Degradable implantable galvanic power source

1. A biodegradable galvanic power source comprising:

an anode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic;

a cathode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the cathode being in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the anode,

wherein electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic, and wherein the cathode material presents a larger standard reduction potential than the anode material; and

a biodegradable coating disposed over the outer surface of the cathode and a first portion of the outer surface of the anode, such that a second portion of the outer surface of the anode is uncoated by the biodegradable coating.

2. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 1 , wherein the anode material is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron, zinc, electrochemically oxidizable degradable polymers, alloys, and combinations thereof.

3. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 1 , wherein the cathode material is selected from the group of materials consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal oxyhydroxides, polyoxymetallates, metal salts, electrochemically reducible degradable polymers, and combinations thereof.

4. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable coating comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesters, polyamides, polyamines, polyalkylene oxalates, poly(anhydrides), polyamidoesters, copoly(ether-esters), poly(carbonates), poly(hydroxyalkanoates), poly(hydroxyvaleric acid), poly(hydroxybutyrate), polyimide carbonates, poly(imino carbonates), polyorthoesters, polyoxaesters, polyphosphazenes, poly (propylene fumarates), polyurethanes, polymer drugs, and combinations thereof.

5. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogel layer disposed over the second portion of the outer surface of the anode, the hydrogel layer comprising at least one precursor material.

6. A biodegradable galvanic power source comprising:

an anode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic;

a cathode comprising a cathode including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the cathode being in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the anode; and

a biodegradable coating disposed over the outer surface of the cathode and a first portion of the outer surface of the anode, such that a second portion of the outer surface of the anode is uncoated by the biodegradable coating,

wherein electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic, and wherein the cathode material having a larger standard reduction potential than the anode material.

7. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 6 , wherein the anode material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron, zinc, electrochemically oxidizable degradable polymers, alloys and combinations thereof.

8. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 6 , wherein the cathode material comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal oxyhydroxides, polyoxymetallates, metal salts, electrochemically reducible degradable polymers, and combinations thereof.

9. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 6 , wherein the biodegradable coating comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesters, polyamides, polyamines, polyalkylene oxalates, poly(anhydrides), polyamidoesters, copoly(ether-esters), poly(carbonates), poly(hydroxyalkanoates), poly(hydroxyvaleric acid), poly(hydroxybutyrate), polyimide carbonates, poly(imino carbonates), polyorthoesters, polyoxaesters, polyphosphazenes, poly (propylene fumarates), polyurethanes, polymer drugs, and combinations thereof.

10. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 6 , further comprising a water-permeable hydrogel layer disposed over the second portion of the outer surface of the anode, the water-permeable hydrogel layer comprising at least one precursor material.

11. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 6 , wherein the biodegradable galvanic power source has a substantially frustoconical shape.

12. A biodegradable galvanic power source comprising:

an anode comprising a material including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein electrochemical oxidation of the anode material results in the formation of a reaction products that is substantially non-toxic;

a cathode comprising a material, including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the cathode being in direct physical contact with the inner surface of the anode;

a biodegradable coating disposed over the outer surface of the cathode and a first portion of the outer surface of the anode; and

a hydrogel layer disposed over a second portion of the outer surface of the anode,

wherein electrochemical reduction of the cathode material results in the formation of a reaction product that is substantially non-toxic, and wherein the cathode material having a larger standard reduction potential than the anode material.

13. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 12 , wherein the anode material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron, zinc, electrochemically oxidizable degradable polymers, alloys and combinations thereof.

14. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 12 , wherein the cathode material comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal oxyhydroxides, polyoxymetallates, metal salts, electrochemically reducible degradable polymers, and combinations thereof.

15. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 12 , wherein the biodegradable coating comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesters, polyamides, polyamines, polyalkylene oxalates, poly(anhydrides), polyamidoesters, copoly(ether-esters), poly(carbonates), poly(hydroxyalkanoates), poly(hydroxyvaleric acid), poly(hydroxybutyrate), polyimide carbonates, poly(imino carbonates), polyorthoesters, polyoxaesters, polyphosphazenes, poly (propylene fumarates), polyurethanes, polymer drugs, and combinations thereof.

16. The biodegradable galvanic power source of claim 12 , wherein the biodegradable coating is disposed over only a portion of the outer surface of the anode.