SYSTEM FOR GAS TREATMENT OF A CELL IMPLANT

摘要

System for gas treatment of cellular implants. The system enhances the viability and function of cellular implants, particularly those with high cellular density, for use in human or veterinary medicine. The system utilizes a miniaturized electrochemical gas generator subsystem that continuously supplies oxygen and/or hydrogen to cells within an implantable and immunoisolated cell containment subsystem to facilitate cell viability and function at high cellular density while minimizing overall implant size. The cell containment subsystem is equipped with features to allow gas delivery through porous tubing or gas-only permeable internal gas compartments within the implantable cell containment subsystem. Furthermore, the gas generator subsystem includes components that allow access to water for electrolysis while implanted, thereby promoting long-term implantability of the gas generator subsystem. An application of the system is a pancreatic islet (or pancreatic islet analogue) implant for treatment of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) that would be considered a bio-artificial pancreas.

主权项

1. A system for gas treatment of a cell implant, the system comprising:
(a) a gas generating subsystem, the gas generating subsystem comprising
(i) an electrochemical device, the electrochemical device being configured to output a first gas, and(ii) a semipermeable membrane enclosure, the semipermeable membrane enclosure substantially completely encapsulating the electrochemical device, the semipermeable membrane enclosure being constructed to allow for passage therethrough of reactant needed by the electrochemical device; and (b) a cell containment subsystem, the cell containment subsystem comprising a first chamber configured to receive cells, the first chamber receiving the first gas outputted by the electrochemical device.