The electro-osmotic actuation of implantable insulin micropumps.

A study using an electro-osmotic cell suitable for actuating an implantable insulin micropump showed that controlled variable flow rates in the order of 0.2 mL/day are possible. The cell functioned continuously with low energy and power requirements and long service life. The principle of operation is compatible with achieving the very low flow rates necessary if highly concentrated insulin is to be used to avoid frequent insulin reservoir refilling. An electro-osmotic cell, Ag/AgCl/NaCl(aq)/cation exchange membrane/NaCl(aq)/AgCl/Ag, was connected to a constant current power supply which reversed the direction of the current every 10 mins causing a to-and-fro transport of fluid through the membrane. Flow rates of 0.15-0.60 microL/min were achieved with currents of 2.5-10 mA. At the low flow rate, energy consumption was 6.4 X 10(-2) J/microL and peak power requirement was less than 2.0 X 10(-4) W. Fluid was transported against a pressure gradient of 52 cm Hg. The cell contained a total electrolyte volume of less than 0.25 mL. The membrane showed no change in properties after 10,000 current reversals (69 days). To function as an actuator for an implantable insulin micropump, the electro-osmotic cell requires a switching and valving assembly; a suitable design for this is briefly considered.

Cellulosic ion-exchange membranes for hemodialysis.

The application of cellulosic ion-exchange membranes to hemodialysis was studied in vitro. The membranes were prepared by radiation-grafting methacrylic acid and vinylpyridine to films of DuPont cellophane PD-215 to produce cation-exchange and anion-exchange membranes, respectively. Solutions of urea, creatinine, glucose, and uric acid were studied for their interactions with and diffusion through the membranes. Ultrafiltration rates were also determined. Cuprophane and PD-215 cellophane were studied as controls. Dialysis plots for the membranes revealed a mechanism of "assisted transport." Initially, the solutes were removed from solution by a sorption/adsorption mechanism followed by a steady-state diffusion process. The calculated diffusivities for these later steady-state regions increased linearly with capacity for urea, creatinine, and uric acid, while for glucose the reverse was true. The combined processes involved provided considerably greater mass transport per unit thickness than either DuPont PD-215 cellophane or Cupropane.