US 12,303,374 B2
Cell encapsulation devices with controlled cell bed thickness
Greg Rusch, Newark, DE (US); and Edward H. Cully, Newark, DE (US)
Assigned to W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US)
Appl. No. 17/272,360
Filed by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 30, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/049007
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 1, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/068366, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/736,553, filed on Sep. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0315682 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. A61F 2/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/022 (2013.01) [A61F 2210/0014 (2013.01); A61F 2220/005 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0058 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0075 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0012 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0023 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0069 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cell encapsulation device comprising:
a cell encapsulating pouch comprising a first layer sealed along a portion of its periphery to a second layer along a portion of its periphery to define an interior volume between the first and second layers, wherein the interior volume comprises a first interior surface and an opposing second interior surface spaced apart from the first interior surface;
at least one tensioning member disposed within the interior volume and contacting at least two opposing portions of the cell encapsulating pouch to exert opposing forces on the cell encapsulating pouch that urge the first layer and the second layer apart from each other and thereby maintain an average distance between the first interior surface and the second interior surface; and
a reservoir space for receiving cells within the interior volume between the first and second interior surfaces.