Conductive polymer materials and applications thereof including monitoring and providing effective therapy

Abstract

A coupler includes a conductive polymer material that is so constructed and arranged to join tubing, wherein the conductive polymer material includes a conductive polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophenes, polyethylenedioxythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and mixtures thereof.

1 . A coupler comprising a conductive polymer material that is so constructed and arranged to join tubing, wherein the conductive polymer material includes a conductive polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophenes, polyethylenedioxythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The coupler of  claim 1 , which has a generally cylindrical shape with a first opening to receive a first tubing member and a second opening to receive a second tubing member.  
     
     
         3 . The coupler of  claim 1 , which is extruded.  
     
     
         4 . The coupler of  claim 1 , which includes a member that extends from at least a portion of an inner surface of the coupler to allow a length of a tubing joint that is formed with the coupler and the tubing to be pre-set.  
     
     
         5 . The coupler of  claim 1 , which is injection molded.  
     
     
         6 . The coupler of  claim 1 , which is at least one of solvent bondable, heat sealable, laser weldable, and radio frequency sealable to the tubing.  
     
     
         7 . A coupler comprising a conductive polymer material that is so constructed and arranged to join tubing, wherein the conductive polymer material includes a polymer matrix and a conductive component incorporated within the polymer matrix, and wherein the polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, acrylic, a cyclo olefin copolymer, a cyclo olefin copolymer blend, a metallocene-based polyethylene and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The coupler of  claim 7 , wherein the conductive component is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, fillers, carbon black, fibers thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The coupler of  claim 7 , which has a generally cylindrical shape with a first opening to receive a first tubing member and a second opening to receive a second tubing member.  
     
     
         10 . The coupler of  claim 7 , which is extruded.  
     
     
         11 . The coupler of  claim 7 , which includes a member that extends from at least a portion of an inner surface of the coupler to allow a length of a tubing joint that is formed with the coupler and the tubing to be pre-set.  
     
     
         12 . The coupler of  claim 7 , which is injection molded.  
     
     
         13 . The coupler of  claim 7 , which is at least one of solvent bondable, heat sealable, laser weldable, and radio frequency sealable to the tubing.  
     
     
         14 . A coupler comprising: 
 a housing made of a conductive polymer material;    a first opening at a first end of the housing to receive a first tubing member; and    a second opening at a second end of the housing to receive a second tubing member.    
     
     
         15 . The coupler of  claim 14 , wherein the conductive polymer material includes a conductive polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophenes, polyethylenedioxythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The coupler of  claim 14 , wherein the conductive polymer material includes a polymer matrix and a conductive component incorporated within the polymer matrix, wherein the polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, acrylic, a cyclo olefin copolymer, a cyclo olefin copolymer blend, a metallocene-based polyethylene and mixtures thereof, and wherein the conductive component is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, fillers, carbon black, fibers thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The coupler of  claim 14 , which is extrudable.  
     
     
         18 . The coupler of  claim 14 , which includes a member that extends from at least a portion of an inner surface of the coupler and acts as a stop for the first and second tubing members, thereby allowing a length of a tubing joint that is formed with the coupler and the first and second tubing members to be pre-set.  
     
     
         19 . The coupler of  claim 14 , which is injection molded.  
     
     
         20 . The coupler of  claim 14 , which is at least one of solvent bondable, heat sealable, laser weldable, and radio frequency sealable to the first and second tubing members.