# US 8,998,884 B2 · Remote controlled in situ reaction method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,998,884 B2 - Document ID: US8998884B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/270,799 - Filed: 2005-11-09 - Published: 2007-05-10 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-09 - Assignees: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC - Applicants: Leroy E. Hood; Muriel Y. Ishikawa; Edward K. Y. Jung; Robert Langer; Clarence T. Tegreene; Lowell L. Wood, Jr.; Victoria Y. H. Wood - Inventors: Leroy E. Hood; Muriel Y. Ishikawa; Edward K. Y. Jung; Robert Langer; Clarence T. Tegreene; Lowell L. Wood, Jr.; Victoria Y. H. Wood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8998884B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/172: electrical or electronic - A61K 9/0009: {involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis} - A61K 9/0024: {Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue (compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L)} - A61K 9/0097: {Medicinal compositions released by microdevices, e.g. microelectromechanical systems [MEMS], microdevices comprising chips or microdevices on silicon} - A61K 41/00: Medicinal preparations obtained by treating materials with wave energy or particle radiation {; Therapies using these preparations} - A61M 5/14276: {specially adapted for implantation} - A61M 5/145: using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. by means of pistons - B01J 19/0006: {Controlling or regulating processes (controlling or regulating in general G05)} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/02: by heating (methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D) - C02F 1/66: by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58) - C12N 9/0004: {Oxidoreductases (1.)} - C12N 9/0006: {acting on CH-OH groups as donors (1.1)} - C12N 9/10: Transferases (2.) (ribonucleases C12N9/22) - C12N 9/12: transferring phosphorus containing groups, e.g. kinases (2.7) - C12N 9/14: Hydrolases (3) - C12N 9/88: Lyases (4.) - C12N 9/90: Isomerases (5.) - C12N 9/93: {Ligases (6)} - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - A61M 5/1723: {using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood sugar or pressure} - A61M 2005/14513: {with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion} - A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials - A61M 2205/0288: Electro-rheological or magneto-rheological materials - A61M 2205/3523: using telemetric means - A61M 2205/3569: sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable - A61M 2205/36: related to heating or cooling - A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient - B01J 2219/00049: Controlling or regulating processes - C02F 2101/20: Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds - C02F 2101/363: {PCB's; PCP's} - C02F 2209/02: Temperature - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled reaction device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in an environment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reaction system comprising: a reaction device including: a body structure adapted for positioning in an environment; a reaction region located in or on the body structure, the reaction region including a first material capable of modifying one or more of the rate or kinetics of a chemical reaction, the chemical reaction occurring at the reaction region within a fluid in at least intermittent fluid communication with the environment; and a remotely activatable control element physically coupled to the reaction region and to the body structure, the remotely activatable control element including a magnetically or electrically active material, wherein upon absorption of an electromagnetic field control signal, the remotely activatable control element produces a mechanical or a thermal response, and wherein the mechanical or thermal response of the remotely activatable control element produces a corresponding mechanical or thermal response of the reaction region, to thereby modify the influence of the first material on one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction; and a remote control signal source capable of generating an electromagnetic control signal sufficient to be absorbed by, and produce activation of, the remotely activatable control element to produce the mechanical or thermal response of the remotely activatable control element to thereby modify the influence of the first material on one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the reaction region is located in an interior portion of the body structure and is at least intermittently in fluid communication with the environment via at least one inlet or outlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the reaction region is located on an exterior portion of the body structure in fluid communication with the environment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a heating element, a cooling element, or a structural element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remote control signal source includes software configured to control generation of the electromagnetic control signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a polymer, ceramic, dielectric or metal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a bimetallic structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element includes at least one of a hydrogel and a ferrogel and a ferroelectric. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the magnetically or electrically active material includes at least one of a permanently magnetizable material, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferrous material, a ferric material, a dielectric or ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, a diamagnetic material, a paramagnetic material, and an antiferromagnetic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to a static or quasi-static electrical field. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to a static or quasi-static magnetic field. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to a non-ionizing electromagnetic signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to a radio-frequency electromagnetic signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to a microwave electromagnetic signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to an infrared electromagnetic signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to a millimeter wave electromagnetic signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to an optical electromagnetic signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element is responsive to an ultraviolet electromagnetic signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, including an outlet through which a product of the chemical reaction is released into the environment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, including an inlet through which a second material capable of participating in the chemical reaction enters the reaction region. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, including a body structure adapted for positioning in an environment selected from a body of an organism, a body of water, or a contained fluid volume. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, including a body structure adapted for positioning in a contained fluid volume selected from an industrial fluid volume, an agricultural fluid volume, a swimming pool, an aquarium, a drinking water supply, and a HVAC system cooling water supply. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a polymer and the magnetically or electrically active material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The reaction system of claim 23, wherein the magnetically or electrically active material is capable of being heated or cooled by action of the electromagnetic control signal, and wherein heating or cooling of the magnetically or electrically active material causes the polymer to undergo a change in configuration that modifies the influence of the first material on the chemical reaction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The reaction system of claim 1, wherein the remotely activatable control element responds to the control signal by changing in at least one dimension, wherein the change in at least one dimension by the remotely activatable control element produces a corresponding change in at least one dimension by the reaction region. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The reaction system of claim 25, wherein additional portions of the reaction region are exposed responsive to the change in at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The reaction system of claim 25, wherein a surface area of the reaction region is increased responsive to the change in at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The reaction system of claim 25, wherein a volume containing the reaction region within the interior portion of the body structure is increased responsive to the change in at least one dimension of the remotely activatable control element. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The reaction system of claim 25, wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a shape memory material. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The reaction system of claim 29, wherein the shape memory material includes a shape memory polymer or a shape memory metal. ### Claim 31 A reaction system comprising: a reaction device including: a body structure adapted for positioning in an environment; a remotely activatable control element coupled to the body structure and including a magnetically or electrically active material, wherein upon absorption of an electromagnetic field control signal the remotely activatable control element responds by changing in at least one dimension; and a reaction region mechanically coupled to the remotely activatable control element, the reaction region at least intermittently in fluid communication with the environment, the reaction region including a first material capable of modifying one or more of the rate or kinetics of a chemical reaction at the reaction region, the reaction region changing in dimension in response to a change in dimension of the remotely activatable control element, wherein the influence of the first material on one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction is modified by a change in dimension of the reaction region; and a remote control signal source capable of generating an electromagnetic control signal sufficient to be absorbed by, and produce activation of, the remotely activatable control element to change the remotely activatable control element in at least one dimension to thereby modify the influence of the first material on one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction. ### Claim 32 A reaction system comprising: a reaction device including: a body structure adapted for positioning in an environment; a remotely activatable control element coupled to the body structure and including a magnetically or electrically active material, wherein upon absorption of an electromagnetic field control signal the remotely activatable control element responds by heating or cooling; and a reaction region thermally coupled to the remotely activatable control element, the reaction region at least intermittently in fluid communication with the environment, the reaction region including a first material capable of modifying one or more of the rate or kinetics of a chemical reaction at the reaction region, the reaction region heating or cooling, respectively, in response to heating or cooling of the remotely activatable control element, wherein the influence of the first material on one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction is modified by heating or cooling of the reaction region; and a remote control signal source capable of generating an electromagnetic control signal sufficient to be absorbed by, and produce activation of, the remotely activatable control element to heat or cool the remotely activatable control element to thereby modify the influence of the first material on one or more of the rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction.