Implantable Medical Devices

Abstract

An implantable medical system that comprises a gas unit for supplying gas that is essentially oxygen and at least one functional cells unit configured to receive oxygen from the gas unit so as to maintain the cells in a viable condition. The cells unit is flexible. Several embodiments are disclosed.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An implantable medical system comprising:
 a replenishment port configured to be implanted within a human body and configured to receive a gas comprising oxygen through a needle adapted to penetrate the replenishment port through skin of the human body;   a gas unit configured to be implanted within the human body at a different location from the replenishment port, the gas unit comprising a pressurized reservoir configured to be replenished by the gas received in the replenishment port, wherein the gas unit is configured to maintain a pressure within the pressurized reservoir that is greater than one atmosphere;   at least one functional cells unit configured to be implanted within the human body at a different location from the replenishment port and the gas unit, wherein the at least one functional cells unit contains a plurality of functional cells, and wherein the at least one functional cells unit is configured to receive the gas from the gas unit so as to maintain the functional cells in a viable condition; and   a first unidirectional valve configured to be implanted within the human body at a location between the pressurized reservoir of the gas unit and the at least one functional cells unit, wherein the unidirectional valve is configured to regulate flow of the gas from the gas unit to the at least one functional cells unit.   
     
     
         22 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one distributor configured to distribute the gas from the gas unit to the at least one functional cells unit. 
     
     
         23 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , further comprising a second unidirectional valve configured to be implanted within the human body at a location between the replenishment port and the pressurized reservoir of the gas unit, wherein the second unidirectional valve is configured to ensure the gas is solely transferred from the replenishment port to the pressurized reservoir. 
     
     
         24 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the functional cells are selected from a group comprising islets of Langerhans, adrenal cells, stem cells and genetic implantable cells. 
     
     
         25 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one functional cells unit has one dimension that is relatively longer than other dimensions so as to render flexibility to the unit, and wherein the at least one functional cells unit is flexible enough so as to allow the at least one functional cells unit to partially follow the natural movements of organs of the human body that are adjacent to the at least one functional cells unit. 
     
     
         26 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one functional cells unit is in a shape of a disc having a thickness in the range of between 1 mm and 8 mm and a diameter in the range of between 1 cm and 20 cm. 
     
     
         27 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one functional cells unit comprises opposite positioned compartments of substantially the same dimensions, and wherein both compartments are configured to allow diffusion of oxygen to the functional cells inside the at least one functional cells unit. 
     
     
         28 . The implantable medical system of  claim 27 , wherein the compartments are disc-like and have a thickness in the range of between 20 μm and 2,000 μm. 
     
     
         29 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one functional cells unit is covered with a layer that facilitates transfer of oxygen. 
     
     
         30 . The implantable medical system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least a portion of the at least one functional cells unit includes a portion of the at least one functional cells unit that faces the gas unit. 
     
     
         31 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one outer side of the at least one functional cells unit is covered with a layer that is (a) permeable to nutrients that may be consumed by functional cells, (b) permeable to bio-materials that may be produced by the functional cells, and (c) impermeable to immunologic factors and oxygen. 
     
     
         32 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the functional cells are embedded in a matrix within the at least one functional cells unit. 
     
     
         33 . The implantable medical system of  claim 32 , wherein the matrix includes a material selected from a group comprising alginate, collagen, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the functional cells in the at least one functional cells unit are trapped within a porous structure. 
     
     
         35 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one functional cells unit comprises a plurality of subunits provided with functional cells embedded in a matrix, wherein each of the plurality of subunits is configured to allow diffusion of oxygen to the functional cells. 
     
     
         36 . The implantable medical system of  claim 35 , wherein the diameter of each subunit is in a range of between 10 μm and 2,500 μm. 
     
     
         37 . The implantable medical system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one functional cells unit comprises inner projections configured to allow the functional cells to be captured thereon. 
     
     
         38 . The implantable medical system of  claim 37 , wherein the inner projections are configured to facilitate transfer of oxygen to the functional cells. 
     
     
         39 . The implantable medical system of  claim 38 , wherein the inner projections comprise silicon.