WO2005120631A1 - Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials - Google Patents
Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials Download PDFInfo
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- WO2005120631A1 WO2005120631A1 PCT/US2004/017401 US2004017401W WO2005120631A1 WO 2005120631 A1 WO2005120631 A1 WO 2005120631A1 US 2004017401 W US2004017401 W US 2004017401W WO 2005120631 A1 WO2005120631 A1 WO 2005120631A1
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
- A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
- A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
- A61N1/325—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
- A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
- A61N1/20—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes continuous direct currents
- A61N1/30—Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
- A61N1/303—Constructional details
- A61N1/306—Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
Definitions
- This invention relates to the use of electric current to reduce fibrous capsule formation adjacent to the surface of implanted medical devices. Reduced capsule formation facilitates the transfer of fluids into or out of an interior lumen of an implanted device and the surrounding tissue or between the surface of an implanted device and surrounding tissue. Medical devices employing such electric currents may be part of a drug delivery system/device or a biofluid sampling system/device intended for use within a mammalian body.
- the invention provides for methods and apparatus to supply electric currents as either stand alone apparatus or as part of larger medical devices or systems.
- the foreign body response consists any or all of those events initiated by the body in reaction to introduced material. This includes, but is not limited to, inflammation response, migration of macrophages or other wound/repair cells to the location, altered cell type of the surrounding tissue, deposition of fibrous proteins and related materials not normally observed within the particular tissue in those forms or levels, and the walling off or encapsulation of the device by the body by a fibrous capsule.
- inflammation response e.g., inflammation response, migration of macrophages or other wound/repair cells to the location, altered cell type of the surrounding tissue, deposition of fibrous proteins and related materials not normally observed within the particular tissue in those forms or levels, and the walling off or encapsulation of the device by the body by a fibrous capsule.
- the invention includes a method of using electric fields to reduce the body's rejection response to materials, devices or systems placed in part or in whole subdermally, the method comprising passing an electric current from one or more first electrodes located proximate to a critical structure or feature of a device introduced into the body to one or more second electrodes located elsewhere.
- the electrical current may be substantially DC in nature, or may be pulsatile.
- the current density of one or more first electrodes may be between 0.01 mA/cm 2 and 100 mA/cm 2 .
- the invention additionally comprises an apparatus for the delivery of electric fields to reduce the body's rejection response to devices placed in part or in whole subdermally comprising one or more first electrodes subdermally located in the close proximity of a critical structure or feature of a device introduced into the body and one or more second electrodes located elsewhere. Also provided are control circuitry and a power supply coupled to at least one of the first electrodes and at least one of the second electrodes to produce an electrical current through tissue from at least one of the first electrodes to at least one of the second electrodes.
- This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, various embodiments of the invention may combine one or more additional aspects as part of the scope of the overall invention.
- Figure 1 Model of the electrode / electrolyte interface depicted as a portion of an electric circuit.
- Figure 2 Illustration of one form of a semipermeable structure segregating an electrode from surrounding tissue. The semipermeable structure also serves as a site for fluid delivery into surrounding tissue.
- Figure 3 Diagram of one embodiment of control circuitry for the generation of pulsatile electrical currents.
- Figure 4 Diagram of one embodiment of a catheter-like device employing the apparatus of this invention having both first and second electrodes upon the device surface.
- Figure 5 Cross-sectional view of a portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.
- Figure 6 Illustration of an alternate embodiment of a catheter-like device utilizing the apparatus of this invention. A first set of electrodes is incorporated into the structure of the device with the second electrode being independently positioned in adjacent tissue.
- Figure 7 Cross sectional diagram of one embodiment of a fully implantable device for the delivery of drugs and therapeutic agents also incorporating the apparatus of this invention.
- Biofluids - Fluids found in extracellular environments e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, throughout the body of the subject which may contain a variety of materials, including but not limited to, proteins, hormones, nutrients, electrolytes, catabolic products, or introduced foreign substances.
- Critical structures / features of devices Any portion of a device where the presence of cells, proteins, fibrous encapsulation or other flow restriction or blockage diminishes intended device performance. These portions may, for example, be associated with fluid inlets or outlets, sensor locations, and the like.
- Device - Device in the context of this invention refers to apparatus, instruments, systems, structures, materials or other objects non-native to the host body and may be inorganic or organic in composition which are placed either in part or in whole in one or more subdermal regions of a subject. 4. Electrophoresis - The movement of molecules or particles (possessing a net charge) under the influence of an electric field. 5. Subdermal - Beneath the skin. In the context of this invention, this region may include, but is not limited to, tissues, organs, cavities, fluids, vascular or connective structures located within the body of a subject. In this context, subdermal also includes regions of the dermis that would be pierced or otherwise penetrated by devices such as microdelivery needles. 6. Subject - A human or mammalian subject who has one or more devices in and/or on their body.
- the invention generally relates to novel use of electric fields to diminish the body's rejection response to implanted drug delivery and biofluid sampling devices.
- the present invention specifically relates to the method of delivering electrical current and apparatus for the delivery of these currents, in a variety of forms, amplitudes or periodicities.
- the invention described herein provides for methods and devices enabling long term continuous or periodic monitoring of physiological conditions by subdermal systems or the administration of therapeutic agents by subdennal systems.
