Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Wearable system and method for gas delivery to the exterior surface of an eye. In one embodiment, the system may include a gas source and a wearable gas delivery device. The gas source may include a housing, one or more electrochemical gas generating devices positioned within the housing, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the one or more electrochemical gas generating devices. The one or more electrochemical gas generating devices may include an electrochemical oxygen concentrator and a water electrolyzer. Oxygen outputted from the electrochemical oxygen concentrator may be combined with oxygen and/or hydrogen outputted from the electrolyzer to produce a therapeutic gas having an enriched oxygen concentration and a hydrogen concentration less than 4%. The wearable gas delivery device, which is fluidly coupled to the gas source, may be worn over the eye and may be used to deliver the therapeutic gas to the eye.

Abstract: System and method for modification of fluid environment of an ear. In one embodiment, the system includes an earpiece mountable within an ear canal. The earpiece includes a fluid delivery path for fluid to be delivered to the ear and a fluid removal path for fluid to be removed from the ear. The system also includes an electronics housing. The electronics housing may be directly mounted on the earpiece or positioned outside the ear. The system further includes an electrochemical gas generating device positioned within the electronics housing. In use, oxygen or the like is generated by the electrochemical gas generating device and is conveyed through the fluid delivery path of the earpiece, emerging from the earpiece distal end. The gas released from the earpiece causes fluid in the ear to be swept into the fluid removal path of the earpiece and eventually expelled to the outside of the ear.

Abstract: Self-regulating electrolytic gas generator and implant system including the same. In one embodiment, the electrolytic gas generator is a water electrolyzer and includes a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one side and a cathode on the other side. Anode and cathode seals surround the peripheries of the anode and cathode and include inlets for water and outlets for oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. A cathode current collector is placed in contact with the cathode, and an anode current collector, which may be an elastic, electrically-conductive diaphragm, is positioned proximate to the anode. The anode current collector is reversibly deformable between a first state in which it is in direct physical and electrical contact with the anode and a second state in which it distends, due to gas pressure generated at the anode, so that it is not in physical or electrical contact with the anode, causing electrolysis to cease.

Abstract: Self-regulating electrolytic gas generator and implant system including the same. In one embodiment, the electrolytic gas generator is a water electrolyzer and includes a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one side and a cathode on the other side. Anode and cathode seals surround the peripheries of the anode and cathode and include inlets for water and outlets for oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. A cathode current collector is placed in contact with the cathode, and an anode current collector, which may be an elastic, electrically-conductive diaphragm, is positioned proximate to the anode. The anode current collector is reversibly deformable between a first state in which it is in direct physical and electrical contact with the anode and a second state in which it distends, due to gas pressure generated at the anode, so that it is not in physical or electrical contact with the anode, causing electrolysis to cease.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Method and system for organ preservation. According to one aspect, an organ may be preserved by being perfused with an in situ generated preserving gas. The organ may be, for example, a human or porcine pancreas, and perfusion of the pancreas may be anterograde, retrograde, ductal, anterograde/ductal, or retrograde/ductal. The preserving gas used to perfuse the organ may be dissolved in a liquid and then administered to the organ as a gas/liquid solution or may be mixed with one or more other gases and then administered to the organ as a gas/gas mixture. The preserving gas may be, for example, oxygen gas generated in situ using an electrochemical oxygen concentrator. According to another aspect, an organ preservation system may include an electrochemical oxygen concentrator having a water vapor feed, as well as auxiliary equipment to control and measure delivery pressure, flow, temperature and humidity.

Abstract: Self-regulating electrolytic gas generator and implant system including the same. In one embodiment, the electrolytic gas generator is a water electrolyzer and includes a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one side and a cathode on the other side. Anode and cathode seals surround the peripheries of the anode and cathode and include inlets for water and outlets for oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. A cathode current collector is placed in contact with the cathode, and an anode current collector, which may be an elastic, electrically-conductive diaphragm, is positioned proximate to the anode. The anode current collector is reversibly deformable between a first state in which it is in direct physical and electrical contact with the anode and a second state in which it distends, due to gas pressure generated at the anode, so that it is not in physical or electrical contact with the anode, causing electrolysis to cease.

Abstract: System for fluid perfusion of biological matter that includes tissue. According to one embodiment, the system may include a storage container for storing the biological matter, a thermal control device for cooling the contents of the storage container, a gas generator for generating a preserving gas, a fluid conduit coupled to the gas generator and insertable into tissue for delivering the preserving gas to the biological matter, and a process controller for controlling the operation of the gas generator and the thermal control device. The gas generator, in turn, may include an electrochemical oxygen concentrator and/or a water electrolyzer for generating the preserving gas. The system may further include a liquid perfusion system that includes a reservoir of liquid perfusate, a fluid delivery conduit for delivering liquid perfusate from the reservoir to the biological matter, and a fluid draining conduit for draining liquid perfusate from the biological matter.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A multi-gas microsensor assembly for simultaneously detecting carbon dioxide and oxygen in real time. According to one embodiment, the assembly comprises a non-conductive, solid substrate. A plurality of sensing electrodes, a single reference electrode, and a single counter electrode are positioned on one side of the non-conductive, solid substrate. In addition, all of the electrodes are in intimate contact with the same side of a solid-polymer electrolyte anion-exchange membrane, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane having at least one gas diffusion opening aligned with each sensing electrode. The sensor is operated in a three-electrode potentiostatic mode, in which a constant potential is maintained between the sensing and reference electrodes, and the current is measured between the sensing and counter electrodes. Control of the electrodes is achieved with a small bi-potentiostat.

Abstract: A method for the detection of carbon dioxide gas using an electrochemical sensor. The method includes exposing a gas to a sensor, which includes a non-conductive solid substrate and at least one each of a metal oxide sensing electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode positioned on the substrate. A solid polymer electrolyte anion-exchange membrane is in intimate contact with the sensing electrode, reference electrode and counter electrode. The method is highly sensitive and selective to carbon dioxide with a very rapid response time.

Abstract: System for fluid perfusion of biological matter that includes tissue. According to one embodiment, the system may include a storage container for storing the biological matter, a thermal control device for cooling the contents of the storage container, a gas generator for generating a preserving gas, a fluid conduit coupled to the gas generator and insertable into tissue for delivering the preserving gas to the biological matter, and a process controller for controlling the operation of the gas generator and the thermal control device. The gas generator, in turn, may include an electrochemical oxygen concentrator and/or a water electrolyzer for generating the preserving gas. The system may further include a liquid perfusion system that includes a reservoir of liquid perfusate, a fluid delivery conduit for delivering liquid perfusate from the reservoir to the biological matter, and a fluid draining conduit for draining liquid perfusate from the biological matter.

Abstract: Method for electrochemically detecting different oxidant and halide anion species in a sample. According to one embodiment, the method uses a sensor including a boron-doped diamond working electrode, a platinum mesh counter electrode, a silver/silver chloride reference electrode, a potentiostat coupled to the three electrodes, and a computer coupled to the potentiostat. The sensor measures current resulting from differential pulse non-stripping voltammetry, thereby enabling different oxidants and halide anions from a plurality of such species to be detected by distinct responses. Peaks in the current signal result at characteristic voltages when a species is oxidized to a higher oxidation state, and the concentration of a particular species is determined by the magnitude of the current peak. The sensor response time is rapid and shows high sensitivity and selectivity for oxidants and halide anions. The sensor may be a hand-held or in-line device and may be used in a feedback-control system.

Abstract: System for modifying the chemical composition of atmosphere within an enclosed space and incubator system including such a system. The concentration of oxygen within the enclosed space may be either increased or decreased using an electrochemical device. The concentration of carbon dioxide within the enclosed space may be increased using an electrochemical or chemical device. As necessary, purging of the system with ambient air can be a part of the process of controlling the chemical composition of the atmosphere. The present invention obviates the need to use pressurized gas cylinders to supply atmospheric gases to the enclosed space.

Abstract: Method of heating and heating apparatus. According to one embodiment, the heating apparatus is designed for warming infusion fluids and includes a pair of catalytic heaters positioned around a cartridge containing the infusion fluid. Each catalytic heater includes a pair of frames jointly defining a cavity. One of the frames per heater is positioned proximate to the cartridge and includes an input port for receiving a liquid solution of methanol. The other frame per heater is positioned distal to the cartridge and includes an input port for receiving oxygen gas and an output port for exhaust gases. A first fluid diffusion medium is positioned within the methanol frame, and a second fluid diffusion medium is positioned within the oxygen frame. Sandwiched between the two diffusion media are a pervaporation membrane facing the first diffusion medium and a porous metal catalyst facing the second diffusion medium.

Abstract: A method for the detection of carbon dioxide gas using an electrochemical sensor. The method includes exposing a gas to a sensor, which includes a non-conductive solid substrate and at least one each of a metal oxide sensing electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode positioned on the substrate. A solid polymer electrolyte anion-exchange membrane is in intimate contact with the sensing electrode, reference electrode and counter electrode. The method is highly sensitive and selective to carbon dioxide with a very rapid response time.

Abstract: Method and system for organ preservation. According to one aspect, an organ may be preserved by being perfused with an in situ generated preserving gas. The organ may be, for example, a human or porcine pancreas, and perfusion of the pancreas may be anterograde, retrograde, ductal, anterograde/ductal, or retrograde/ductal. The preserving gas used to perfuse the organ may be dissolved in a liquid and then administered to the organ as a gas/liquid solution or may be mixed with one or more other gases and then administered to the organ as a gas/gas mixture. The preserving gas may be, for example, oxygen gas generated in situ using an electrochemical oxygen concentrator. According to another aspect, an organ preservation system may include an electrochemical oxygen concentrator having a water vapor feed, as well as auxiliary equipment to control and measure delivery pressure, flow, temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A multi-gas microsensor assembly for simultaneously detecting carbon dioxide and oxygen in real time. According to one embodiment, the assembly comprises a non-conductive, solid substrate. A plurality of sensing electrodes, a single reference electrode, and a single counter electrode are positioned on one side of the non-conductive, solid substrate. In addition, all of the electrodes are in intimate contact with the same side of a solid-polymer electrolyte anion-exchange membrane, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane having at least one gas diffusion opening aligned with each sensing electrode. The sensor is operated in a three-electrode potentiostatic mode, in which a constant potential is maintained between the sensing and reference electrodes, and the current is measured between the sensing and counter electrodes. Control of the electrodes is achieved with a small bi-potentiostat.