Use of electric fields to minimize rejection of implanted devices and materials
OwnerCarl Frederick Edman, Darrel Dean Drinaninventors
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Abstract
This invention relates to the electric field method to reduce fibrous capsule formation adjacent to the surface of implanted medical devices and associated apparatus for generating electrical currents to reduce fibrous capsule formation. The invention has utility with medical devices or systems such as those providing long term parenteral drug delivery, fluid infusion or analyte sampling/measurement. The apparatus of the invention may be constructed as a part of the medical device or may be constructed of separate elements while providing the benefit of the electric fields to the medical device.
Claims20
A method using electric fields to reduce the body's rejection response to materials, devices or systems placed in part or in whole subdermally consisting of:
- a. one or more first electrodes subdermally located in the close proximity of a critical structure or feature of a device introduced into the body;
- b. one or more second electrodes located elsewhere;
- c. and the passage of an electrical current through tissue between the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes for the purpose of minimizing encapsulation in the area of the critical structure or features of the device.
A method using electric fields to reduce the body's rejection response to materials, devices or systems placed in part or in whole subdermally consisting of:
- a. one or more first electrodes subdermally located in the close proximity of a critical structure or feature of a device introduced into the body;
- b. one or more second electrodes located elsewhere;
- c. and the passage of a pulsatile electrical current through tissue between the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes for the purpose of minimizing encapsulation in the area of the critical structure or features of the device.
An apparatus for the delivery of electric fields to reduce the body's rejection response to devices placed in part or in whole subdermally having:
- a. one or more first electrodes subdermally located in the close proximity of a critical structure or feature of a device introduced into the body;
- b. one or more second electrodes located elsewhere;
- c. control circuitry and power supply to provide for the passage of an electrical current through tissue between the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes for the purpose of minimizing encapsulation in the area of the critical structure or features of the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.