- embodiments of the invention may include the location of one or more first electrodes in the vicinity of critical structures or features of the implanted medical device, the positioning of one or more second or counter electrodes in a region not critical to device perfonnance, the activation of at least one critical structure electrode and at least one counter electrode completing a circuit and the subsequent mobilization of charged molecules and/or the direction of cell and cellular material associated with the body's rejection response or impaired device function from the critical locations upon passing an electrical current from at least one critical structure electrode to at least one counter electrode.
- structures or features of medical devices critical for device performance may include those surfaces or regions of the device exposed to the surrounding tissue requiring either fluid passage between the device and the tissue or having the need to access the surrounding tissue, e.g. optically sense, and which the presence of a fibrous encapsulation diminishes optimal device performance.
- a fluid infusion site having at least one second electrode apart from this location, charged signaling peptides, proteins, or certain cell types such as fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, etc., associated with a walling off, encapsulation, clogging or foreign body response to the device will be physically moved or directed from the critical structure, thereby limiting the extent to which the rejection processes initiated by these charged species will detrimentally affect the medical device.
- this electrophoretic technique is substantially different from the passive approaches previously employed to minimize rejection, e.g. surface modification, local static charge, it may be employed by itself or in combination with one or more of these other techniques in order to minimize rejection and/or encapsulation of the medical device or portions thereof.
- Electrophoresis is well known to those in the art as the basis for several analytical tools in biochemistry and related disciplines.
- electrophoresis is employed as a means for mobilizing or directing biomaterials (typically proteins and modified proteins, or certain cell types) associated with the rejection response away from critical device locations, surfaces and surrounding areas.
- Electrophoresis is the movement of molecules or particles (possessing a net charge) under the influence of an electric field. The forces underlying electrophoretic migration and mobility are well understood.
- electrophoresis has not been used as means for limiting or preventing the body's foreign body response to introduced materials, structures or devices.
- these biomaterials e.g. proteins, signaling peptides, or specific cell types associated with the wound healing cascade and/or foreign body response including fibrous capsule formation
- the rejection response (encapsulation) or clogging will be restricted or eliminated entirely enabling longer useful lifetimes for implanted devices or materials.
- proteins and molecules such as signaling peptides possess a net charge at physiological pH (pH 7.0-7.5).
- Signaling peptides or molecules in this context refer to those molecular entities which initiate a cascade of events, e.g. acting as chemo-attractants causing cell migration to vicinity of the device or the triggered deposition of collagens or other materials associated with rejection, etc.
- the systems described herein can mobilize all or a portion of these charged biomolecules associated with clogging or impaired function away from those critical device locations which govern either device performance or overall device lifetime within the body. More precisely, electric fields are employed to mobilize charged molecules/cell types that either by themselves would build up and occlude critical features or which are associated with the rejection response of the body towards foreign objects. In general, the rate of migration depends upon the applied electric field, and is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the solution.
- the migration of proteins and peptides is also dependent of a number of factors beyond the applied electric field and solution viscosity.
- the composition of the biomolecule e.g. the amino acids or other charged moieties and their location within the three dimensional structure, determines the biomolecule' s net charge at a given local pH as well as the biomolecule's overall size and shape. That is, electrophoretic mobility of a biomolecule is also proportional to the biomolecule's net charge and inversely proportional to its size (and may also depend on shape).
- the ion composition of the surrounding medium determines the effect of the electric field upon the biomolecule in question.
- the ionic species themselves may govern or influence the motility of cell types associated, either directly or indirectly, with capsule formation.
- the electrical current may influence the nature and relative quantities of signaling molecules, peptides, ions and other mediators of the wound healing cascade and ultimately of fibrous capsule formation.
- the application of electrical currents through the tissue may directly influence the motility of certain cell types. That is, the orientation and strength of electric fields generated by the passage of an electrical current have been shown to guide the migration of select cell types such as endothelial cells and fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo. Fibroblasts in particular have been shown to migrate towards the cathode under the influence of an applied current.
- Fibroblasts are also considered responsible for the generation of the bulk of the collagen forming the fibrous capsule surrounding implants.
- one or more first electrodes in close proximity to critical features of a device serves as anodes (positive bias) with one or more second electrodes (counter electrodes) serving as the cathode (negative bias).
- the actions of the applied electrical current may either affect certain key signaling molecules in the wound healing cascade directly or the electric fields engendered by the passage of this current may influence the motility of cells involved in the wound healing cascade.
- the exact form, amplitude and polarity of the currents applied are determined by the tissue/cell types involved and the functional requirements of the medical device and the scope of this invention is not limited to any one embodiment of these.
- the process of running an electric current through a solution may result in several possibly detrimental side effects, dependent upon the nature and extent of applied current and the dimensions/types of electroactive surfaces, e.g. electrodes, employed. Chief among these effects are: the generation of acid and base at the anode and cathode (respectively); the highly reactive electrolysis zone immediately adjacent to the electrode surface; and the possible formation of gas bubbles at the electrodes.
- the ability to deal with these potentially detrimental effects represents additional novel and unobvious aspects to the invention described herein.
