Nano-scale coatings and related methods suitable for in-vivo use

Inventors

Goodall, Randy • Hosali, Sharath

Assignees

Nanomedical Systems Inc

Abstract

A nano-scale device and method of manufacturing and use. The nano-scale device may be used in-vivo and may comprise a fluid path with an inlet microchannel, an outlet microchannel, and a nanochannel. The fluid path comprises a bio-robust material. In certain embodiments, the bio-robust material may be coated over a material that is not bio-robust.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a nanochannel delivery device with an inlet microchannel and an outlet microchannel, where a nanochannel is etched between a first bio-robust layer and a second bio-robust layer. The etched nanochannel is in fluid communication with the inlet microchannel and the outlet microchannel.

In the disclosed device, the first bio-robust layer is a silicon carbide layer and the second bio-robust layer is a silicon carbide layer. The inlet microchannel comprises a first bio-robust coating on the first sidewall of the inlet microchannel, where the first bio-robust coating is a tantalum oxide coating, and the outlet microchannel comprises a second bio-robust coating on the second sidewall of the outlet microchannel, where the second bio-robust coating is a silicon carbide coating.

A key structural feature is that the first bio-robust coating is atomically sealed to the first bio-robust layer and that the second bio-robust coating is atomically sealed to the second bio-robust layer. The invention further defines dimensional stability at a nanometer scale over time through bio-robustness criteria and includes embodiments in which the etched nanochannel has a height of less than 200 nm.

Claims Coverage

The document includes one independent claim with multiple dependent claims that refine the device structure and nanoscale dimensional constraints. Across the independent claim, the coverage focuses on the arrangement of inlet and outlet microchannels with a nanochannel etched between bio-robust layers, including specific bio-robust materials and atomically sealed bio-robust coatings, and on the required direct fluid communication between the nanochannel and the inlet and outlet microchannels.

Overall, the claim coverage centers on a nanochannel delivery device where a nanochannel is etched between silicon carbide bio-robust layers and placed in fluid communication with inlet and outlet microchannels, with inlet and outlet sidewalls carrying bio-robust coatings (tantalum oxide on the inlet side and silicon carbide on the outlet side) that are atomically sealed to the respective bio-robust layers.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications