1. A device comprising:
a) a polymeric material comprising the following properties:
i) a dielectric constant of about 2 to 4 at 60 Hz;
ii) an elongation break at about 10% to 300%;
iii) a water absorption rate of about 0.01% to 0.10% per 24 hrs; and
b) a conductive material
wherein the conductive material is encapsulated in the polymeric material and wherein the device generates an electromotive force when contacted with a modulated magnetic field, or generates a magnetic field when contacted with an electromotive force.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is suitable for association with a biological system.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than 2.0 g-mil100 in 24 hr at 90% relative humidity and 37\xb0 C.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device has a thickness from about 0.05 micron to about 50 microns.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the device has a thickness from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one of a parylene, an acrylic, a siloxane, xylene, an alkene, styrene, an organosilane, an organosilazane, an organosilicone, a PDMS (poly-di-methyl-siloxane) or a polyimide.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the parylene is parylene N, parylene C, parylene D, parylene A, parylene AM, parylene F, parylene HT, or combinations thereof.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive material receives power andor data from an external source by inductively coupled radio-frequency (RF) telemetry.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive material comprises at least one of a platinum, platinum grey, platinum black, gold, iridium, titanium, chromium, copper, aluminum, iridium oxide, chromium oxide, silver oxide, indium zinc oxide, indium tin oxide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxynitride, zinc oxide, indium oxide, tin oxide, cadmium tin oxide, cadmium oxide, magnesium oxide, and combinations thereof.
10. The device of claim 1 comprising multiple layers of the polymeric material.
11. The device of claim 1 comprising multiple layers of the conductive material.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a coil.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the coil is an intraocular or extraocular coil.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is contoured to conform to a region of implantation in a biological environment.
15. A system comprising:
a) a first element comprising a device comprising a polymeric material comprising the following properties:
i) a dielectric constant of about 2 to 4 at 60 Hz;
ii) an elongation break at about 10% to 300%;
iii) a water absorption rate of about 0.01% to 0.10% per 24 hrs; and
a conductive material wherein the conductive material is encapsulated in the polymeric material and wherein the device generates an electromotive force when contacted with a modulated magnetic field, or generates a magnetic field when contacted with an electromotive force;
b) a second element inductively linked to the first element, the second element comprising:
i) a mechanism for generating a magnetic field that contacts the first element; and
ii) a mechanism for generating radio frequency (RF) telemetry that contacts the first element;
c) an electrode having a first end operably linked to the first element and a second end operably linked to an array.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first element is implanted in a biological system.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the biological system is an eye.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the device is a coil that receives data and power from the second element.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the coil is an intraocular or extraocular coil.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the first element comprises an integrated circuit.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein the second element is external to the biological system.
22. The system of claim 15, wherein the second element is a transmitter comprising a coil.
23. The system of claim 15, wherein the array is a retinal array.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the retinal array is associated with nerve tissue.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the nerve tissue comprises retinal tissue.
26. The system of claim 15, wherein the first element includes an amplifier.
27. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material of a) comprises the following properties:
iv) a tensile strength of about 30 MPa to 80 MPa;
v) a gas permeability coefficient of about 0.50 to 2000 cm3-mil100 in 24 hr at 1 atm at 23\xb0 C.
28. The device of claim 27, wherein the gas is oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulphur dioxide or chlorine.
29. The device of claim 27, wherein the gas permeability coefficient for oxygen is less than 40 cm3-mil100 in 24 hr at 1 atm and at 23\xb0 C.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An object retention system for securing an object in a rotatable carousel having an axis of rotation, the system comprising:
(a) a latching hub mounted within the rotatable carousel about the axis of rotation;
(b) at least one object within the rotatable carousel, each object having a latch reciprocal configured to mate with the latching hub; and,
(c) at least one retainer adjacent each object, each retainer configured to maintain contact between one of the latch reciprocals and the latching hub.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the latching hub includes at least one prominence; and
(b) each latch reciprocal has a depression formed therein for receiving one of the prominences of the latching hub.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein:
(a) each latch reciprocal includes a prominence; and
(b) the latching hub has at least one depression formed therein for receiving the prominence of each latch reciprocal.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein each retainer is springable to permit insertion and removal of each object.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the latching hub is springable to permit insertion and removal of each object.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the latching hub is substantially coextensive with each object.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein each object includes first and second ends and wherein the latch reciprocal of each object is positioned centrally between the first and second ends of each object.
8. A method for securing an object in a rotatable carousel having an axis of rotation, the method comprising:
(a) mounting a latching hub within the rotatable carousel about the axis of rotation;
(b) providing a retainer within the rotatable carousel;
(c) inserting an object, having a latch reciprocal, into the rotatable carousel;
(d) mating the latch reciprocal with the latching hub; and,
(e) the retainer maintaining contact between the latch reciprocal and the latching hub.
9. The method of claim 8 further including:
(a) providing the latching hub with a prominence; and
(b) forming a depression in the latch reciprocal for receiving the prominence of the latching hub.
10. The method of claim 8 further including:
(a) providing each latch reciprocal with a prominence; and
(b) forming a depression in the latching hub for receiving the prominence of the latch reciprocal.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein inserting the object includes:
(a) the object displacing the retainer, permitting the latch reciprocal to partially bypass the latching hub;
(b) the retainer returning to lock the latching hub against the latch reciprocal.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein inserting the object includes:
(a) displacing the latching hub, permitting the latch reciprocal to partially bypass the latching hub;
(b) the latching hub returning to lock the latching hub against the latching reciprocal.
13. An object retention system for retaining an object on a rotatable carousel, the system comprising:
(a) a rotatable carousel having an axis of rotation;
(b) a latching hub mounted within the rotatable carousel about the axis of rotation;
(c) an object within the rotatable carousel and having a latch reciprocal and a stop, the latch reciprocal configured to mate with the latching hub; and,
(d) at least one retainer mounted within the carousel adjacent the stop, each retainer configured to maintain contact between the latch reciprocal and the latching hub.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein:
(a) the latching hub includes a prominence; and
(b) the latch reciprocal has a depression formed therein for receiving the prominence of the latching hub.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein:
(a) the latch reciprocal includes a prominence; and
(b) the latching hub has a depression formed therein for receiving the prominence of the latch reciprocal.
16. The system of claim 13 wherein each retainer is springable to permit insertion and removal of each object.
17. The system of claim 13 wherein the latching hub is springable to permit insertion and removal of each object.
18. The system of claim 13 wherein the latching hub is substantially coextensive with the object.
19. The system of claim 13 wherein the object includes first and second ends and wherein the latch reciprocal is positioned centrally between the first and second ends of the object.