- the introduction of an electrical current at an electrode/electrolyte interface is typically modeled as a capacitor in parallel to a resistance (FIGURE 1).
- the boundary between the electrode (5) and the surrounding fluid or electrolyte (20) is represented by the dashed line (25).
- the capacitor (15) represents the capacitance of the double layer of electrolytes formed at the boundary (25) and the resistance (10) represents the faradaic reaction(s) of chemical species at the electrode surface.
- Pulsatile currents are typically characterized by the pulse amplitude, pulse frequency and the on/off percentage of time during the pulse frequency period (otherwise known as the duty cycle).
- the composition and viscosity of the surrounding electrolyte fluid e.g. body fluids such as interstitial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.
- the electrode material and current density influence the nature and extent of the formation of electrolysis by-products.
- plusatile DC currents are utilized to minimize possible deleterious products.
- the pulse frequency is generally between 0.1 Hz and 1000 Hz
- the duty cycle is generally between 0.1% and 10%
- the current density is generally between 0.01 rnA/cm2 and 100 mA/cm2.
- pH- Electrophoretic activity may result in the electrolysis of water, forming either acid or base in the vicinity of the electrode (typically acid, H + , at the anode and base, OH " , at the cathode).
- the generated base or acid may overwhelm the surrounding fluid's buffering capacity, substantially altering the local pH and potentially adversely affecting the surrounding tissues and cells.
- One embodiment to ameliorate this generation of acid or base is to employ a modified form of electrophoresis whereby the polarity of the electrodes is reversed periodically. That is, although electrophoresis is substantially DC in nature, by altering the polarity of the electrodes intermittently, an electrode which had been the site of acid generation now becomes a source of base generation, and vice versa. This switching of polarity, if performed with the appropriate periodicity, will substantially eliminate adverse pH effects yet will have minimal effects upon the net migration of the charged species, e.g.
- the polarity reversal is for such a short period that the charged biomolecules do not migrate substantially back to their initial location.
- the polarity is reversed in an asymmetric fashion, such as by time of pulse period or by current amplitude, to achieve neutralization of generated acids or bases.
- An alternate embodiment of the invention is to provide additional buffering materials or compounds either as part of the structure or as delivered solutions. That is, the structure of the device may be composed of materials which function in part as a binder to the acid/base such that the acid or base generated is immediately bound to the material, thereby neutralizing these reactive species. Such materials may include structural carbonates or coatings of ion exchange resins.
- solutions may be supplied which have additional buffering capacity, adjusted to physiological pH such that the generated acid or base will be adsorbed by this additional buffering capacity.
- This method may be used alone or in combination with the alternating polarity mentioned above to negate the effects of generated acid or base.
- an altered pH in the surrounding tissue may be beneficial to maintaining device function, e.g. aiding the breaking of ionic bonds, salt bridges or weak covalent bonds of surrounding structures, etc.
- the need to buffer generated acid or base would be unnecessary or otherwise qualified and the generation of either acid or base a desired outcome.
- Electrolysis Zone The process of electrolysis or breaking down of water molecules creates a highly reactive zone extending from the surface of the electrode into the overlaying space, up to several hundred nanometers, dependent upon, among other factors, the structure of the electrode, the electrode potential and the composition of the solution. This zone may be harmful to the surrounding tissue directly or the process of electrolysis induces a rejection response through the formation of radicals which generate antigenic species.
- the electrodes may have one or electrically active surfaces positioned on the electrode surface away from the surrounding tissue at a sufficient distance to mitigate the effects of electrolysis, e.g. a distance generally greater than 1 micron, and thereby segregating the tissue from this highly destructive environment.
- the electrodes are physically separated from the tissue by an overlying semipermeable structure or gel.
- a semipermeable structure in the context of this invention is a structure, membrane, mesh or gel, which provides fluid and small molecule access to the electrode surface while physically distancing the electrode from contact with surrounding tissue. Therefore the dimensionality of the pores of such a structure should be less than the dimensionality of the surrounding cells and tissues. In general, this indicates a pore size that is less than 10 microns in diameter is desirable. In alternate embodiments of the invention larger pore dimensions is offset by increased fluid path length or tortuousity thereby permitting the use of meshes or polymers with pore sizes considerably larger in diameter, e.g. 1 mm.
- This semipermeable structure may also serve as the division between the interior or lumenal space of the device and the exterior of the device.
- the semipermeable structure may provide addition roles within the device, e.g. as a means or site of fluid delivery (FIGURE 2) or as a mechanical structure providing a support for surrounding tissue ingrowth and neovascularization.
- FIGURE 2 one end of a fluid delivery device (80), e.g. a catheter like device, is shown having a lumenal space (50).
- a first electrode Positioned within this lumenal space and beneath a semipermeable structure (70) is a first electrode (60). This first electrode is connected to a power supply/control unit by means of an insulated wire (63).
- a second electrode On the outer aspect of the device, is a second electrode (65), likewise connected to the same power/control unit as the first electrode by means of an insulated wire (68).
- the electrical current passes from the surface of the first electrode (60) into fluid present in the lumenal space, traverses through the semipermeable structure (70), through the surrounding tissue (55) and completes the circuit at the second electrode (65).
- the semipermeable structure also serves as the site of fluid delivery from the interior lumenal space of the device, as indicated by the arrow (75).
- Fluid passing down the lumenal space of the catheter will exit from the device (80) through the semipermeable structure (70) in pass into the surrounding tissue (55).
- Alternative embodiments may include but are not limited to the positioning of the electrodes within structures, e.g. narrow channels or grooves, on 1 the exterior surface of the device.
- the electrodes may be positioned within the device so that the surrounding tissues or cells are not in direct contact with the electrolysis zone.
- Gas Generation - Another by-product of electrophoresis is gas generation at the electrodes.
- the positively biased anode typically generates oxygen while the negatively biased cathode typically generates hydrogen.
- the amount of gas generated is dependent upon the current utilized. If the rate of evolution is sufficiently low per unit area, then the generated gas will dissolve into the surrounding fluid without bubble formation (this is dependent, among other factors, upon the rate of electrolysis per unit area, electrode composition, surface roughness of the electrode, etc.). However, if higher currents are required in order to minimize the body's rejection response, the overall electrode dimension, shape and number of electrodes may be altered to accommodate higher currents necessary to mobilize the biomolecules while avoiding bubble formation.
- gas bubble formation is minimized by enlarging the electrode surface area relative to the current employed in order to facilitate diffusion of the gas into the surrounding fluid.
- Such enlargement of surface area also may benefit charge transfer characteristics of the electrode, in general.
- the gas generation, particularly oxygen may provide a benefit to the surrounding tissue and therefore electrolysis may be employed for this reason, e.g. US Pat. Nos. 6,368,592, and 5,788,682.
- the generation of gas is a desired outcome in addition to the use of electric fields to minimize capsule formation.
- An alternate embodiment by which to minimize gas bubble formation is to employ agents to absorb the gas as it is generated.
- Electrodes This may be accomplished using materials which are employed also as electrodes. This is the case with certain metals, e.g. titanium or platinum at positively biased electrode (anode) which form oxides in the presence of the generated oxygen or palladium at the negatively biased electrode (cathode) which absorbs hydrogen.
- these materials may be located near to the electrodes but not necessarily serving as the electrode, e.g. a mesh or structure overlaying the electrode which absorbs the gas in question.
- a third approach to resolving evolution of gas and subsequent bubbling is the electrode or structure associated with the electrode being a semi-permeable structure in contact with body fluids on one side and providing an escape or sequestration chamber for the generated gas on the other.
- Such a structure e.g.
- Electrodes The electrophoretic circuit may be completed using a one or more electrodes of various geometries and composition.
- first electrode comprising at least part of or in close proximity to a critical structure upon a device and at least one second electrode or second electrode located in a region non-critical for device function.
- the electrolytes and fluid provided by the surrounding tissue providing a means of electrical connection between the first and second electrodes.
- the second electrode may be placed on the outer aspect of the subject's skin or body.
- a means to ensure electrical contact e.g. saline solution or conductive gel, should generally be present to provide electrical contact from the second electrode to subdermal regions.
- close proximity indicates a distance generally in the range of immediate contact between the electrode and the critical feature, e.g.
- the first electrode may comprises a part of the critical structure of the device, or close proximity may extend to a distance of several centimeters separation between the first electrode and the device critical feature or structure, hi such circumstances, in addition to factors such as current amplitude, and device geometry, the electrical path through the tissue will greatly influence the distance or spacing between the first electrode and critical feature or structure.
- a plurality of first and second electrodes are utilized.
- the activation of these electrodes may be in defined sequences or order involving one or more electrodes of a specific bias at any point in time in order to facilitate the mobilization of the biomaterials.
- a series of electrodes are positioned as concentric bands around a tubular device, e.g. a catheter.
- a tubular device e.g. a catheter.
- charged materials or cell types may be "walked" away from critical features, e.g. fluid infusion sites, towards non-critical locations upon the device. This operation may be repeatedly applied in order to facilitate this movement of materials.
- Variations of such electrode embodiments include sequential activation of one or more sets of electrodes over a period time, e.g. days or weeks, to control fibrous capsule formation upon the device attributable to either continued inflammatory activity or mechanical disruption.
- Electrodes may be constructed from conductive or semiconductive materials including, but not limited to: metals such as gold, platinum, palladium, silver or titanium; organic conductive polymers; conductive gels or epoxies such as silver impregnated pastes; graphite; carbon or mixed composition nanotubes; doped silicons or other semiconductive structures; or layered/mixed form structures comprised of inert and conductive materials, such as structures fabricated using MEMS- like (MicroElectroMechanical Systems-like) processes or techniques, e.g.
- MEMS- like MicroElectroMechanical Systems-like
- a preferred material to be used for the composition of the electrodes is platinum or platinum alloys.
- the electrodes may be patterned on or affixed to either interior aspects or exterior aspects of the device or separated from the device or critical structure, hi a one embodiment of a device utilizing the apparatus of this invention, the first electrode is built into the structure of a critical feature, e.g. a fluid access site, of a device while the second electrode is located elsewhere on the device. In another embodiment of the invention, the first electrodes are located in proximity of one or more critical locations on a device but do not form a part of the device structure.
