Micromachined porous membranes with bulk support
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsWen-Hua Chu, Mauro Ferrari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microfabricated containment capsule has a bulk substrate delimiting a cavity with a boundary, a first portion of which constitutes an inner wall of a solid portion of the bulk substrate. The bulk substrate also provides at a second portion of the boundary a membrane joined to one side of the bulk substrate, the membrane having at least one porous area with controlled pores.
Claims15
A microfabricated containment capsule, comprising:
- a. at least one bulk substrate, said at least one bulk substrate delimiting a cavity having a boundary, a first portion of said boundary constituting an inner wall of a solid portion of said at least one bulk substrate;
- and
- b. at a second portion of said boundary, a membrane having at least one porous area with controlled pores and a rib member, said membrane joined to one side of said at least one bulk substrate to provide a selective molecular barrier for passing molecules dimensioned at less than about 3,500 angstroms between an interior and an exterior of said cavity.
A method of providing a biologically active molecule in a host organism, comprising:
- a. microfabricating a biocompatible containment capsule having a bulk substrate portion, a rib support member and a porous membrane joined to one side of the bulk substrate portion to prevent passage of immunological molecules into said containment capsule while permitting diffusion at a physiologically desirable rate of a biologically active molecule produced by a cell, tissue or pharmaceutical composition inside said containment capsule;
- and
- b. administering to said host organism, said cell, tissue or pharmaceutical composition contained within said containment capsule.
A containment capsule, comprising:
- a. at least one bulk substrate, said at least one bulk substrate etched to form a cavity having a boundary, a first portion of said boundary constituting an inner wall of a solid portion of said at least one bulk substrate;
- and
- b. at a second portion of said boundary, a membrane having at least one porous area with controlled pores and a structural support member, said membrane providing a selective molecular barrier for passing molecules dimensioned at less than about 3,500 angstroms between an interior and an exterior of said cavity.
A method of providing a biologically active molecule in a host organism, comprising:
- a. providing a biocompatible containment capsule having an etched bulk substrate portion and a thin-film membrane portion having a structural support member and joined to one side of the etched bulk substrate portion that permits diffusion of a biologically active molecule dimensioned at less than about 3,500 angstroms produced by a cell, tissue or pharmaceutical composition inside said containment capsule at a physiologically desirable rate, but prevents passage of immunological molecules located outside said containment capsule;
- b. filling said containment capsule with a cell, tissue or pharmaceutical composition capable of producing said biologically active molecule;
- and
- c. administering to said host organisms, said cell, tissue or pharmaceutical composition contained withing said capsule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.