Oxygen enhancing membrane systems for implantable devices

摘要

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for increasing oxygen availability to implantable devices. The preferred embodiments provide a membrane system configured to provide protection of the device from the biological environment and/or a catalyst for enabling an enzymatic reaction, wherein the membrane system includes a polymer formed from a high oxygen soluble material. The high oxygen soluble polymer material is disposed adjacent to an oxygen-utilizing source on the implantable device so as to dynamically retain high oxygen availability to the oxygen-utilizing source during oxygen deficits. Membrane systems of the preferred embodiments are useful for implantable devices with oxygen-utilizing sources and/or that function in low oxygen environments, such as enzyme-based electrochemical sensors and cell transplantation devices.

主权项

1. An implantable device for continuous in vivo measurement of an analyte concentration in a host, the implantable device comprising:
a sensor configured to operatively connect with electronic circuitry, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a concentration of an analyte in a host; and a membrane located over the sensor, wherein the membrane has a thickness of from about 3 microns to about 100 microns, wherein the membrane has an oxygen permeability of from about 3 Barrers to about 1000 Barrers, and wherein the membrane has an oxygen solubility that is at least about three times greater than an oxygen solubility of water.