Abstract: Microchip devices are provided that include a substrate; a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate, each reservoir defining an internal volume; and a reservoir cap positioned on or in each of the reservoirs bounding the internal volume from an external environment, the reservoir cap being formed of a material that undergoes a phase change upon heating, wherein the internal volume can communicate with the external environment upon heating said reservoir cap to cause said reservoir cap to undergo a phase change and rupture.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is provided for use with an external detector to detect an analyte in vivo. In one embodiment, the device consisting essentially of a substrate; a plurality of discrete reservoirs located in the substrate, each reservoir having at least one opening; a reacting component contained in each reservoir; and at least one non-degradable barrier layer covering each reservoir opening, the barrier layer being permeable to an analyte to be detected, wherein the reacting component remains inside the reservoirs and can react with the analyte to be detected, and wherein the device is adapted for implantation into the body of a patient.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering drug to the eye. The method and system may include implanting into the eye a device which comprises two or more discrete reservoirs, each reservoir containing a drug; and directing focused light to the implanted device to open a first one of the reservoirs and thereby permit the drug to diffuse from the first reservoir to the patient's eye.

Abstract: Arrays of biosensors are provided along with methods for operating the arrays of biosensors. The array of biosensors may include a first reference electrode that is connected to an input of a first control amplifier; a first working electrode and a second working electrode in proximity with the first reference electrode; and a counter electrode that is connected to at least an output of the first control amplifier, where the first control amplifier is operative with the counter electrode to maintain a first specified voltage between the first working electrode and the first reference electrode, and between the second working electrode and the first reference electrode.

Abstract: Medical device and methods are provided for controlled drug delivery in a cardiac patient. The device includes an implantable drug delivery module comprising reservoirs containing a drug and a control means for selectively releasing an effective amount of drug from each reservoir; one or more electrodes or sensors for cardiac monitoring, stimulation, or both; and a microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the cardiac electrode. The electrodes may comprise ECG monitoring, cardioversion, or cardiac pacing electrodes.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents, and methods of manufacture thereof, are provided. The device includes a reservoir cap formed of an electrically conductive material, which prevents the reservoir contents from passing out from the device and prevents exposure of the reservoir contents to molecules outside of the device; an electrical input lead connected to said reservoir cap; and an electrical output lead connected to said reservoir cap, such that upon application of an electrical current through the reservoir cap, via the input lead and output lead, the reservoir cap ruptures to release or expose the reservoir contents. The reservoir contents can comprise a release system containing drug molecules for release or can comprise a secondary device, such as a sensor. The controlled release system may be incorporated into an implantable drug delivery or biosensing device.

Abstract: A method is provided for selectively opening a containment reservoir. The method includes providing a device which comprises a substrate in which at least one reservoir is located and covered by a reservoir cap; and directing laser light to the reservoir cap to cause the reservoir cap to disintegrate or become permeable. The device may be an implantable medical device. The reservoirs may contain a drug for controlled release or a biosensor.

Abstract: Methods are provided for medical treatment or diagnosis of a patient. The method includes implanting into the patient a device which comprises (i) a substrate in which at least one reservoir is located and covered by a first reservoir cap, (ii) a drug or sensor located in the reservoir, and (iii) control circuitry and a power source for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap, and (iv) an external interface to receive incident light energy; and directing focused light to the external interface of the implanted device to actuate disintegration or permeabilization of the reservoir cap to release the drug or expose the sensor. The device may implanted onto or into the sclera or other tissue surface of the eye of the patient. The focused light may be laser light, which may be used to transmit power or data to the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing transdermal wireless communication includes medical implant circuitry; a transceiver coupled to the medical implant circuitry; a first metal surface having an end portion and a base portion; a second metal surface parallel to the first metal surface and connected to the first metal surface by a conductor, the second metal surface being separated from the first metal surface by a dielectric layer; a first radiating element tuned to a first frequency and disposed within the dielectric layer between the first metal surface and second metal surface; and a feed structure in electrical communication with the transceiver and the first radiating strip. The first radiating element has a first reactive portion at a first end thereof, a second reactive portion at a second end thereof, and a first radiating strip extending between the first reactive portion and the second reactive portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radiating structure having a selected capacitance. The method includes receiving a particular lot of a dielectric material having a nominal permittivity; receiving a measured value of an actual permittivity for the particular lot, the actual permittivity being different from the nominal permittivity; using the actual permittivity, determining the number of laminas of dielectric material required to cause the radiating structure to have the selected capacitance; causing the determined number of laminas of the dielectric material to be formed on a substrate, thereby forming a dielectric layer; and causing the radiating element to form on the layer.

Abstract: A medical device is provided which may include a reservoir which has an opening and contains a sensor; a reservoir cap closing off the opening to isolate the sensor from an environmental component outside the reservoirs, the reservoir cap being impermeable to the environmental component and adapted to selectively undergo a phase change to disintegrate the reservoir cap and thereby expose the sensor to the environmental component. A method of use may include (i) selectively disintegrating a reservoir cap to expose a sensor which is disposed inside a reservoir of a device implanted in a patient, the disintegrating comprising inducing a phase change in the reservoir cap; and (ii) using the sensor to generate an output signal, wherein the output signal is recorded and stored in a writeable computer memory chips, directed to a microprocessor for immediate analysis and processing, or sent to a remote location away from the device.

