FLUID-FILLED IMPLANTABLE STRUCTURES WITH INTERNAL SURFACE-MODIFYING COMPONENTS AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

Implantable reservoir structures include an interior and/or exterior modifying element joined to the interior and/or exterior surface of the membrane defining the reservoir in order to alter one or more physical properties thereof. The physical properties can be mechanical (e.g., material strength, flexibility, shear modulus, Young's modulus, hardness, and/or ductility); optical (e.g., refraction, transparency, transmission spectrum, absorption spectrum, fluorescence spectrum, and/or color); and/or permeability to liquids generally or to a particular type of liquid, solute, or suspended material.

主权项

1. An implantable reservoir for containing a liquid, the reservoir comprising:
a biocompatible envelope membrane defining an interior lumen; and joined to the envelope membrane along a portion thereof, a property-modifying element for modifying a physical property of the envelope membrane along the portion.