Macroencapsulation devices
Inventors
Thanos, Christopher • Lavin, Danya M. • Mills, John • Billings, Megan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12544545-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to macroencapsulation devices and related methods of manufacture where the membranes of a device may be mounted to an associated frame in a relaxed, or slack, configuration prior to filling with a desired material.
Core Innovation
The disclosed macroencapsulation device houses a population of cells between first and second membranes bonded along their perimeter to form an internal volume, with at least one membrane being semipermeable. A frame extends along at least part of the membrane perimeter. The disclosed configurations include membranes with a surface area greater than the frame’s transverse cross-sectional area, and membranes deformed to fit within a smaller frame area.
The available description also identifies bonded interior membrane portions that form interconnected channels, with through holes in some portions, and curved or corrugated supports for mounting. It describes frame undersizing as controlling filled compartment height and volume. The background section is not included in the partial content, so the problem being solved is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover two inventive features of a macroencapsulation device for housing a population of cells.
Perimeter-bonded membranes with a larger surface area than the frame
The device comprises first and second membranes bonded along their perimeter to form an internal volume configured to house a population of cells, with at least one membrane being semipermeable. A frame extends along at least a portion of the perimeter, and the surface area of at least one membrane is greater than the frame’s transverse cross-sectional area in the plane in which the frame extends and the membranes are mounted.
Membranes deformed to fit a smaller frame area
The device comprises first and second membranes bonded along their perimeter to form an internal volume configured to house a population of cells, with at least one membrane being semipermeable. A frame extends along at least a portion of the perimeter, and a portion of the membranes connected to the frame is deformed to fit within a frame area smaller than the area of that portion in an undeformed configuration.
The two independent claims cover a cell-housing internal volume formed by perimeter-bonded, semipermeable membranes supported by a frame, distinguished either by the membrane surface area exceeding the frame transverse cross-sectional area or by membrane deformation to fit a smaller frame area.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
A macroencapsulation device for housing a population of cells.
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