US Patent:
20020151776, Oct 17, 2002
Inventors:
Rebecca Shawgo - Cambridge MA, US
Norman Sheppard - Bedford MA, US
Michael Cima - Winchester MA, US
John Santini - Belmont MA, US
Stephen Herman - Andover MA, US
Benjamin Polito - Cambridge MA, US
Scott Uhland - Somerville MA, US
International Classification:
A61B005/05
A61K009/22
A61N001/30
F16J009/00
F16J015/02
H01L027/14
US Classification:
600/345000, 604/890100, 604/020000, 277/300000, 277/312000, 257/414000
Abstract:
Methods and devices are provided for mechanically sealing the reservoirs of microchip devices to prevent leakage from or between any of the reservoirs. In one embodiment, the method includes sandwiching a microchip device and a gasket material covering the reservoir openings between a front sealing frame and a backplate, such that the gasket material is compressed against the back side of the microchip device by the back plate. The front sealing frame is secured to the back sealing plate using fasteners or welding. The gasket material is preferably a flexible polymeric sheet, which is biocompatible and compatible with the reservoir contents. In another embodiment, a composite backplate is used in place of the back sealing plate and separate gasket material. The composite backplate can include a substrate having sealing plugs defined thereon. The composite backplate also can be designed to hold the drug, thereby combining the assembly steps of reservoir filling and sealing.
