Electrochemical dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

The disclosed invention provides electrochemical dispensing apparatus and methods. According to the principles of the invention, a microelectronic electrochemical dispenser is used to cause the release of one or more selected chemical substance from a stored chemical compound. The release is controlled using a timer or sensor apparatus in a controlling device, preferably an ASIC.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A system for controlling the release of a chemical compound within a living organism, comprising:
 an electrochemical dispensing unit disposed within the living organism, the electrochemical dispensing unit comprising a processing circuit and a reservoir;   the processing circuit comprises a controlling mechanism and a driver circuit;   the chemical compound disposed within the reservoir and formulated to ensure availability of a selected target chemical;   the controlling mechanism and the driver circuit of the integrated circuit electrically connected to the reservoir; and   the reservoir configured to release the target chemical in response to transmission of a signal from the controlling mechanism to the driver circuit.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the controlling mechanism further comprises an application specific integrated circuit. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the chemical compound further comprises one or more of fluorine, a silane, an ionic fluid, carbon and hydrogen. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the processing circuit further comprises a timer circuit. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a rechargeable battery operably coupled for promoting an electrochemical reaction. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising an energy harvesting circuit operably coupled to the processing circuit. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the processor is operably coupled to a microelectromechanical energy harvesting device. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the processor is operably coupled to an inductive energy harvesting device. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the processor is configured for acquiring data for use in controlling the operation of the application specific integrated circuit. 
     
     
         37 . A system for releasing a target chemical, comprising:
 a reservoir containing a chemical compound having the capacity to release the target chemical in response to electrical stimulation; and   a processor operably coupled to the reservoir and to a power source, whereby the chemical compound can be electrically stimulated by the processor to cause the release of the target chemical; and   wherein the processor is connected to an internal biological structure of a living organism.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the controlling mechanism further comprises an application specific integrated circuit. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the chemical compound further comprises one or more of fluorine, a silane, an ionic fluid, carbon and hydrogen. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the processing circuit further comprises a timer circuit. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a rechargeable battery operably coupled for promoting an electrochemical reaction. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising an energy harvesting circuit operably coupled to the processing circuit. 
     
     
         43 . A method for releasing a selected chemical substance comprising:
 securing an electrochemical dispensing unit to an organic structure within a living organism, the electrochemical dispensing unit comprises a processing circuit and a reservoir, the processing circuit comprises a controlling mechanism and a driver circuit, the reservoir containing a chemical compound that is formulated to ensure availability of a selected target chemical;   transmitting a signal from the controlling mechanism to the driver circuit; and   activating the chemical compound in the reservoir using the driver circuit to cause the target chemical to be released.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein activating the chemical compound in the reservoir using the driver circuit to cause the target chemical to be released comprises causing a target chemical containing one or more of fluorine, a silane, an ionic fluid, carbon and hydrogen to be released. 
     
     
         45 . The method  claim 43  wherein transmitting the signal from the controlling mechanism to the driver circuit comprises:
 activating a timer circuit; and 
 transmitting the signal from the controlling mechanism to the driver circuit as a function of a timing signal generated by the timing circuit. 
 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising:
 monitoring one or more compounds generated by the living organism to generate data; and 
 processing the data with the processing circuit to generate the signal transmuted from the controlling mechanism to the driver circuit. 
 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising:
 monitoring one or more environmental variables within the living organism to generate data; and 
 processing the data with the processing circuit to generate the signal transmitted from the controlling mechanism to the driver circuit.