Other

M&r Consulting Services, Inc.

Ivac Corporation

Baxter International Inc.

Varian Associates, Inc.

M & R Consulting Service, Inc.

Maget, Henri J.r.

Dikeman, James

Henri J Maget

Mark Johansson

Robert J Rosati

Randy L Houk

James Dikeman

Paul K Krejci

Lisa Davis

Gerald M Fisher

An Electrochemical Nitrogen Generator System and Method. The system and method provide the ability to create a nitrogen-rich environment in containers of a variety of sizes. The system and method are able to extract the oxygen from the air within the container without reducing the internal pressure substantially below atmospheric. A version of the method is provided to reduce the oxygen content and replace it with nitrogen through a series of sequential fractional steps. In another form, the system and method will provide a 'streaming' approach of bleeding off oxygen-containing contents of the container, while continuously replacing it with air until such time as the percentage of oxygen within the container is below the desired level. In yet another version, the system and method operate under pressure, thereby injecting pressurized air, either in sequential fractional steps or via continuous flow, whereby at the end of the process, the internal contents of the container are in a pressurized nitrogen environment, and the oxygen expelled from the container during the process is also under pressure.

Electrochemical nitrogen generator system and method

A Two-part, Wall-mountable Electrochemical Dispenser. The dispenser assembly consists of a disposable fluid storage reservoir and a non-disposable dispenser. The dispenser holds an electrochemical gas generator, its associated electronics, and a power source. The generator can be set for fluid delivery rates of between 1 mL/day and 50 mL/day. The system has a battery-determined operational life of about 2 years, assuming rates of up to 2 mL/day and 2 C-size batteries. The fluid storage reservoir is formed by two plastic shells separated by a plastic diaphragm. Gas produced by the generator acts on the diaphragm thereby displacing fluid that is then captured by an evaporation pad from which it can readily emanate into the environment. The reservoir can be removed and discarded after depletion of the liquid, and then replaced by another filled assembly. As needed, the refill holds an anti-theft coded card that prohibits the re-use of the refill.

Two-part, wall-mountable electrochemical dispenser

A Two-part, Syringe-based Electrochemical Dispenser. The dispenser consists of a disposable syringe-like fluid storage reservoir and a reusable fluid driver. The driver is located at the proximal end of a conventional syringe; the fluid exit port at the distal end. The driver generates a gas that inflates an elongated bladder situated within the filled syringe. Expansion of the bladder releases liquid at a rate nearly identical to the gas generation rate. The dispenser is held in a vertical position with the distal end pointed downward. Liquid is released drop-wise onto a porous material from which it can evaporate. A battery-driven electrochemical oxygen generator is the gas source. Means to attach the dispenser in its vertical position are provided. Such dispensing devices can be used to release pheromones, repellants, insecticides, fragrances, etc.

Two-part, syringe-based electrochemical dispenser

Small, autonomous, low cost electrochemical gas generators containing an electrochemical cell assembly, a commercially available battery and a current controlling mechanism. Current control, which defines the gas generation rate, is achieved either electronically by means of a resistor or through mass transfer control by means of a gas permeable film of known permeability. In either case, the gas generation rates are generally from 0.1 to 10 cc/day. The gas source must contain an electrochemically active gas such as oxygen or hydrogen. Air is the preferred source for oxygen. These miniature gas generators, generally are less than 1.5 cm in diameter and length, require novel, compact, electrochemical cell assemblies. Various cell assemblies, generally 1 cm in diameter and less than 0.5 mm thick, are described. These miniature gas generators are used for the controlled release of fluids such as pheromones, fragrances, insect repellents, and the like.

Electrochemical gas generator and cell assembly

An electrochemical cell module has an outer shell of conductive material defining a cavity, an electrolytic membrane located in the cavity, first and second pervious electrodes located on opposite sides of the membrane, and a seal member located between the second electrode and the outer shell. Contacts for connecting a power source across the electrodes are provided on the second electrode and on the outer shell on the same side of the membrane as the second electrode, and the outer shell provides a current collector for the first electrode without requiring any external leads across the module.

Electrochemical cell module having an inner and an outer shell with a

An electrochemically driven syringe pump for infusion of medicament wherein the pump has a detachable barrel in which medicament can be stored and subsequently infused. The pump is further adapted for storage as the charge transfer medium is sealed in a reservoir prior to activation.

Electrochemical syringe pump having a sealed storage reservoir for a

A fluid dispensing device is disclosed which has interfitting pump and reservoir modules, with unique releasable tight-fitting coupling mechanism incorporated into the opposed surfaces of the modules. Use of the two interfitting modules permits repeated re-use of the pump module containing the permanent electrical component, with a plurality of seriatim reservoir modules. Only the reservoir module needs to be sterilized. The battery power for the pump can come from a battery positioned within the pump module, which may be used with two or more reservoir modules, or within each reservoir module, which is used only with that single reservoir module. Pumping rate may be fixed or controllable. The coupling mechanism can be central of the device or off-center and is manually operable. The device may be used to provide medications, prophylactics, hormones, drugs, other treating agents for disease or dysfunction, vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, biological compositions, fragrances, insecticides or vaporizable compounds which mask or eliminate undesirable odors in the ambient environment.

