biocompatible fluid. The method comprises (1) placing a primary electrode and a counter electrode in an electroconductive biocompatible fluid to form an electrochemical cell; and (2) applying a time-varying potential, through the electrochemical cell, to the primary electrode. In a preferred embodiment, the primary electrode is metal and comprises a reservoir cap of a microchip device for the release of molecules or exposure of device reservoir contents. The potential preferably is characterized by a waveform having a maximum potential effectively anodic to meet or exceed the corrosion potential of the primary electrode. Also, the minimum potential preferably is effectively cathodic to be below the value where redeposition of metal ions on the metal electrode can substantially occur, thereby corroding the metal electrode.
Abstract:
Reservoir-based devices are provided in which an individual reservoir has at least two openings with a support structure therebetween and closed by reservoir caps covering the openings to control release or exposure of reservoir contents. In one embodiment, the device is an implantable medical device and provides for the controlled release of drug or exposure of a sensor. The device includes a substrate; at least one reservoir disposed in the substrate, the reservoir having two or more openings; reservoir contents located in the reservoir; two or more discrete reservoir caps, each reservoir cap sealingly covering at least one of the reservoir openings; and control means for selectively disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir caps.
Abstract:
Devices, such as medical devices, are provided which include a body portion having at least one reservoir which has two or more openings, the two or more openings being defined in part by a reservoir cap support; reservoir contents, such as a drug formulation or sensor, disposed inside the reservoir; and a reservoir cap which closes off the two or more reservoir openings. The reservoir cap, which can be ruptured, controls release or exposure of the reservoir contents. In one embodiment, the device is an implantable medical device and provides for the controlled release of drug or exposure of a sensor.
Abstract:
Devices and methods are provided for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents. The device includes a substrate, a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate, reservoir contents disposed in the reservoirs, discrete reservoir caps covering each reservoir to seal the reservoir contents in the reservoirs, and control circuitry for selectively disintegrating the reservoir caps to release or expose the reservoir contents in vivo. At least one of the reservoir caps comprises a first electrically conductive layer coated with one or more protective layers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry comprises an electrical input lead and an electrical output lead connected to and directly contacting each of said reservoir caps and a source of electric power for applying an electrical current through each reservoir cap in an amount effective to rupture each of the reservoir caps.