US 11,701,455 B2
Self-cleaning membrane for medical devices
Melissa A. Grunlan, College Station, TX (US); Gerard L. Cote, College Station, TX (US); Alexander A. Abraham, College Station, TX (US); Ruochong Fei, College Station, TX (US); and Andrea K. Locke, College Station, TX (US)
Assigned to The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US)
Appl. No. 15/545,811
Filed by The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 27, 2016, PCT No. PCT/US2016/015088
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 24, 2017,
PCT Pub. No. WO2016/123197, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 4, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/108,377, filed on Jan. 27, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2018/0021483 A1, Jan. 25, 2018
Int. Cl. A61B 5/1473 (2006.01); A61B 5/145 (2006.01); A61L 31/04 (2006.01); A61L 31/10 (2006.01); C08L 33/26 (2006.01); C08F 220/56 (2006.01); A61L 31/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 31/048 (2013.01) [A61B 5/1473 (2013.01); A61B 5/14532 (2013.01); A61L 31/10 (2013.01); A61L 31/145 (2013.01); C08F 220/56 (2013.01); C08L 33/26 (2013.01); C08L 2203/02 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
6. An implantable medical device comprising a double network thermoresponsive hydrogel membrane comprising a first network and a second network, wherein the membrane is self-cleaning, wherein the membrane is a cylinder comprising a diameter measuring about 1.5 mm and length measuring about 5 mm, and wherein the membrane comprises:
N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) present in the first network and the second network,
an electrostatic monomer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) present in the first network such that the ratio of AMPS:NIPAAm is about 25:75 to about 75:25 wt. %, and
N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) present in the second network in an amount between about 1 to about 2 wt. % based on weight of the NIPAAm, wherein the presence of NVP in the second network increases a volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of the overall membrane to about 38° C.,
wherein cyclic temperature fluctuations of the membrane around the VPTT cause cyclic deswelling and swelling of the membrane, wherein the cyclic temperature fluctuations are induced physiologically within a body.