Systems, devices, and methods including implantable devices with anti-microbial properties

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable implant configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent microbial growth or adherence to the implant.

1 .- 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . An insertable device, comprising:
 a body structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining one or more fluid-flow passageways;   wherein at least one of the outer surface, or the inner surface of the body structure includes at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure.   
     
     
         67 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect one or more microorganisms present proximate to the body structure. 
     
     
         68 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein at least one anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least one high aspect ratio nanofibrillar structure. 
     
     
         69 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein at least one anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least one nanoscale projection. 
     
     
         70 . The insertable device of  claim 69 , wherein the at least one nanoscale projection includes at least one of a nanoscale irregularity, nanoscale elongation, nanoscale valley, or nanoscale ridge. 
     
     
         71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein at least one of the outer surface or inner surface includes at least one switchable surface. 
     
     
         73 . The insertable device of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one switchable surface is configured to alter the liquid-solid contact angle of the at least one actuatable anti-microbial nanostructure. 
     
     
         74 . The insertable device of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one switchable surface includes poly(dimethylsiloxane). 
     
     
         75 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein the at least one anti-microbial nanostructure is configured to inhibit at least one of microbial movement, microbial attachment, microbial growth, or microbial persistence on the surface of the body structure. 
     
     
         76 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further comprising one or more anti-microbial regions including at least one microbial tactic agent surface property. 
     
     
         77 . The insertable device of  claim 76 , wherein the at least one microbial tactic surface property includes at least one chemotactic agent. 
     
     
         78 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further including a repellant surface property including one or more of a carbohydrate, glycopeptide, proteoglycan, lipopolysaccharide, enzyme, lipid, peptide, polypeptide, protein, inorganic salt, or amino acid configured to direct one or more microorganisms away from a protected site. 
     
     
         79 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes a plurality of nanostructures configured in at least one spatial pattern. 
     
     
         80 . The insertable device of  claim 79 , wherein the at least one spatial pattern includes at least one of a repeating pattern, non-repeating pattern, or partially repeating pattern. 
     
     
         81 . The insertable device of  claim 79 , wherein the at least one spatial pattern is derived from information relating to the type of microorganism expected to be present in or around the body structure. 
     
     
         82 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein the actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure includes at least one electrically actuatable contact. 
     
     
         83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein at least one of the inner or the outer surface further comprises at least one surface coating. 
     
     
         85 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , wherein the insertable device includes at least one of a shunt, catheter, implant, valve, medical port, endoscope, or other catheter assembly. 
     
     
         86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . (canceled) 
     
     
         88 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further comprising a power source. 
     
     
         89 .- 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further comprising at least one active agent reservoir configured to release at least one active agent to at least one of the outer surface or inner surface of one or more fluid-flow passageways. 
     
     
         93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further comprising at least one sensor operably coupled to the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure. 
     
     
         95 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further comprising at least one controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . (canceled) 
     
     
         98 . An insertable device, comprising:
 a body structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining one or more fluid-flow passageways;   wherein at least one of the outer surface, or the inner surface of the body structure includes at least one actuatable anti-microbial nanostructure.   
     
     
         99 . An insertable device, comprising:
 a body structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining one or more fluid-flow passageways;   at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure projecting from at least one of the outer surface, or the inner surface, and   at least one sensor configured to detect one or more microorganisms present proximate the body structure.   
     
     
         100 . The insertable device of  claim 99 , wherein the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is configured for patterned activation. 
     
     
         101 . The insertable device of  claim 100 , wherein the patterned activation includes at least one of a spatial pattern or temporal pattern. 
     
     
         102 . The insertable device of  claim 99 , wherein the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure is configured to be randomly or nonrandomly actuated. 
     
     
         103 .- 116 . (canceled) 
     
     
         117 . The insertable device of  claim 66 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of at least one microbial component or the presence of at least one microorganism proximate at least one of the at least one actively controllable anti-microbial nanostructure.