Patent US6692528B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6692528B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Devices that change size/shape via osmotic pressure
Assignee: DSM Biomedical Inc
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Filing: 2001-11-08
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Granted: 2004-02-17
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Expires: 2021-11-08
Abstract
Abstract Devices implantable in animal bodies, possibly configured as self-inflating spinal disc prostheses. Alternatively, non-implantable water-desalination and/or purification devices. The devices include specified types of water-absorbing solute encapsulated by non-porous, water-permeable polymer membranes having specified properties. Also, methods of using the devices in biomedical applications or water treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Ward
- 👤 Sallie K. Coviello
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:05
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/44; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/16; A61L27/18; A61L27/50; B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/002; B01D61/0022; B01D69/00; B01D69/02; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/54; B01D71/76; B01D71/80; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30062; A61F2002/30075; A61F2/442; A61F2002/444; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0004; A61F2210/0061; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/124; Y02A20/131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A device implantable in an animal body, said device comprising a water-absorbing solute encapsulated by a non-porous, water-permeable polymer membrane, wherein said polymer is a block copolymer having a polyurethane and/or polyurea hard segment and a soft segment selected from the group consisting of polyalkylene oxides, polyalkylene carbonates, poly-siloxanes, and linear or branched hydrocarbons, wherein said membrane has a thickness of 1 to 16 mil and has a moisture vapor transmission rate by ASTM Method E96BW greater than 100 g/square meter/day at 1 mil thickness, a dry tensile strength of greater than 500 psi, and a permeability to said solute of less than 10 −3 cm 2 /sec, and wherein said solute is capable of providing said device with a pressure of approximately 0.1 psi or more for a period of at least 24 hours.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A device implantable in an animal body, said device comprising a water-absorbing solute encapsulated by a non-porous, water-permeable polymer membrane, wherein said polymer is a block copolymer having a polyurethane and/or polyurea hard segment and a soft segment selected from the group consisting of polyalkylene oxides, polyalkylene carbonates, poly-siloxanes, and linear or branched hydrocarbons, wherein said membrane has a thickness of 1 to 16 mil and has a moisture vapor transmission rate by ASTM Method E96BW greater than 100 g/square meter/day at 1 mil thickness, a dry tensile strength of greater than 500 psi, and a permeability to said solute of less than 10 −3 cm 2 /sec, and wherein said solute is capable of providing said device with a pressure of approximately 0.1 psi or more for a period of at least 24 hours.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said membrane has a moisture vapor transmission rate by ASTM Method E96BW greater than 2000 g/square meter/day at 1 mil thickness, a dry tensile strength of greater than 2000 psi, and a permeability to said solute of less than 10 −4 cm 2 /sec, and wherein said solute is capable of providing said device with a pressure of approximately 100 psi or more for a period of at least six weeks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said soft segment is a polyalkylene oxide soft segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said membrane has dispersed therein or covalently bound thereto a water-soluble additive and said device decreases in permeability over time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 4 , wherein said water-soluble additive is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, glycerine, and polyethylene oxides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said solute is a polyacrylamide having a nominal weight-average molecular weight of 1200-3000 Daltons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said solute is present in an amount of 0.1-50 grams.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 7 , wherein said solute is present in an amount of 1-3 grams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 , which comprises a self-inflating prosthetic spinal disc nucleus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 9 , which comprises a self-inflating spinal disc nucleus surrounded by a reinforced perimeter and attachment means, configured to form a complete spinal disc prosthesis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 1 , in which the solute comprises a blend of low molecular weight solute for quick inflation of the device and a high molecular weight solute to provide long term pressure and stability.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 , in which the membrane decreases in permeability over time to permit rapid short term inflation and persistent long term avoidance of solute leakage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for treating a spine of a vertebrate which comprises inserting a device according to claim 9 or 10 into an area of the spine that contains a degenerated, damaged, or missing disc and allowing the device to expand by permeation of aqueous fluid into a cavity containing the solute.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
141 words
A device implantable in an animal body, said device comprising a water-absorbing solute encapsulated by a non-porous, water-permeable polymer membrane, wherein said polymer comprises a member selected from the groups consisting of polyurethane elastomers, crosslinked silicone elastomers, silicon-containing copolymers, polyolefin elastomers, Kraton styrene-diene elastomers, Hytrel polyester-polyether elastomers, and Pebax polyamide-polyether elastomers, wherein said membrane has a thickness of 1 to 16 mil and has a moisture vapor transmission rate by ASTM Method E96BW greater than 2000 g/square meter/day at 1 mil thickness, a dry tensile strength of greater than 2000 psi, and a permeability to said solute of less than 10 −4 cm 2 /sec, and wherein said solute is present in an amount of 0.1-50 grams and is capable of providing said device with a pressure of approximately 100 psi or more for a period of at least six weeks.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
141 words
A device implantable in an animal body, said device comprising a water-absorbing solute encapsulated by a non-porous, water-permeable polymer membrane, wherein said polymer comprises a member selected from the groups consisting of polyurethane elastomers, crosslinked silicone elastomers, silicon-containing copolymers, polyolefin elastomers, Kraton styrene-diene elastomers, Hytrel polyester-polyether elastomers, and Pebax polyamide-polyether elastomers, wherein said membrane has a thickness of 1 to 16 mil and has a moisture vapor transmission rate by ASTM Method E96BW greater than 2000 g/square meter/day at 1 mil thickness, a dry tensile strength of greater than 2000 psi, and a permeability to said solute of less than 10 −4 cm 2 /sec, and wherein said solute is present in an amount of 0.1-50 grams and is capable of providing said device with a pressure of approximately 100 psi or more for a period of at least six weeks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 14 , wherein said membrane has dispersed therein or covalently bound thereto a water-soluble additive and said device decreases in permeability over time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 15 , wherein said water-soluble additive is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, glycerine, and polyethylene oxides.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 14 , wherein said solute is a polyacrylamide having a nominal weight-average molecular weight of 1200-3000 Daltons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 14 , wherein said solute is present in an amount of 1-3 grams.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 14 , which comprises a self-inflating prosthetic spinal disc nucleus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 19 , which comprises a self-inflating spinal nucleus surrounded by a reinforced perimeter and attachment means, configured to form a complete spinal disc prosthesis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 14 , in which the solute comprises a blend of low molecular weight solute for quick inflation of the device and a high molecular weight solute to provide long term pressure and stability.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 14 , in which the membrane decreases in permeability over time to permit rapid short term inflation and persistent long term avoidance of solute leakage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for treating a spine of a vertebrate which comprises inserting a device according to claim 19 or 20 into an area of the spine that contains a degenerated, damaged, or missing disc and allowing the device to expand by permeation of aqueous fluid into a cavity containing the solute.
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