US 12,383,726 B2
Implant device with MEMS (microelectromechanical system) actuated membrane
Emanuel Marc Löertscher, Bonstetten (CH); and Diego Monserrat Lopez, Zurich (CH)
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed by International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/446,730.
Prior Publication US 2023/0065107 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. A61M 60/441 (2021.01); A61M 5/142 (2006.01); A61M 60/122 (2021.01); A61M 60/268 (2021.01); A61M 60/508 (2021.01); A61M 5/145 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 60/441 (2021.01) [A61M 5/14276 (2013.01); A61M 60/122 (2021.01); A61M 60/268 (2021.01); A61M 60/508 (2021.01); A61M 5/14586 (2013.01); A61M 2205/0244 (2013.01); A61M 2205/0272 (2013.01); A61M 2207/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An implant device, comprising:
a cavity;
a structure enabling a flow path between the cavity and a biological environment of the implant device;
an actuatable membrane interposed in the flow path;
a power-generating unit;
a control unit connected to the power-generating unit; and
an electromechanical system connected to both the control unit and the power-generating unit, the electromechanical system including a plurality of pairs of electrostatic actuators, wherein each pair of the plurality of pairs of electrostatic actuators is physically configured to have a comb structure that is interdigitated, and wherein the electromechanical system is further configured to vary a distance between each pair of the plurality of pairs of the electrostatic actuators of the pair upon an electrical signal applied to the electrostatic actuators in order to actuate the membrane by opening or closing micro-pores in the membrane to modify permeability of the membrane and thereby to control a transfer of substances between the cavity and the biological environment through the flow path.