A variable mold includes a plurality of hydraulic pin systems. Each pin system includes a valve in fluid communication with a supply of pressurized fluid, a tubing in fluid communication with the valve, and a pin coupled to the tubing. The pin is configured to extend from the tubing in response to the supply of the fluid through the valve to the tubing. A longitudinal axis of each pin is mutually parallel and arranged in a two-dimensional array. The variable mold includes a controller operably coupled to the valves that can control the displacement of each pin. The variable mold may include a pin displacement detector configured to detect a displacement of each pin. The pin displacement detector is operably coupled to the controller. The controller can close each valve in response to the pin displacement detector detecting that the pin corresponding to the valve extends a predetermined distance.

A variable mold includes a plurality of hydraulic pin systems. Each pin system includes a valve in fluid communication with a supply of pressurized fluid, a tubing in fluid communication with the valve, and a pin coupled to the tubing. The pin is configured to extend from the tubing in response to the supply of the fluid through the valve to the tubing. A longitudinal axis of each pin is mutually parallel and arranged in a two-dimensional array. The variable mold includes a controller operably coupled to the valves that can control the displacement of each pin. The variable mold may include a pin displacement detector configured to detect a displacement of each pin. The pin displacement detector is operably coupled to the controller. The controller can close each valve in response to the pin displacement detector detecting that the pin corresponding to the valve extends a predetermined distance.

A method for the fail-safe termination of in vivo drug delivery from an implantable drug delivery system, the method comprising: providing an implantable drug delivery system comprising: a housing having a reservoir for containing a drug, and a port for dispensing the drug to a patient; and an emergency deactivation unit disposed between the reservoir and the port, the emergency deactivation unit comprising a composite structure comprising a biocompatible ferromagnetic mesh open to fluid flow and a hydrophobic meltable material, the hydrophobic meltable material comprising at least one hole therein for enabling a fluid to pass through the hydrophobic meltable material; implanting the implantable drug delivery system within a patient; enabling the drug to flow from the reservoir, through the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and out the port; and when drug flow is to be terminated, applying a magnetic field to the composite structure, such that a current is induced in the ferromagnetic mesh which heats the ferromagnetic mesh and melts the hydrophobic meltable material, thereby closing the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and blocking drug delivery to the patient.

A method for the fail-safe termination of in vivo drug delivery from an implantable drug delivery system, the method comprising: providing an implantable drug delivery system comprising: a housing having a reservoir for containing a drug, and a port for dispensing the drug to a patient; and an emergency deactivation unit disposed between the reservoir and the port, the emergency deactivation unit comprising a composite structure comprising a biocompatible ferromagnetic mesh open to fluid flow and a hydrophobic meltable material, the hydrophobic meltable material comprising at least one hole therein for enabling a fluid to pass through the hydrophobic meltable material; implanting the implantable drug delivery system within a patient; enabling the drug to flow from the reservoir, through the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and out the port; and when drug flow is to be terminated, applying a magnetic field to the composite structure, such that a current is induced in the ferromagnetic mesh which heats the ferromagnetic mesh and melts the hydrophobic meltable material, thereby closing the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and blocking drug delivery to the patient.

A method for using a variable mold may include providing a variable mold. The variable mold may include a plurality of hydraulic pin systems each having a valve in fluid communication with a supply of actuation fluid, a tubing in fluid communication with the valve, and a pin coupled to the tubing. The pin may be configured to be displaced in response to the supply of the actuation fluid through the valve to the tubing. The method may further include moving each pin of the plurality of hydraulic pin systems to a predetermined position for that pin by supplying the actuation fluid through the valve to the tubing and inducing a phase change in the actuation fluid from liquid to solid to fix each pin at the pin's predetermined position.

A method for using a variable mold may include providing a variable mold. The variable mold may include a plurality of hydraulic pin systems each having a valve in fluid communication with a supply of actuation fluid, a tubing in fluid communication with the valve, and a pin coupled to the tubing. The pin may be configured to be displaced in response to the supply of the actuation fluid through the valve to the tubing. The method may further include moving each pin of the plurality of hydraulic pin systems to a predetermined position for that pin by supplying the actuation fluid through the valve to the tubing and inducing a phase change in the actuation fluid from liquid to solid to fix each pin at the pin's predetermined position.

A method for the fail-safe termination of in vivo drug delivery from an implantable drug delivery system, the method comprising: providing an implantable drug delivery system comprising: a housing having a reservoir for containing a drug, and a port for dispensing the drug to a patient; and an emergency deactivation unit disposed between the reservoir and the port, the emergency deactivation unit comprising a composite structure comprising a biocompatible ferromagnetic mesh open to fluid flow and a hydrophobic meltable material, the hydrophobic meltable material comprising at least one hole therein for enabling a fluid to pass through the hydrophobic meltable material; implanting the implantable drug delivery system within a patient; enabling the drug to flow from the reservoir, through the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and out the port; and when drug flow is to be terminated, applying a magnetic field to the composite structure, such that a current is induced in the ferromagnetic mesh which heats the ferromagnetic mesh and melts the hydrophobic meltable material, thereby closing the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and blocking drug delivery to the patient.

A method for the fail-safe termination of in vivo drug delivery from an implantable drug delivery system, the method comprising: providing an implantable drug delivery system comprising: a housing having a reservoir for containing a drug, and a port for dispensing the drug to a patient; and an emergency deactivation unit disposed between the reservoir and the port, the emergency deactivation unit comprising a composite structure comprising a biocompatible ferromagnetic mesh open to fluid flow and a hydrophobic meltable material, the hydrophobic meltable material comprising at least one hole therein for enabling a fluid to pass through the hydrophobic meltable material; implanting the implantable drug delivery system within a patient; enabling the drug to flow from the reservoir, through the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and out the port; and when drug flow is to be terminated, applying a magnetic field to the composite structure, such that a current is induced in the ferromagnetic mesh which heats the ferromagnetic mesh and melts the hydrophobic meltable material, thereby closing the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and blocking drug delivery to the patient.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to adjusting fluid flow using magnetically sensitive particles. Fluid can flow through an opening in a container. Magnetically sensitive particles can be confined within the container. A magnetic field can be applied to move the magnetically sensitive particles in the container to adjust flow of the fluid through the opening.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to adjusting fluid flow using magnetically sensitive particles. Fluid can flow through an opening in a container. Magnetically sensitive particles can be confined within the container. A magnetic field can be applied to move the magnetically sensitive particles in the container to adjust flow of the fluid through the opening.