Implantable medical device with sensor

• US 20020151770A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Leckrone, Michael Eugene, Noll, Austin F. III, Geiger, Mark Allen, Stylos, Lee, Kinghorn, Curtis D., Miesel, Keith Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/041,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151770A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery

Abstract

A device and method for measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs is disclosed. The invention includes a sensor to sense the parameter of interest and then communicate the sensed parameter to an activation system. The activation system may cause the parameter to be displayed, processed or cause action to be taken. The activation system may be entirely or partially implanted or entirely external to the patient.

Claims

1. A device for measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs of a body comprising:

an implantable first sensor 16 capable of measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs; and

an activation system 15 connected to and responding to sensor 16.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the activation system 15 includes a user communication system 28 that communicates information from or about sensor 16 or may communicate alarms or other information based on the values that sensor 16 detects.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the activation system 15 includes an external device 14, the external device 14 including an external coil 22, external electronics 24 and a power source 26.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the external device 14 includes an ambient parameter sensor 92.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the user communication system 28 includes a transmitter 60 and a receiver 74.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the activation system 15 includes an external device 14 and wherein the receiver 74 is located in the external device 14.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the user communication system 28 includes a display system 80 that displays or otherwise communicates the parameter information from the sensor 16 transmitted by the transmitter 60 to the receiver 74 to a user.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein the user communication system 28 includes a display system 80 that displays the parameter information sensed by the sensor 16 to the physician or other user.

9. The device of claim 2 wherein the user communication system 28 includes an alarm 90 that is triggered to alert the user to a parameter sensed by the sensor 16 that is outside of a pre-determined range.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the activation system 15 and sensor 16 are co-located in the body of a patient.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor 16 and at least a portion of the activation system 15 are both implanted in a patient but are not co-located.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a control device 104 capable of taking action to effect the body of a patient wherein the activation system 15 directs the control device 104 to take action based on the information from or about sensor 16 or processed from information provided by sensor 16.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor 16 is chosen from the group consisting of piezoelectric activity sensors, intracranial pressure sensors, ecg sensors, ultrasound sensors, acoustic sensors, infrared sensors, air flow sensors, strap-type respiration sensors, CO₂ sensors, thermistor sensors, microwave Doppler sensors, inductance change respiratory electrodes, temperature sensors, eeg sensors, pH sensors, emg sensors, O₂, respiration sensors, electrolyte concentration, glucose sensors, blood pressures sensors, heart rate sensors, posture sensors and activity sensors.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a probe 12.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the probe 12 includes sensor 16, probe electronics 18 and a probe coil 20.

16. The device of claim 15 further comprising an external device 14 and wherein the probe electronics 18 transfers power from the external device 14 to probe 12 to power probe 12 and uplinks sensed parameters from probe 12 to external device 14.

17. The device of claim 15 therein the probe electronics 18 includes an AC/DC conversion system 62.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the probe coil 20 is connected to the AC/DC conversion system 62.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the AC/DC conversion system 62 includes a rectifier 66 and a regulator 68 wherein the rectifier 66 is connected to probe coil 20 and converts AC power received from the probe coil 20 to DC power.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the probe electronics 18 further includes a temporary energy source 64 that provides the energy to power the probe electronics 18.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the temporary energy source 64 is chosen from the group consisting of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery or a power capacitor such as a “

super capacitor”

.

22. The device of claim 15 wherein probe electronics 18 further includes a long-term power source 76 that provides the energy to power the probe electronics 18.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the long-term power source 76 is chosen from the group consisting of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery or a power capacitor such as a “

super-capacitor”

.

24. The device of claim 15 wherein the probe 12 includes an electronics case 42 and wherein the probe electronics 18 is stored in the electronics case 42.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the electronics case 42 has a periphery 44, wherein screw threads are placed on the periphery 44 of the electronics case.

26. The device of claim 15 wherein the probe electronics 18 includes sensor electronics 58 and a transmitter 60 wherein the sensor electronics 58 is connected to sensor 16 and provides power to sensor 16, directs sensor 16 to take measurements and processes the sensed measurement signal from sensor 16.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the transmitter 60 is connected to sensor electronics 58 and a probe coil 20 wherein the probe coil 20 acts as an antenna and wherein the transmitter 60 and probe coil 20 communicate parameter information determined by sensor 16 to an external device 14 by telemetry.

28. The device of claim 26 further comprising a microprocessor 102 and a storage device 78 and wherein the sensor electronics 28 and storage device 78 are connected to the microprocessor 102 whereby parameter measurements by the sensor 16 are processed by microprocessor 102 before being stored in storage device 78.

29. The device of claim 28 further comprising a control device 104 connected to microprocessor 102 and wherein the sensed parameter information controls or activates the control device 104.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the control device 104 is chosen from the group consisting of a pump, a valve in a CSF drainage system, a drug delivery system or an electrical stimulation device.

31. The device of claim 15 wherein the probe electronics 18 further includes a temporary energy source 64 and wherein the probe coil 20 is connected to an AC/DC conversion system 62 and wherein the probe coil 20 is inductively coupled to an external coil 22 in the external device 24 and wherein the temporary energy source 64 is connected to AC/DC conversion system 62 whereby inductive coupling between probe coil 20 and external coil 22 provides power to the probe coil 20 and through AC/DC conversion system 62, charges up the temporary energy source 64 and whereby the temporary energy source 64 then provides the energy to power the probe electronics 18.

32. The device of claim 14 wherein the probe 12 has a proximal end 30 and a distal end 32 and a central axis 34 and wherein the sensor 16 is located at the distal end 32.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein the probe 12 includes a probe head 36 located at the proximal end 30, the probe head 36 having an outer edge 40.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the probe head 36 is roughly discoid in shape.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein the probe head 36 includes an embedded probe coil 20 and wherein the probe coil 20 is an inductive coil.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the probe coil 20 is wound around axis 34 in the plane of probe head 36.