- one or more electrodes may be positioned in close proximity to the critical features of the device (but not on the device) thereby providing the necessary electrophoretic activity to mobilizes the biomolecules/cells associated with clogging or rejection away from these critical features or structures of the device.
- the first electrode is on the structure of device while the second electrode is located upon a second introduced structure or material, e.g. an introduced second electrode or a second device having, as part of its function, the second electrode.
- Such systems require the completion of the circuit between the first and second electrodes by external or other form of electrical connection in addition to the electrical pathway provided by tissue conductivity.
- neither the first nor second electrodes are part of the structure of the device but are positioned in close proximity to the device and the device critical features.
- the electrode form typically is primarily planar, having one surface exposed to the surrounding medium and the other surface supported by underlying structures, e.g. the outside wall of the tube or catheter.
- underlying structures e.g. the outside wall of the tube or catheter.
- other embodiments of electrodes are conceivable. These embodiments include, but are not limited to, electrode structures that are either: predominantly conical in shape; brush-like in composition, e.g. arrayed nanotubes; transitory (formed from conductive fluid droplets akin to those used in dropping mercury electrodes which provide fresh surfaces periodically); or are formed from wires or other conductive materials extending along edges of fabricated surfaces.
- one or more electrodes may be located within lumenal spaces of devices or otherwise separated from direct contact with surrounding tissue while still in electrical contact by fluidic means to said tissue.
- Such means of separation include but are not limited to, coating of the electrode surface with permeable gels such as polyethylene glycol, or polyurethane, or employing meshes, membranes or other structures, e.g. glass frits, such that the electrode surface is not in direct contact with surrounding cells, membranes or extracellular structures.
- permeable gels such as polyethylene glycol, or polyurethane
- meshes, membranes or other structures e.g. glass frits
- Electrodes for the purpose of electrophoresis may be done in a variety of fashions, including, but not limited to, activation upon command, activation periodically, or being activated substantially continuous fashion, e.g. always "on". That is, circumstances may indicate that a defined pattern of activation, followed by lesser activity.
- An example of this embodiment is the use of frequent pulses of electrical current for the immediate period post implantation of the device, e.g. 24-72 hours, to limit the initial steps of the wound healing cascade followed by a lower frequency or periodicity of application for the remainder of the implant's lifetime to deal with a lower, more chronic inflammatory activity.
- additional activation upon demand, may facilitate removal of additional debris occluding fluid transport across the access port.
- Activation of the electrodes would then be upon set by therapeutic agent delivery or sensor needs so that occlusion was minimized during or just prior to therapeutic administration or sensor activation.
- Control and power of the electrophoresis process may be accomplished with devices as simple as a battery plus microcontroller or as complicated as an external power circuit plugged into a wall plug plus controlling software. The needs, cost and lifetime of the implanted device will govern the form of power supply and control used.
- power may also be supplied using inductive or other power coupling means in addition to on-board batteries or other forms of power storage.
- Power sources may also include indirect means, e.g. utilizing an inductively coupled means to transmit energy to the electrical circuit or by use of energy obtained from mechanical or chemical activities.
- FIGURE 3 illustrates the components of one such circuit for the controlled delivery of pulsatile DC currents to electrodes.
- Power is supplied by the Power Supply (120), typically a battery.
- the repetitive pulse is generated within the 555 timer (125) (an industry standard integrated circuit available from Texas Instruments, Philips Electronics, National Semiconductor, etc.).
- Frequency and duty cycle are determined by external resistors, Rl (100), R2 (105) and capacitor, Cl (110).
- the output of the timer drives a constant current source which in turn, provides the constant current source (130) through the circuitry (135) to the anode electrode (140) and current sink to the cathode electrode (145).
- Equation 1 An example calculation for determining duty cycle employing the circuitry of FIGURE 3 is shown in Equation 1 :
- Duty cycle (Ratio of ON time to OFF time) R2 / (Rl + 2 R2)
- the duty cycle equals 1 / (98 + 2*1) or 1% and the pulse frequency equals 1.44 Hz.
- regulation of the control circuitry i.e. the programming of the amplitude and periodicity of the current to be delivered, is set prior to installation of the invention into a medical device.
- a separate means to adjust or provide control electrical current output post-installation is provided.
- Such means include, but are not limited to, keypad entry, wireless control, or by optical or acoustic means.
- Other embodiments of the invention providing for adjustment/activation of the currents applied also include the use of input or controls provided within a larger medical device or system employing this invention.
- feedback from sensors indicating the need to alter the current profile, either associated with the apparatus of this invention or as part of other devices may be sent to a control circuit in an automatic fashion and thereby providing a "closed-loop" system of operation of the apparatus of this invention within the body of a subject.
- Devices The novel use of apparatus to produce electrical currents to retard or diminish fibrous capsule formation is suitable for use with a variety of implanted medical devices.
- devices and systems include, but are not limited to, catheters, MEMS-based drug delivery systems and removable/replaceable diagnostic or drug delivery devices, hi addition, the invention may be useful for systems such as that described in US patent application 10/032,765 "Gateway Platform for Biological Monitoring and Delivery of Therapeutic Compounds", which describes devices suitable for percutaneous drug delivery and sampling of interstitial fluids.
- the use of the structure of this invention may also be applied to other devices and systems which may benefit from reduction of the wound healing response or encapsulation control or having use of the electric fields generated in the surrounding tissue. For instance, application of the electric currents in conjunction with a subdermal therapeutic delivery means may result in accelerated dispersal of the therapeutic agent through surrounding tissues.
- the therapeutic agent if it possesses a net charge, it will migrate along the electrophoretic path into the surrounding biofluid, in accordance with its net charge, mass, effective field strength, etc.. It should be noted that this process differs from use of electrophoresis as means of delivery of charged materials from the interior lumen of devices to the exterior space with devices, e.g. the technique of iontophoresis.
- the electrophoretic path is substantially between interior space and the exterior passing through a semipermeable structure and electrophoresis is typically employed to mobilize the therapeutic agent from an interior reservoir or site through the semipermeable membrane.
- the apparatus of this invention requires the installation of the apparatus into the body of a subject. Such installation is preferably done in coordination with the installation of a medical device. Such installation may be concurrent with the implantation of the medical device, e.g. the apparatus forms a portion of the device, or the apparatus may be installed at a time other than that of the medical device installation, e.g. to permit post-surgical recovery following installation of the medical device.
- the apparatus of the invention may be activated either upon command, e.g. manually activation of a switch, or by instruction, e.g. remote wireless instruction. Upon activation, the electrical current is passed through the tissue from one or more first electrodes to one or more second electrodes.
- this electrical current including the amplitude, periodicity, frequency, duty cycle, and polarity may be based upon the instructions supplied by the control circuitry or as part of the construction of the apparatus itself, e.g. the polarity being set by battery contact orientation. Further control of the apparatus, including the cessation of activity, may be accomplished in a variety of fashions, including but not limited to, manual command, pre-set programming or received instructions.
- the following embodiments are representative to the types of devices possibly employing the use the apparatus of this invention to minimize encapsulation.
- One skilled in the art will readily recognize that additional devices and systems are conceivable and that the scope of this invention is not limited to those embodiments shown below.
- Percutaneous Catheter - A typical use for electrophoretic control of the body's rejection response is to reduce rejection of implanted catheters which continuously or intermittently deliver therapeutics or fluids over an extended period of time, e.g. days or weeks, to the body. Sites for these deliveries include but are not limited to, subcutaneous, cerebrospinal, targeted organ or intraperitoneal locations.
- Such a percutaneous catheter-like device is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 4.
- the catheter-like device (180) has a fluid reservoir (158) for the parenteral delivery or infusion of therapeutics, fluids or drugs.
- Located on the outer aspect of the catheter beneath the skin (150) are a set of first electrodes (165) and a second electrode (160).
- the electrical current supplied by an external power/control unit (155) passes through insulated wires 175 and 173, to electrodes (165) and (160).
- the current passes from the first electrodes (165) to the second electrode (160) through the surrounding tissue (55).
- such power supply/control circuitry are located within the device and may be incorporated into sections of systems implanted into the body of the subject.
- the lumenal space (183) of the catheter-like device through which the fluids/therapeutic agents pass.
- the agents exit from the lumenal space by holes (170) adjacent to the first set of electrodes.
- the proximity between the holes (170) and the first electrodes (165) aids in the efficiency of maintaining patency and reducing fibrous capsule formation in this region.
- a catheter-like device such as that shown in FIGURE 4 may employ a polymeric mesh through which the therapeutic solution passes into the surrounding interstitial fluid, instead of the holes ( 170) indicated.
- Driving the current through the electrodes may be through a circuit such as previously illustrated in FIGURE 3 or by an external control unit connected to a power supply. Suitable power supplies are readily available off-the-shelf, e.g. from Keithley Instruments.
- the first electrodes are biased to serve as anodes.
- a weak current (approx. 1 uA) is passed for 10 sec once every 2 minutes from the first electrodes to the second electrodes.
- the volume described by this migration for a single 1 mm electrode band around a 3 mm circumference catheter is approximately 0.75 ul leading to an average acid or base concentration within this volume of 133 uM.
- the buffering capacity of the surrounding fluid extracellular fluid varies upon the composition of that fluid, i.e. its protein and modified proteins, ions, etc., and therefore will vary between blood, interstitial fluid, or cerebrospinal fluid. If the buffering capacity of serum is assumed to be primarily set by bicarbonate / carbonate ions, and the concentration of this buffer is approximately 24 mM (at pH 7.4 with a pKa of 7.6).
- the interstitial fluid has approximately two orders of magnitude excess buffering capacity.
- the local generation of acid and base will not grossly alter the pH of the surrounding interstitial fluid, ⁇ 0.01 pH unit, and therefore, the generated acid/base should not be detrimental to the surrounding cells and tissue using this electrical current protocol.
- Other electrode designs, currents, frequencies, periodicities and protocols may be employed which do not exceed local buffering capacity and this invention is not limited to those conditions supplied in the above example.
- other means e.g.
- alternating currents may be employed to reduce the extent of pH change, if necessary.
- a 1 uA current for 10 seconds generates approximately 1.6 x 10(-6) mg of oxygen per 10 seconds, leading to a local concentration (within 0.75 ul) of 2.13 mg/1, with similar levels for hydrogen.
- oxygen saturation is 7 ppm (mg/1), therefore, bubble formation may not be observed using this current and electrode geometry. Local micronucleation of bubbles may occur on the surface of the electrodes, however, these should absorbed into the surrounding fluid. Detrimental effects within the electrolysis zone, i.e.
- the electrode surface may necessitate coating the electrodes with a semipermeable mesh to separate the electrodes from the surrounding cells.
- a semipermeable mesh to separate the electrodes from the surrounding cells.
- FIGURE 2 where the electrode was positioned within the lumen of catheter-like device.
- An alternative means to accomplish this is by coating the electrode surface with a non-reactive, biocompatible pourous layer, e.g. a polymer hydrogel, (such as a urea/polyethyleneglycol gel or polyacrylamide gel), or by covering the electrode surface with a defined, non-conductive structure such as a thin dacron membrane.
- a non-reactive, biocompatible pourous layer e.g. a polymer hydrogel, (such as a urea/polyethyleneglycol gel or polyacrylamide gel)
- a defined, non-conductive structure such as a thin dacron membrane.
- a first set of electrodes (165) are shown located on the outer aspects of a portion of a catheter-like device (180). Fluid access from the lumen of the catheter-like device (183) to the surrounding tissue (55) is provided by one or more holes (170). Connection of the electrodes to the power supply / control circuit is via insulated wires (173).
- the electrodes (165) are directly coated with a hydrogel-like material (185) to provide fluid access yet maintain a distance between the surrounding tissue (55) and the outer aspects of the electrode surface.
- the catheter-like device shown in FIGURE 4 presents one means by which to employ the method and apparatus of this invention to reduce encapsulation and thereby improve patency of a catheter-like device.
- FIGURE 6 An example of a system employing a removable/replaceable electrode is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 6.
- a catheter system similar to FIGURE 4 is utilized, with modification. That is, electrical connections (217 and 220) enable control and electrical currents to be supplied to the electrodes (205 and 215).
- the percutaneous catheter-like device (200) traverses through the sldn (150) and into the underlying tissue (55).
- This device may serve as a means of infusing fluid or therapeutic agents through the holes located near the end of the device (210). However, only the first electrodes (205) are located on the outer aspects of the catheter-like device.
- the second electrode (215) is removed from the structure of the catheter and is connected via a flexible insulated wire (217) to the power supply/control unit.
- This second electrode may be constructed from a variety of materials. In one example of this embodiment of the invention, the electrode may be constructed of platinum approximately 1 mm long connected to polyurethane coated copper wire (approximately 26 gauge). This electrode may inserted subcutaneously using a trocar-like device and the electrode positioned to be near, e.g. within several centimeters, of the first electrodes.
- the currents employed and times of activation may be the same as those utilized in the apparatus presented in FIGURE 4, dependent upon factors including, but not limited to, the geometry of insertion, device geometry, tissue characteristics and apparatus structure and materials.
- One difference to this system as opposed to that presented in FIGURE 4 is that any fouling, degradation of performance or accumulation of rejection response products observed at the second (counter) electrode is resolved by removal of this electrode and replacement with a new electrode.
- long term rejection/diminished performance of the second electrode may be resolved by replacing this electrode periodically.
- Extensions of this embodiment of the invention include the use of a plurality of counter electrodes simultaneously to provide more equivalent electrophoretic fields than a single electrode would provide.
- FIGURE 7 An entirely subcutaneous implanted device designed to deliver therapeutics and/or sampling of biofluids for analytes is shown in FIGURE 7.
- This device differs from the percutaneous devices presented in FIGURES 4 & 6 in that the entire device is fully located beneath the skin and therefore does not directly utilize an external power supply or control circuitry to activate the electrodes.
- a means for drug delivery is shown schematically within the body of the device (235). That is, the device contains a reservoir (240), pump unit (243) and conduit (245) through which the therapeutic agents may dispensed into the surrounding tissue (55) through one or more holes (275).
- Control and power for the delivery activity is provided by a battery (260), an integrated circuit (263), additional circuitry (265) and wiring/circuitry (270).
- a battery 260
- an integrated circuit 263
- additional circuitry 265
- wiring/circuitry 270
- integrated circuitry 263 plus power (260) may be also utilized to drive an electrical current from one or more first electrodes (250) to one or more second electrodes (255).
- the function of the pump plus reservoir is replaced by appropriate sensors and signal amplifiers, however, the use of integrated circuitry plus power remains.