Abstract: Devices, such as medical devices, are provided which include a body portion having at least one reservoir which has two or more openings, the two or more openings being defined in part by a reservoir cap support; reservoir contents, such as a drug formulation or sensor, disposed inside the reservoir; and a reservoir cap which closes off the two or more reservoir openings. The reservoir cap, which can be ruptured, controls release or exposure of the reservoir contents. In one embodiment, the device is an implantable medical device and provides for the controlled release of drug or exposure of a sensor.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods are provided for electrical stimulation of neural tissue and controlled drug delivery to a patient. The device includes an implantable drug delivery module which comprises a plurality of reservoirs, a release system comprising at least one drug contained in each of the reservoirs, and control means for selectively releasing a pharmaceutically effective amount of drug from each reservoir; a neural electrical stimulator which comprises a signal generator connected to at least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient; and at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the neural electrical stimulator. The microcontroller may control the signal generator and the control means of the drug delivery module. The device may further include a sensor operable to deliver a signal to the microcontroller, for example to indicate when to deliver electrical stimulation, drug, or both.

Abstract: Methods for operating a sensor device are provided, which may include (a) providing at a site (e.g., implanting in a patient) a device which comprises at least first and second reservoirs, a first sensor and corresponding first reference sensor located within the first reservoir, a second sensor and corresponding second reference sensor located within the second reservoir, a first reservoir cap closing an opening in the first reservoir and a second reservoir cap closing an opening in the second reservoir, and a power source, control circuitry, and electrodes for selectively disintegrating each reservoir cap; (b) disintegrating the first reservoir cap and operating the first sensor and reference sensor; and (c) using the first reference sensor to determine whether the first sensor is operating properly. If not operating properly, then the control circuitry initiates disintegration of the second reservoir cap and operation of the second sensor and reference sensor.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making a reservoir-based sensor device. The method may include fabricating a first substrate portion which comprises an upper surface, an opposed lower surface, a plurality of through holes defining reservoirs between said upper surface and said lower surface, and a plurality of reservoir caps closing off one end of said through holes at said upper surface; fabricating a plurality of sensors on an upper surface of a second substrate portion; aligning the first and second substrate portions such that each of said plurality of sensors is in alignment with each of said plurality of reservoirs; and bonding together the lower surface of said first substrate portion and the upper surface of said second substrate portion to seal each of said sensors inside the reservoir with which it is aligned.

Abstract: Reservoir-based devices are provided in which an individual reservoir has at least two openings with a support structure therebetween and closed by reservoir caps covering the openings to control release or exposure of reservoir contents. In one embodiment, the device is an implantable medical device and provides for the controlled release of drug or exposure of a sensor. The device includes a substrate; at least one reservoir disposed in the substrate, the reservoir having two or more openings; reservoir contents located in the reservoir; two or more discrete reservoir caps, each reservoir cap sealingly covering at least one of the reservoir openings; and control means for selectively disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir caps.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods are provided for electrical stimulation of neural tissue and controlled drug delivery to a patient. The device includes an implantable drug delivery module which comprises a plurality of reservoirs, a release system comprising at least one drug contained in each of the reservoirs, and control means for selectively releasing a pharmaceutically effective amount of drug from each reservoir; a neural electrical stimulator which comprises a signal generator connected to at least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient; and at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the neural electrical stimulator. The microcontroller may control the signal generator and the control means of the drug delivery module. The device may further include a sensor operable to deliver a signal to the microcontroller, for example to indicate when to deliver electrical stimulation, drug, or both.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for transdermal diagnostic sensing, alone or in combination with transdermal drug delivery. The device includes a substrate having a plurality of discrete reservoirs, each reservoir having at least one opening; contents disposed in the reservoirs, the contents of each reservoir including a diagnostic agent or a sensor for measuring an analyte; at least one discrete reservoir cap which cover said at least one opening; control means for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap; means for transporting an analyte from the skin to said sensors and/or for transporting said diagnostic agent to the skin following release of said diagnostic agents from said reservoir; and means for securing the device to the skin of a patient.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for implantation into a patient is provided that includes at least one device element that includes a substrate having a plurality of discrete reservoirs disposed therein, the reservoirs containing drug molecules and a degradable matrix material which controls in vivo release of the drug molecules from the reservoirs, wherein the drug delivery device is adapted to conform to a curved bone tissue surface. In one embodiment, the substrate is flexible and conforms to a bone tissue surface. In another embodiment, the device has two or more device elements attached to or integral with a flexible supporting layer.

Abstract: Method and devices are provided for extended and controlled delivery of parathyroid hormone to a patient. The method includes implanting a medical device into the patient, the medical device comprising a substrate, a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate, a release system contained in each of the reservoirs, wherein the release system comprises parathyroid hormone; and controllably releasing a pharmaceutically effective amount of the parathyroid hormone from the reservoirs. The parathyroid hormone can be released intermittently, such as once daily over an extended period (e.g., two months, ten months, or more.). The device can further include reservoirs containing a bone resorption inhibitor or other drug for release. The devices are useful in delivering PTH for the treatment and prevention of bone loss, such as associated with osteoporosis.