In situ reaction device

Abstract

Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled reaction device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in an environment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A reaction system including:
 a body structure adapted to be positioned within a body of an organism;   a first reaction chamber within the body structure;   a first remotely activatable control element associated with the first reaction chamber and configured to modify the rate or kinetics of a first reaction within the first reaction chamber in response to a first electromagnetic control signal;   a second reaction chamber within the body structure; and   a second remotely activatable control element associated with the second reaction chamber and configured to modify the rate or kinectics of a second reaction within the second reaction chamber in response to a second electromagnetic control signal.   
     
     
         36 . The reaction system of  claim 35 , wherein the first remotely activatable control element and the second remotely activatable control element are selectively activatable control elements. 
     
     
         37 . The reaction system of  claim 36 , wherein the first remotely activatable control element and the second remotely activatable control element are selectively activatable electromagnetic control signals that differ in at least one signal characteristic. 
     
     
         38 . The reaction device of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one signal characteristic includes at least one of frequency, phase, amplitude, temporal profile, polarization, directional characteristics, or spatial variations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The reaction device of  claim 36 , wherein the first reaction chamber, first remotely activatable control element, second reaction chamber, and second remotely activatable control element are configured to cause performance of the first reaction and the second reaction in a particular sequence in response to selective activation of the first remotely activatable control element and the second remotely activatable control element. 
     
     
         40 . The reaction device of  claim 35 , wherein the first remotely activatable control element and the second remotely activatable control element are of the same type. 
     
     
         41 . The reaction device of  claim 35 , wherein the first remotely activatable control element and the second remotely activatable control element are of different types. 
     
     
         42 . The reaction system of  claim 35 , wherein the first remotely activatable control element and the second remotely activatable control element are activatable in parallel. 
     
     
         43 . The reaction system of  claim 35 , wherein the first remotely activatable control element and the second remotely activatable control element are activatable in series. 
     
     
         44 . A reaction system,comprising:
 a body structure;   a reaction region located in or on the body structure, the reaction region including a catalyst located at and operably coupled to the reaction region and capable of influencing a chemical reaction at the reaction region; and   a remotely activatable control element including a polymer and at least one electrically or magnetically active component, the remotely activatable control element responsive to an electromagnetic control signal to modify the rate or kinetics of a reaction occurring at the reaction region.   
     
     
         45 . The reaction system of  claim 44 , wherein the body structure is configured to be positioned in a body of an organism. 
     
     
         46 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , including a wearable remote control signal source capable of generating the electromagnetic control signal to activate the remotely activatable control element to produce a desired rate or kinetics of the chemical reaction, the wearable remote control signal source configured to be worn on the body of the organism. 
     
     
         47 . The reaction system of  claim 46 , wherein the wearable remote control signal source is configured to be located on a belt, bracelet, or pendant. 
     
     
         48 . The reaction system of  claim 46 , wherein the wearable remote control signal source is configured to be taped or adhered to the body of the organism. 
     
     
         49 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the organism is an animal or a human. 
     
     
         50 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the organism is a plant. 
     
     
         51 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the body structure includes one or more features that allow it to be placed or positioned in a desired location within the organism. 
     
     
         52 . The reaction system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more features include one or more size or shape features. 
     
     
         53 . The reaction system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more features include one or more tethers or gripping structures configured to prevent movement of the reaction device from the desired location. 
     
     
         54 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the body structure includes one or more targeting features configured to direct the device toward or cause it to be localized in a desired location. 
     
     
         55 . The reaction system of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more targeting features include a surface chemistry. 
     
     
         56 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the catalyst includes at least one of a metal, platinum, an acid-base catalyst, a catalytic nucleic acid, an enzyme, a ribozyme, or a DNAzyme. 
     
     
         57 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the catalyst includes at least one of an enzyme an oxidoreductase, glucose oxidase, a transferase, glycosyltransferase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a hydrolase, a lyase, an isomerase, a ligase, an enzymatic complex, or an enzymatic cofactor. 
     
     
         58 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the remotely activatable control element includes an ionic polymer-metal composite. 
     
     
         59 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         60 . The reaction system of  claim 45 , wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a polymeric material. 
     
     
         61 . The reaction system of  claim 44 , wherein the y structure is adapted for positioning in an environment. 
     
     
         62 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the environment is a body of water. 
     
     
         63 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the environment is a contained fluid volume. 
     
     
         64 . The reaction system of  claim 63 , wherein the environment includes at least one of an industrial fluid volume, an agricultural fluid volume, a swimming pool, an aquarium, a drinking water supply, or an HVAC system cooling water supply. 
     
     
         65 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the body structure includes one or more features that allow it to be placed or positioned in a desired location. 
     
     
         66 . The reaction system of  claim 65 , wherein the one or more features include one or more size or shape features. 
     
     
         67 . The reaction system of  claim 65 , wherein the one or more features include one or more tethers or gripping structures configured to prevent movement of the reaction device from the desired location. 
     
     
         68 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the body structure includes one or more targeting features configured to direct the device toward or cause it to be localized in a desired location. 
     
     
         69 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the catalyst includes at least one of a metal, platinum, an acid-base catalyst, a catalytic nucleic acid, an enzyme, a ribozyme, or a DNAzyme, 
     
     
         70 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the catalyst includes at least one of an enzyme an oxidoreductase, glucose oxidase, a transferase, glycosyltransferase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a hydrolase, a lyase, an isomerase, a ligase, an enzymatic complex, or an enzymatic cofactor. 
     
     
         71 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the remotely activatable control element includes an ionic polymer-metal composite. 
     
     
         72 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         73 . The reaction system of  claim 61 , wherein the remotely activatable control element includes a polymeric material. 
     
     
         74 . A reaction device comprising:
 a body structure configured for placement in an environment;   a reaction space within the body structure;   a reactant material within the reaction space; and   a plurality of remotely activatable molecules within the reaction space, wherein each remotely activatable molecule of the plurality of remotely activatable molecules includes an excitable chemical bond that is excitable from an unexcited to an excited condition in response to an electromagnetic control signal to form an excited remotely activatable molecule that allows binding or association of the reactant material with the excited remotely activatable molecule to undergo a chemical reaction.   
     
     
         75 . The reaction device of  claim 74 , including at least one outlet through which a product of the chemical reaction is released into the environment. 
     
     
         76 . The reaction device of  claim 74 , including at least one inlet through which a material capable of participating in the chemical reaction enters the reaction region. 
     
     
         77 . The reaction device of  claim 74 , including at least one inlet, outlet, pump, valve, mixer, separator, chamber, channel, or reservoir.