摘要:
An apparatus for providing controlled delivery of a beneficial agent is disclosed. In one embodiment, such an apparatus includes a water chamber and a filter to produce filtered water by removing impurities from water introduced into the water chamber. A water-transporting membrane transports filtered water from the water chamber to an extraction chamber, thereby expanding the extraction chamber. The extraction chamber contains an osmagent that provides the driving force to pull the filtered water through the water-transporting membrane. As the extraction chamber expands, a dispensing chamber containing a beneficial agent contracts. This causes the beneficial agent to be expelled through a port in communication with the dispensing chamber. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
摘要:
A nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy, an alkaline electrolyte, and an alkali conducting separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The alkali conducting separator may be a solid alkali metal ion super ion conducting material, wherein the alkali metal is Na, K, or Li.
摘要:
An electrochemical method for the production of a chlorine-based oxidant product, such as sodium hypochlorite, is disclosed. The method may potentially be used to produce sodium hypochlorite from sea water or low purity un-softened or NaCl-based salt solutions. The method utilizes alkali cation-conductive ceramic membranes, such as membranes based on NaSICON-type materials, and organic polymer membranes in electrochemical cells to produce sodium hypochlorite. Generally, the electrochemical cell includes three compartments and the first compartment contains an anolyte having an acidic pH.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for separating alkali metal ions from alkali salts of glycerine to thereby form clean glycerine. These methods are enabled by the use of alkali ion conductive membranes in electrolytic cells that are chemically stable in low pH conditions. The alkali ion conductive membrane preferably includes a chemically stable ionic-selective polymer membrane. A layered composite of a chemically stable ionic-selective polymer and a cation-conductive ceramic membrane is disclosed.
摘要:
Ammonia is synthesized using electrochemical and non-electrochemical reactions. The electrochemical reactions occur in an electrolytic cell having a lithium ion conductive membrane that divides the electrochemical cell into an anolyte compartment and a catholyte compartment. The catholyte compartment includes a porous cathode closely associated with the lithium ion conductive membrane. The overall electrochemical reaction is: 6LiOH+N2→Li3N (s)+3H2O+3/2O2. The nitrogen may be produced by a nitrogen generator. The non-electrochemical reaction involves reacting lithium nitride with water and/or steam as follows: Li3N (s)+3H2O→3LiOH+NH3 (g). The ammonia is vented and collected. The lithium hydroxide is preferably recycled and introduced into the anolyte compartment. The electrolytic cell is shut down prior to reacting the lithium nitride with water. The cathode is preferably dried prior to start up of the electrolytic cell and electrolyzing Li+ and N2 at the cathode.
摘要:
A method that produces coupled radical products from biomass. The method involves obtaining a lipid or carboxylic acid material from the biomass. This material may be a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, a triglyceride of a carboxylic acid, or a metal salt of a carboxylic acid, or any other fatty acid derivative. This lipid material or carboxylic acid material is converted into an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal salt is then used in an anolyte as part of an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may include an alkali ion conducting membrane (such as a NaSICON membrane). When the cell is operated, the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid decarboxylates and forms radicals. Such radicals are then bonded to other radicals, thereby producing a coupled radical product such as a hydrocarbon. The produced hydrocarbon may be, for example, saturated, unsaturated, branched, or unbranched, depending upon the starting material.
摘要:
Ammonia is synthesized using electrochemical and non-electrochemical reactions. The electrochemical reactions occur in an electrolytic cell having a lithium ion conductive membrane that divides the electrochemical cell into an anolyte compartment and a catholyte compartment. The catholyte compartment includes a porous cathode closely associated with the lithium ion conductive membrane. The overall electrochemical reaction is: 6LiOH+N2→Li3N (s)+3H2O+3/2O2. The nitrogen may be produced by a nitrogen generator. The non-electrochemical reaction involves reacting lithium nitride with water and/or steam as follows: Li3N (s)+3H2O→3LiOH+NH3 (g). The ammonia is vented and collected. The lithium hydroxide is preferably recycled and introduced into the anolyte compartment. The electrolytic cell is shut down prior to reacting the lithium nitride with water. The cathode is preferably dried prior to start up of the electrolytic cell and electrolyzing Li+ and N2 at the cathode.
摘要:
A method for delivering a beneficial agent is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a water collection chamber. A water-transporting membrane is provided to communicate with the water collection chamber. An extraction chamber receives water through the water-transporting membrane, expanding the extraction chamber. A dispensing chamber, containing a beneficial agent, is configured to contract upon expanding the extraction chamber. This causes the dispensing chamber to expel the beneficial agent through a subterranean delivery channel, such as a rigid hollow spike. In certain embodiments, a rate adjustment mechanism may control the rate that water is received through the water-transporting membrane, thereby controlling the rate the beneficial agent is expelled. The water-transporting membrane has features that repel osmagent from passing through to the water collection chamber. The method features steady rate performance without refreshing the water chamber and low temperature sensitivity.
摘要:
Apparatuses and methods for pumping fluids such as fluid medications are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide an osmotic pump fluid delivery apparatus including elements designed to control the fluid delivery rate. Typical embodiments of the invention include an arrangement of elements such as solute reservoirs that can manipulate the solute concentrations within an inner osmotic compartment or compartments of an osmotic pump so as to control fluid delivery from the pump. Other embodiments include sealed electro-osmotic pumps that do not discharge ions into the surroundings or require water from an external source. These embodiments of the invention provide new ways to control fluid delivery in apparatuses that employ osmotic processes to function.
摘要:
A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.