37. The device of claim 33 wherein screw threads are placed on the outer edge 40 of probe head 36.

38. The device of claim 33 further comprising a storage device 78 located in probe head 36.

39. The device of claim 14 wherein the sensor 16 is separated from the probe 12.

40. The device of claim 39 further comprising a body 48 having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end of the body 48 connected to the probe 12, wherein the sensor 16 is located at the distal end of the body 48.

41. The device of claim 40 wherein the body 48 is rigid.

42. The device of claim 40 wherein the body 48 is flexible.

43. The device of claim 39 wherein the sensor 16 is connected to the probe 12 through a body bus.

44. The device of claim 14 wherein the probe 12 has a proximal end 30, a distal end 32 and a central axis 34 wherein the probe 12 includes a probe head 36 located at the proximal end 30.

45. The device of claim 44 further comprising a body 48 having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end of the body 48 connected to the probe head 36, wherein the sensor 16 is located at the distal end of the body 48.

46. The device of claim 45 wherein the body 48 is rigid.

47. The device of claim 45 wherein the body 48 is flexible.

48. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor 16 is connected to the activation system 15 through a body bus.

49. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor.

50. The device of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor 102 and a storage device 78 wherein the sensor 16 and storage device 78 are connected to the microprocessor 102 whereby parameter measurements by the sensor 16 are processed by microprocessor 102 before being stored in storage device 78.

51. The device of claim 50 further comprising a control device 104 connected to microprocessor 102 and wherein the sensed parameter information controls or activates the control device 104.

52. The device of claim 51 wherein the control device is chosen from the group consisting of a pump, a valve in a CSF drainage system, a drug delivery system or an electrical stimulation device.

53. A device for measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs of a body comprising:

an implantable first sensor 16 capable of measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs;

an activation system 15 connected to and responding to sensor 16, the activation system 15 including a user communication system 28 that communicates information from or about sensor 16 or may communicate alarms or other information based on the values that sensor 16 detects;

a probe 12 having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the probe 12 includes sensor 16, probe electronics 18 and a probe coil 20, wherein the probe electronics 18 includes sensor electronics 58 and a transmitter 60 wherein the sensor electronics 58 is connected to sensor 16 and provides power to sensor 16, directs sensor 16 to take measurements and processes the sensed measurement signal from sensor 16, wherein the probe 12 includes a probe head 36 located at the proximal end 30, the probe head 36 having an outer edge 40, wherein the sensor 16 is located at the distal end of the probe 12.

54. A device for measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs of a body comprising:

an implantable first sensor 16 capable of measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs;

an activation system 15 connected to and responding to sensor 16, the activation system 15 including a user communication system 28 that communicates information from or about sensor 16 or may communicate alarms or other information based on the values that sensor 16 detects;

a probe 12 having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the probe 12 includes sensor 16, probe electronics 18 and a probe coil 20, wherein the probe electronics 18 includes sensor electronics 58 and a transmitter 60 wherein the sensor electronics 58 is connected to sensor 16 and provides power to sensor 16, directs sensor 16 to take measurements and processes the sensed measurement signal from sensor 16, wherein the probe 12 includes a probe head 36 located at the proximal end 30, the probe head 36 having an outer edge 40, wherein the sensor 16 is located at the distal end of the probe 12, wherein the probe head 36 is roughly discoid in shape and includes an embedded probe coil 20 and wherein the probe coil 20 is an inductive coil, wherein the probe coil 20 is wound around axis 34 in the plane of probe head 36; and

,

a storage device 78 located in probe head 36.

55. A device for measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs of a body comprising:

an implantable first sensor 16 capable of measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs;

an activation system 15 connected to and responding to sensor 16, the activation system 15 including a user communication system 28 that communicates information from or about sensor 16 or may communicate alarms or other information based on the values that sensor 16 detects;

a probe 12 having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the probe 12 includes sensor 16, probe electronics 18 and a probe coil 20, wherein the probe electronics 18 includes sensor electronics 58 and a transmitter 60 wherein the sensor electronics 58 is connected to sensor 16 and provides power to sensor 16, directs sensor 16 to take measurements and processes the sensed measurement signal from sensor 16, wherein the probe 12 includes a probe head 36 located at the proximal end 30, the probe head 36 having an outer edge 40, wherein the probe head 36 is roughly discoid in shape and includes an embedded probe coil 20 and wherein the probe coil 20 is an inductive coil, wherein the probe coil 20 is wound around axis 34 in the plane of probe head 36;

a storage device 78 located in probe head 36; and

.

a body 48 having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end of the body 48 connected to the probe 12, wherein the sensor 16 is located at the distal end of the body 48.

56. The device of claim 55 wherein the body 48 is rigid.

57. The device of claim 55 wherein the body 48 is flexible.

58. A method for measuring and communicating a parameter of a brain, tissue or other organs of a body comprising the steps of:

providing a device for measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs of a body comprising;

an implantable first sensor 16 capable of measuring and communicating parameters of a brain, tissue or other organs; and

an activation system 15 connected to and responding to sensor 16, the activation system 15 having an external device capable of transmitting power to the sensor and receiving parameter information from the sensor;

cutting through the skin;

placing the sensor 16 at a desired location within the body;

closing the skin is closed so that the sensor 16 is entirely contained within the patient'"'"'s skin;

bringing the external device 14 near the sensor 16 so that power is transferred from the external device 14 to the sensor 16;

uplinking information from the sensor 16 to the external device 14.