PHOTON UPCONVERTING IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES

摘要

An active material, suitable for implantable medical devices. The active material is a mixture, composite, or aggregate of upconverting particles and photocatalytic particles embedded in an at least infrared light conducting and gas permeable support material. The upconverting particles convert longer wavelength light into shorter wavelength light, which in turn powers the photocatalytic materials to produce cytotoxic chemicals. When embedded into an implantable medical device in a desired body location, and exposed to red or infrared light, this active material can produce cytotoxic chemicals that in turn exert a cytotoxic effect on unwanted cells, such as cancer or microbial cells, as well as perform other functions.

主权项

1. An implantable medical device comprising:
at least one non-soluble active material formed from upconverting particles and photocatalytic particles embedded inside at least one different non-toxic, non-soluble biocompatible particle support material; wherein when said active material is exposed to red or infrared light, said upconverting particles emit shorter wavelength light which is subsequently absorbed by said photocatalytic particles, which in turn emit cytotoxic chemicals in response to said shorter wavelength light; wherein said device remains where originally implanted; wherein said device operates by localized destruction, relative to a location of said device, of unwanted living cells surrounding said active material, said localized destruction caused by cytotoxic chemicals emitted by said active material in response to an interaction of red or infrared light with said active material.