Disclosed herein are rolled-membrane microfluidic diffusion devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Also disclosed herein are three-dimensionally printed microfluidic devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Optionally, the disclosed microfluidic devices can function as artificial lung devices.

A technology that provides various modular biomimetic microfluidic modules emulating varieties of microvasculature in body. These microfluidic-base capillaries and lymphatic Technology modules are constructed as multilayered-microfluidic microchannels of various shapes, and aspect ratios using diverse biocompatible microfluidic polymers. Then, various semipermeable membranes are sandwiched in between these multilayered microfluidic microchannels. These membranes have different chemical, physical characteristics and MWCO values. Consequently, this design will produce much smaller dimension channels similar to human vasculature to achieve biomimetic properties like of human organs and tissues. By interchanging microfluidic-layers or the membranes various diverse modules are designed that act as building blocks for constructing various medical devices, various forms of dialysis devices including albumin and lipid dialysis, water purification, bioreactors, bio-artificial organ support systems. Connecting various modules in diverse combinations, permutations, in parallel and/or in series to ultimately design many unrelated medical devices such as dialysis, bioreactors and organ support devices.

Methods and apparatuses for the therapeutic delivery of nicotine for smoking cessation, harm reduction and/or substitution. Furthermore, the devices and methods herein are useful as an alternative, general nicotine delivery system in place of tobacco combustion or high temperature (over 150 degrees C.) products. In addition, the methods and devices herein are useful for the therapeutic delivery of a drug, for reducing the cumulative drug dose and hence its potential toxic side effects, while increasing its neurophysiological and/or physiological effects. Moreover, the devices and methods herein are useful for addiction treatment or reduction. In certain embodiments, the methods are adaptable to a medicament delivery device that determines a sequence of drug doses to be delivered. Dose information may be used to control operation of the device.

An invention directed to an implant device having a biointerface. The implant device comprises a cavity and a structure enabling a flow path between the cavity and an environment of the implant device. An actuatable membrane is interposed in the flow path. The device includes a power-generating unit and a control unit, where the latter is connected to the power-generating unit. An electromechanical is connected to both the control unit and the power-generating unit. The electromechanical system includes at least one actuator configured to mechanically contact the membrane. This actuator is permanently attached to the membrane. The control unit and the electromechanical system are jointly configured to cause the electromechanical system to controllably actuate the membrane via at least one actuator to control a transfer of substances between the cavity and the environment through the flow path. The invention is further directed to related operation and fabrication methods.

The embodiments provide a bioengineered artificial functional liver which is connected to a patient suffering from acute liver failure and would functional like an ectopic liver. The device uses the cells derived from the patient's own body thereby nullifying the chances of self/non-self-recognition and related immune activation and rejection. The extracted liver cells are grown on a customized 3D matrix called as 3D cell cartridge and these cell cartridges individually function as miniature liver assemblies. Multiple such assemblies when working in parallel would rescue the condition of liver failure. A microfluidic chamber is built with the similar network as found in the liver and the chamber has flow circuits for plasma/de-cellularised blood and the flow circuits are lined by a coculture of hepatocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. The array of cells in the chamber serve as a miniature liver and multiple such arrays will be stacked to achieve a significant hepatic function.

In examples described herein, a system includes an elongate member configured to be introduced into vasculature of a patient. The elongate member includes a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of pressure in the vasculature adjacent the needle. The system includes processing circuitry configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor, detect, based on the pressure signal, dislodgment of the elongate member from the vasculature, and generate an output in response to detecting the dislodgment of the elongate member from the vasculature.

Methods and systems are provided for aerosolization of individual building blocks of medical microrobots and subsequent in situ assembly into microrobots capable of medical intervention deep within lung tissues of a subject. The methods and systems of the disclosure may allow for microrobot-based therapy of pulmonary diseases that have previously been difficult to effectively treat using conventional therapeutic approaches.

In one embodiment, a fluid storage device includes a rigid outer housing that defines a septum cavity, a reservoir cavity, and a channel that extends between the two cavities, the outer housing further defining an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity, a septum provided within the septum cavity, the septum being made of an elastic polymer and facilitating refilling of the fluid storage device, and a thin, collapsible membrane that does not generate significant restoring forces when it is deformed as fluid is drawn from the reservoir cavity and, therefore, does not completely or partially return to its initial non-deformed shape even if the outlet of the device remains open after doses are administered.

The present disclosure discusses a system and method that includes a microfluidic device that can be used in either an extracorporeal or implantable configuration. The device supports efficient and safe removal of carbon dioxide from the blood of patients suffering from respiratory disease or injury. The microfluidic device can be a multilayer device that includes gas channels and fluid channels. Distensible membranes within the device can affect a cross-sectional area of the blood channels.

A microfluidic photoreactor for treating excess bilirubin in blood, having: a microfluidic channel module; an illumination module comprising one or more illumination sources disposed about the microfluidic channel module and configured to illuminate blood passing through at least one microfluidic channel of the microfluidic channel module; and a heat exchanger module coupled to the at least one microfluidic channel module, wherein the heat exchanger module is configured to extract heat from the at least one microfluidic channel. A system including a microfluidic photoreactor and a method of treating excess bilirubin in blood.