Two-part fluid dispenser

A compact, small, self-contained liquid containment and dispensing device is disclosed which included an elongated fluid reservoir/conduit, a liquid dispenser in the form of a liquid retentive matrix material, a gas pump and an electric pump activation circuit. The liquid to be administered or dispensed (e.g., a medication or fragrance vapor) is placed in the reservoir and the pump is activated, generating gas into the reservoir to expel the liquid from the reservoir to the matrix material at a controlled and essentially constant rate. Methods of use of the device to administer medications, provide vapors, and for other purposes are also disclosed. A substance to be administered (e.g., a medication or drug) which is soluble in the liquid can also be preloaded into the matrix material and administered by dissolution in the liquid. The device is sufficiently small to be easily portable and can be easily attached to a person's or animal's body for administration of medication to a human or animal patient. The devices may also be used, for instance, to dispense chemicals, vapor forming liquids, topical parasiticidal liquids, insecticide vapors, human or animal hormones, birth control compositions or antibiotics. The devices can be housed in compact but rugged housings which will stand up to the active movements of people or animals, or in decorative housings which can be used and displayed in homes, offices and other living or working areas.

Self-contained liquid microdispenser

A device is described for promotion of human or animal wound healing by controlling oxygen concentration in the environment around the wound. It is light weight, portable, convenient and comfortably worn by the patient. It can operate continuously or intermittently and can patient-controllable or automatic. Its comfort, portability and effectiveness insure that it will be readily used by patients to enhance recovery from skin trauma. The device is a generally flat unit which includes components for electrochemical production of an ionic species at one electrode, transported of the ionic species across an ion permeable membrane, and reaction of the ionic species at a second electrode to be converted to a molecule which results in a net change of concentration of oxygen adjacent to the wound. Medication may also be applied to the wound within the enclosure. The electrical system can powered by an easily replaceable battery. The patient contact portion of the device unit in normally discarded after a single use, and the electrical and membrane components, contained in their own housing, are reused. A method of enhancing wound healing by controlling the concentration of oxygen in the vicinity of a wound using the device is also described.

Apparatus and method for controlling oxygen concentration in the

A gas or fluid pressure or force sensor is disclosed consisting of a fluid-tight housing containing a supply of electrochemically active gas and an electrolytic membrane disposed to divide the housing into two chambers. The electrolytic membrane has one or more pervious electrodes disposed on each side of and in contact with the membrane. A flexible bellows or diaphragm is disposed to form one wall of the fluid-tight housing and provide the contacting surface for transferring a force or pressure to the sensor. A controller is connected to display measurements and to permit automatic sensor calibration, differential pressure-induced diffusion compensation, temperature compensation and sensor chamber pressure control. The disclosed force sensor is useful for application to robotic manipulators and the basic device is useful for measurement of the gas partial-pressure of a selected gas.

Methods for use of an electrochemical force sensor

Electrochemical force sensor

An improved high-efficiency electrochemical motor is disclosed that uses hydrogen gas in a gas-tight pump housing to convert electrical energy to mechanical work. The motor consists of an electrolytic membrane with pervious electrodes on both sides separated by the thickness of the electrolytic membrane such that the gas, being electrochemically reversibly active, enters into an anodic reaction on one side of the membrane where the gas molecules are converted to ions transportable through the electrolytic membrane and a cathodic reaction at the opposite electrode where the ions are reconverted to gas molecules. By applying a reversible electric current to the electrodes to transport the ions through the electrolytic membrane, the gas is pumped reversibly from one gas-tight chamber to another. A diaphragm disposed in a gas-tight motor housing moves from one motor housing partition to the other in response to an imbalance in the pressure of the gas. A novel integral pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of the gas and an integral dumping valve for rapidly resetting the diaphragm are disclosed. A controller uses the sensed pressure in controlling the magnitude and direction of the electric current that causes the gas to flow into one or the other of two gas-tight pump chambers. Convertors are disclosed for converting the gas pressure change to mechanical motion.

Efficient electrochemical motor

An electrochemically actuated control valve is disclosed which represents a new class of devices for fluid flow control. The valve is activated by an electrochemical motor which converts DC electrical energy into compressed gas energy suitable for producing mechanical work. The mechanical motion is typically reciprocating linear motion. This linear displacement can be accurately controlled, can be modulated at high frequencies and responds quasi-instantaneously to the applied DC voltage. The electrochemical valve can be computer or microprocessor-controlled.

Electrochemical control valve

A prime mover module used in a fluid delivery micropump, especially for pharmaceutical purposes, transports an electrochemically active material, such as oxygen, at a steady rate across an ion exchange cell to apply external pressure to a collapsible reservoir and expel fluid therefrom. An air-actuated battery, such as a zinc-air battery, which is located in the module in a fixed closed circuit with the cell and which shares one of its electrodes with the cell, is activated by peeling off an adhesive tape covering air inlet ports to thereby establish a voltage gradient acrosss the cell and control the rate at which fluid is expelled from the reservoir in accordance with the value of a resistor in the cell/battery circuit. The reservoir is filled or refilled by inserting a vented needle into an air bleed port while discharging a fluid-filled syringe inserted into a fluid injection port. Cylindrical and flat configurations, suitable for external use, operate on atmospheric oxygen, while an implantable configuration operates on oxygen from a self-contained reservoir.

Growing community of inventors

La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Henri J Maget