Placeable sensor and method of using same

• US 10,016,154 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Original Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Inventors: Shacham-Diamand, Yosi, Ragones, Heftsi, Freeman, Amihay, Schreiber, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Jang, Christian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alter, Mitchell E
• Application Number:
  US14/614,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20150150493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 205792, 20440301, 204412, 29825, 600345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/286 Power or signal connectors associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/327 Biochemical electrodes , e.g. electrical or mechanical details for in vitro measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A sensor system is disclosed. The system comprises: a solid substrate having a front side and a back side, a sensing assembly formed on the front side and being configured to provide electrochemical sensing, a plurality of electrical contacts, formed on the back side and being in electrical communication with the sensing assembly via a plurality of interconnects passing through the substrate and extending at least from the front side to the back side, and a mounting member configured for mounting the back side onto a tip of a movable device.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

a flexible substrate, having a front side and a back side;

a sensing assembly having a plurality of electrodes formed on said front side and being configured to provide electrochemical sensing;

a plurality of electrical contacts, formed on said back side and being in electrical communication with said sensing assembly via a plurality of interconnects passing through said substrate and extending at least from said front side to said back side; and

a mounting member configured for mounting said back side onto a tip of a movable device;

wherein when said flexible substrate is contacted with a target substance, said flexible substrate containing said electrodes deform, causing said electrodes to conform with a shape of said target substance and to contact said target substance.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is a hand-held device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is a movable arm of a robot.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is an internal medical tool selected from the group consisting of an endoscope, a laparoscope and a cannula, and wherein said substrate is adapted for being introduced into the body of a mammal via endoscopic procedure.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is an external medical tool.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is sizewise comparable with said tip.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said electrochemical sensing assembly comprises at least a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said front side is non-adhesive to tissue.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemical sensing assembly comprises at least a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said interconnects have a shape selected from the group consisting of a generally conical shape, a generally cylindrical shape, and an hourglass shape.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said interconnects have a shape selected from the group consisting of a generally conical shape, a generally cylindrical shape, and an hourglass shape.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising said movable device.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises an adhesive.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises a housing configured to receive said substrate at a front side of said housing and said movable device at a back side of said housing.

15. A method, comprising providing a movable device and mounting the sensor system according to claim 1, on said movable device using said mounting member.

16. A method of sensing a target substance, comprising contacting the target substance with the system according to claim 1, and receiving signals from said plurality of electrical contacts, thereby sensing the target substance.

17. The system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of electrical leads connectable to a measuring device, and a lever configured for pushing said leads to engage said electrical contacts.