Electrochemical dispensing apparatus and method
View Patent ↗The disclosed invention provides electrochemical dispensing apparatus. According to the principles of the invention, a microelectronic electrochemical dispenser is used to cause the release of one or more selected chemical substance from a stored chemical compound. The release is controlled using a timer or sensor apparatus in a controlling device, preferably an ASIC.
1. A dental bracket system comprising:
a bracket;
an electrochemical dispensing unit disposed on the bracket, said electrochemical dispensing unit comprising an application specific integrated circuit and a reservoir; said application specific integrated circuit comprises a controlling mechanism and an electrochemical driver circuit;
a chemical compound disposed within the reservoir and formulated to ensure availability of a selected target chemical; and
the controlling mechanism and the electrochemical driver circuit of the integrated circuit electrically connected to the reservoir for promoting an electrochemical reaction for causing a release of the target chemical.
2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises fluoride.
3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises sodium fluoride.
4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises stannous fluoride.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises sodium monofluorophosphate.
6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises a silane.
7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises an ionic fluid.
8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises a fluorine-bearing silane.
9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the target chemical further comprises fluorine.
10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises carbon.
11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises hydrogen.
12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the chemical compound further comprises argon.
13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the application specific integrated circuit further comprises a timer circuit for controlling the operation of the application specific integrated circuit.
14. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a rechargeable battery operably coupled for promoting the electrochemical reaction.
15. The system according to claim 1 further comprising an energy harvesting circuit operably coupled to the application specific integrated circuit.
16. The system according to claim 1 wherein the application specific integrated circuit is operably coupled to a microelectromechanical energy harvesting device.
17. The system according to claim 1 wherein the application specific integrated circuit is operably coupled to an inductive energy harvesting device.
18. The system according to claim 1 wherein the application specific integrated circuit is configured for acquiring data for use in controlling the operation of the application specific integrated circuit.