Blood and tissue detoxification apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG.
1 shows schematically, partly in section and partly in plan view, an implantable cell in accordance with this invention having a hydrophobic cathode and hydrophilic anode.
The detoxification unit 1 comprises the oxidizing cell portion 2, and the energy dissipating section 3.
The hydrophobic oxygen cathode 4 employs hydrophobic catalysts such as hydrophobic silver, silver oxide, gold or other catalysts inert to ammonia.
The outer surface of the cathode is coated with a layer of silicone rubber, for example, Medical Type Adhesive silastic by Dow-Corning Company, coating 5 shown in FIG.
1.
The hydrophilic anode 6 is relatively ammonia selective, and typically may be hydrophilic platinum.
The anode is coated with a layer or membrane of cationic exchange resin 7.
At pH of 7.
4, virtually all the ammonia present in body fluids is the form of ammonium ions, NH.
sub.
4 .
sup.
+.
The cation exchange layer 7 on the hydrophilic anode 6 allows positively charged ions such as H.
sup.
+ and NH.
sub.
4 .
sup.
+ to pass through, while at the same time not permitting passage or transport of organic substances such as glucose in the body fluids to the anode.
With the coatings of silicone and cation exchange membranes over the anodes and cathodes, the cell portion 2 is adapted for implantation in the body.
The cell sandwich 2 also includes an anion exchange membrane 8 as an internal electrolyte in intimate contact with, and sandwiched between, the anode and cathode.
Note that the silicone or silastic coating 5 on the cathode 4 covers the edges of the anion exchange membrane 8, as at 5A and 5B.
Although the schematic FIG.
1 appears relatively bulky, in actual practice, as seen better from FIGS.
3 and 4, the actual cell portion is wafer-thin.
A typical cell has an exposed anode or cathode area on the order of 1 inch in diameter, and may be 3 millimeters thick.
An alternative silicone material which may be used is Dow-Corning 3144RTV adhesive/sealant, which is a translucent, room temperature vulcanizing (curing) silicone rubber adhesive, which is noncorrosive to copper