- a battery supplies the necessary power. hi alternate embodiments, inductive power or other sources of power may be employed.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP04754090A EP1768740A4 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-06-02 | Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials |
PCT/US2004/017401 WO2005120631A1 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-06-02 | Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials |
AU2004320509A AU2004320509A1 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-06-02 | Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials |
JP2007515018A JP4856633B2 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-06-02 | Device for applying an electric field to minimize rejection to implanted devices and materials |
CA002572191A CA2572191A1 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-06-02 | Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2004/017401 WO2005120631A1 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-06-02 | Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2005120631A1 true WO2005120631A1 (en) | 2005-12-22 |
Family
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2004/017401 WO2005120631A1 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-06-02 | Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1768740A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4856633B2 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2004320509A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2572191A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005120631A1 (en) |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008030497A3 (en) * | 2006-09-05 | 2008-05-02 | Tti Ellebeau Inc | Transdermal drug delivery systems, devices, and methods using inductive power supplies |
JP2010516389A (en) * | 2007-01-22 | 2010-05-20 | グリーンバウム,エリアス | Method and apparatus for treating ischemic disease |
EP2201980A1 (en) * | 2008-12-23 | 2010-06-30 | St. Jude Medical AB | Implantable tissue stimulator |
US7890164B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2011-02-15 | Tti Ellebeau, Inc. | Iontophoresis device |
US8062783B2 (en) | 2006-12-01 | 2011-11-22 | Tti Ellebeau, Inc. | Systems, devices, and methods for powering and/or controlling devices, for instance transdermal delivery devices |
US9517023B2 (en) | 2009-06-01 | 2016-12-13 | Profusa, Inc. | Method and system for directing a localized biological response to an implant |
US10010272B2 (en) | 2010-05-27 | 2018-07-03 | Profusa, Inc. | Tissue-integrating electronic apparatus |
US10045722B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2018-08-14 | Profusa, Inc. | Method and device for correcting optical signals |
US10117613B2 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2018-11-06 | Profusa, Inc. | Tissue-integrating sensors |
US10219729B2 (en) | 2013-06-06 | 2019-03-05 | Profusa, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for detecting optical signals from implanted sensors |
US20210001119A1 (en) * | 2017-11-19 | 2021-01-07 | Indigo Diabetes Nv | Implantable integrated sensor device |
US20210187156A1 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2021-06-24 | Cambridge Enterprise Limited | Collagen Biomaterials And Methods For Manufacturing Collagen Biomaterials |
US11331018B2 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2022-05-17 | Profusa, Inc. | System and single-channel biosensor for and method of determining analyte value |
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- 2004-06-02 CA CA002572191A patent/CA2572191A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-06-02 WO PCT/US2004/017401 patent/WO2005120631A1/en active Application Filing
- 2004-06-02 JP JP2007515018A patent/JP4856633B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-06-02 AU AU2004320509A patent/AU2004320509A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-06-02 EP EP04754090A patent/EP1768740A4/en not_active Withdrawn
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Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7890164B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2011-02-15 | Tti Ellebeau, Inc. | Iontophoresis device |
WO2008030497A3 (en) * | 2006-09-05 | 2008-05-02 | Tti Ellebeau Inc | Transdermal drug delivery systems, devices, and methods using inductive power supplies |
US8062783B2 (en) | 2006-12-01 | 2011-11-22 | Tti Ellebeau, Inc. | Systems, devices, and methods for powering and/or controlling devices, for instance transdermal delivery devices |
JP2010516389A (en) * | 2007-01-22 | 2010-05-20 | グリーンバウム,エリアス | Method and apparatus for treating ischemic disease |
JP2013126551A (en) * | 2007-01-22 | 2013-06-27 | Elias Greenbaum | Method and apparatus for treating ischemic disease |
EP2201980A1 (en) * | 2008-12-23 | 2010-06-30 | St. Jude Medical AB | Implantable tissue stimulator |
US9517023B2 (en) | 2009-06-01 | 2016-12-13 | Profusa, Inc. | Method and system for directing a localized biological response to an implant |
US10583308B2 (en) | 2009-06-01 | 2020-03-10 | Profusa, Inc. | Method and system for directing a localized biological response to an implant |
US10010272B2 (en) | 2010-05-27 | 2018-07-03 | Profusa, Inc. | Tissue-integrating electronic apparatus |
US10463287B2 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2019-11-05 | Profusa, Inc. | Tissue-integrating sensors |
US10117613B2 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2018-11-06 | Profusa, Inc. | Tissue-integrating sensors |
US11134871B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2021-10-05 | Profusa, Inc. | Method and device for correcting optical signals |
US10045722B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2018-08-14 | Profusa, Inc. | Method and device for correcting optical signals |
US12059254B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2024-08-13 | Profusa, Inc. | Method and device for correcting optical signals |
US10219729B2 (en) | 2013-06-06 | 2019-03-05 | Profusa, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for detecting optical signals from implanted sensors |
US11504035B2 (en) | 2013-06-06 | 2022-11-22 | Profusa, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for detecting optical signals from implanted sensors |
US11331018B2 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2022-05-17 | Profusa, Inc. | System and single-channel biosensor for and method of determining analyte value |
US20210001119A1 (en) * | 2017-11-19 | 2021-01-07 | Indigo Diabetes Nv | Implantable integrated sensor device |
US20210187156A1 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2021-06-24 | Cambridge Enterprise Limited | Collagen Biomaterials And Methods For Manufacturing Collagen Biomaterials |
US11998655B2 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2024-06-04 | Cambridge Enterprise Limited | Collagen biomaterials and methods for manufacturing collagen biomaterials |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP4856633B2 (en) | 2012-01-18 |
EP1768740A4 (en) | 2007-10-31 |
CA2572191A1 (en) | 2005-12-22 |
JP2008501404A (en) | 2008-01-24 |
EP1768740A1 (en) | 2007-04-04 |
AU2004320509A1 (en) | 2005-12-22 |
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