IP Library Patent Application 12315882
Patent Application
App. No. 12/315,882

System, devices, and methods including sterilizing excitation delivery implants with general controllers and onboard power

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/315,882
Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively-controllable disinfecting implantable device configured to, for example, treat or prevent an infection in a biological subject.

Claims (55)

1 . An implantable device, comprising:

a sterilizing stimulus providing portion;

an actively-controllable excitation component configured to deliver a sterilizing stimulus, in vivo, to tissue proximate the sterilizing stimulus providing portion of the implantable device;

a controller communicatively coupled to the sterilizing stimulus providing portion; and

a power source, the power source electromagnetically, magnetically, ultrasonically, optically, inductively, electrically, or capacitively-coupled to the actively-controllable excitation component.

2 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to apply a spatially-patterned sterilizing stimulus.

3 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to apply an actively controllable spatially-patterned sterilizing stimulus.

4 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to deliver at least one of

an electrical sterilizing stimulus, an electromagnetic sterilizing stimulus, an ultrasonic sterilizing stimulus, or a thermal sterilizing stimulus,

in vivo, to tissue proximate the sterilizing stimulus providing portion of the implantable device.

5 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to deliver an electrical stimulus, in vivo, to tissue proximate the sterilizing stimulus providing portion of the implantable device.

6 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to deliver one or more sterilizing stimuli.

7 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to concurrently or sequentially deliver at least a first sterilizing stimulus and a second sterilizing stimulus, the second sterilizing stimulus different than the first sterilizing stimulus; wherein the first sterilizing stimulus comprise one of an electrical sterilizing stimulus, an electromagnetic sterilizing stimulus, an ultrasonic sterilizing stimulus, or a thermal sterilizing stimulus, and the second sterilizing stimulus comprises the different one of an electrical sterilizing stimulus, an electromagnetic sterilizing stimulus, an ultrasonic sterilizing stimulus, or a thermal sterilizing stimulus.

8 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control one or more parameters associated with a concurrent or sequential delivery of two or more sterilizing stimuli.

9 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a thermoelectric generator, a piezoelectric generator, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) generator, or a biomechanical-energy harvesting generator.

10 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a button cell, a chemical battery cell, a fuel cell, a secondary cell, a lithium ion cell, a micro-electric patch, a nickel metal hydride cell, silver-zinc cell, a capacitor, a super-capacitor, a thin film secondary cell, an ultra-capacitor, or a zinc-air cell.

11 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises at least one rechargeable power source.

12 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to deliver an electromagnetic stimulus, in vivo, to tissue proximate the first outer surface.

13 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component is configured to deliver a sterilizing stimulus of a character and for a time sufficient to provide a spatially-patterned sterilizing stimulus.

14 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component includes a spatially-patterned energy-emitting element configured to provide a spatially-patterned sterilizing stimulus.

15 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component includes a spatially-patterned energy-emitting element configured to provide a spatially-patterned sterilizing stimulus, the spatially-patterned energy-emitting element having a plurality of spaced apart electrodes.

16 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component includes a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes configured to provide a spatially-patterned sterilizing stimulus.

17 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component includes at least one patterned electrode, the at least one patterned electrode configured to provide a spatially-patterned sterilizing stimulus.

18 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the actively-controllable excitation component includes at least one energy-emitting component, the at least one energy-emitting component configured to provide a spatially-patterned light energy stimulus.

19 . The implantable device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one energy-emitting component is configured to provide a spatially-patterned optical energy stimulus.

20 . The implantable device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one energy-emitting component includes a patterned light source.

21 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one energy-emitting component, the at least one energy-emitting component configured to provide a spatially-patterned light energy stimulus.

22 . The implantable device of claim 21 , wherein the at least one energy-emitting component is configured to provide a spatially-patterned optical energy stimulus.

23 . The implantable device of claim 21 , wherein the at least one energy-emitting component includes a patterned light source.

24 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a scaffold-forming material supply component configured to deliver at least one scaffold-forming material to the first outer surface.

25 . The implantable device of claim 24 , wherein the scaffold-forming material comprises at least one of scaffold-forming collagens, scaffold-forming proteins, or scaffold-forming substances.

26 . The implantable device of claim 24 wherein the scaffold-forming material comprises one or more growth promoting materials.

27 . The implantable device of claim 24 wherein the scaffold-forming material comprises one or more growth factors.

28 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to determine at least one characteristic associated with a tissue proximate the first outer surface.

29 . The implantable device of claim 28 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes at least one of an infection indicator, an inflammation indicator, an infective stress indicator, or a sepsis indicator.

30 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

circuitry for obtaining information.

31 . The implantable device of claim 30 , wherein the circuitry for obtaining for information includes circuitry for obtaining information associated with a delivery of the sterilizing stimulus.

32 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for obtaining information includes circuitry for obtaining at least one of a command stream, a software stream, or a data stream.

33 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one receiver configured to acquire information.

34 . The implantable device of claim 33 , wherein the at least one receiver is configured to acquire instructions.

35 . The implantable device of claim 33 , wherein the at least one receiver is configured to acquire information associated with delivery of the sterilizing stimulus.

36 . The implantable device of claim 33 , wherein the at least one receiver is configured to acquire data.

37 . The implantable device of claim 33 , wherein the at least one receiver is configured to acquire software.

38 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

circuitry for providing information.

39 . The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry for providing information includes circuitry for providing status information.

40 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one transmitter configured to send information.

41 . The implantable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one processor, the processor communicably-coupled to the actively-controllable excitation component and configured to control at least one of a duration time, a delivery location, or a spatially-patterned stimulation configuration associated with the delivery of the sterilizing stimulus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2009
From: BOYDEN, EDWARD S.; DACEY, RALPH G., JR.; ROCCA, GREGORY J. DELLA; DOWLING, JOSHUA L.; HYDE, RODERICK A.; ISHIKAWA, MURIEL Y.; KARE, JORDIN T.; LEUTHARDT, ERIC C.; MYHRVOLD, NATHAN P.; RIVET, DENNIS J.; SANTIAGO, PAUL; SMITH, MICHAEL A.; STEWART, TODD J.; SWEENEY, ELIZABETH A.; TEGREENE, CLARENCE T.; WOOD, LOWELL L., JR.; WOOD, VICTORIA Y.H.
To: SEARETE LLC
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