Nanodevices, microdevices and sensors on in-vivo structures and method for the same

• US 20030032892A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xillus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xillus, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, James E., Smith, Jeffrey M., Scott, Mark D., Olsen, Arlen L., Bender, Gerald E., Donnelly, Denis P., Smith, Laura B., Stinchcomb, Audra L., Dudding, Gerald F., Whitmer, Roger D., Erlach, Julian Van
• Granted Patent: US 7,232,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6862 Stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence

Abstract

An in-vivo method and apparatus is disclosed that comprises at least one sensor for determining changes in a human'"'"'s an animal'"'"'s body and reporting said changes outside the body. The sensor may be embedded in a sheath. The apparatus may be used to monitor chemical or physical changes in the body fluids. Alternatively, the apparatus may be used to monitor and regulate chemical or physical levels in humans and animals.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a stent; and

an expandable sheath, operatively attached to said stent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stent is a wire mesh tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sheath is an electrically insulated material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said electrically insulated material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone elastomer, nylon, and polytetraflouroethylene.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electrically insulated material is a metal alloy.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable sheath is a biocompatible material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the biocompatible material is selected from the group consisting of waterproof breathable material, polytetraflouroethylene, and carbon structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable sheath includes a plurality of expansion sites.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable sheath is selected from the group consisting of a flexible hinge fold and an accordian fold.

10. Apparatus comprising:

an expandable sheath; and

an electrical conductor operatively attached to said sheath.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the expandable sheath is a biocompatible material.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the biocompatible material is selected from the group consisting of waterproof breathable material, polytetraflouroethylene, and carbon structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the expandable sheath includes a plurality of expansion sites.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the expandable sheath is selected from the group consisting of a flexible hinge fold and an accordian fold.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a microchip.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a receiver and transmitter.

17. Apparatus comprising:

a stent;

a biosensor operatively attached to said stent; and

a drug delivery system operatively attached to said biosensor to release a drug.

18. Apparatus comprising:

a stent having a sheath operatively attached thereto; and

a biosensor attached to said sheath.

19. A method for determining a body parameter of an animal comprising:

forming at least two sensors operatively attached to a sheath;

inserting the tube into the vessel; and

wirelessly transmitting a signal outside the body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least two sensors includes at least two electrodes, and wherein the at least two sensors comprises a circuit for measuring resistance.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least two sensors includes at least one light source and at least one light detector and wherein the at least two sensors comprises a circuit for measuring light transmission.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least two sensors further comprises a circuit for measuring light transmission from about 600 nm to about 800 nm.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least two sensors further comprises a reference circuit for measuring light transmission from about 500 nm to about 600 nm.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least two sensors include a north and south pole of a magnet and at least two electrodes, wherein the north and south poles are oriented orthogonal to a flow of a body fluid through the vessel, and wherein the electrodes comprise a circuit for measuring current.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a sheath having an inner and outer surface, wherein the outer surface is adapted for contacting a wall of a body passage, and the inner surface forms a lumen for enabling flow of body fluids therethrough;

at least two sensors operatively attached to the sheath, for determining changes in a diameter of the lumen; and

a means for reporting the changes without an intervening wire.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the sensor determines changes due to collapse of the sheath.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a positive electrode and a negative electrode are operatively attached to the inner surface of the sheath, and wherein the sensor includes a means to measure a resistance between the electrodes.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the inner surface of the sheath includes at least one light emitting source and at least one light detector, and wherein the sensor includes means to measure an intensity of light transmitted by the light emitting source to the detector.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the inner surface of the sheath includes a device for generating a magnetic flux density in the lumen of the sheath, and wherein a positive electrode and a negative electrode are operatively attached to the inner surface of the sheath, and wherein the sensor includes means to measure a voltage between the electrodes.

30. An apparatus comprising:

a sheath having an inner and outer surface, wherein the outer surface is adapted for contacting a wall of a body passage, and the inner surface forms a lumen for enabling flow of body fluids therethrough; and

a light sensor, wherein the sensor is operatively attached to the inner surface of the sheath; and

a means for reporting the determination without an intervening wire.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein an end of the fiber optic array contacts the body fluid.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein a light emitting source is coupled to at least one fiber of the fiber optical array.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein a light detector is coupled to an end of the at least one fiber of the fiber optical array, and wherein the end is proximal to the sensor.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein a fluorescing chemical reagent is attached to an end of the at least one fiber, wherein the end is distal to the sensor and where the photoreceptor is a solid state device.

35. An apparatus comprising:

a microchip on a substrate that is insertable into an animal or human body;

at least one disease treatment agent that is releasable into the body; and

a sensor operatively attached to the microchip, wherein the microchip operatively receives feedback from the sensor for controlling an amount of the disease treatment agent in the body.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the microchip further includes circuitry, an RF antenna and a disease treatment agent permeable membrane, wherein a signal from the RF antenna increases the permeability of the disease treatment agent permeable membrane.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a catheter having an inner and outer surface, wherein the outer surface is adapted for contacting a wall of a body passage, and the inner surface forms a lumen for enabling flow of at least one disease treatment agent therethrough; and

a sensor operatively attached to the catheter for detecting changes in an amount of the disease treatment agent.

38. Apparatus comprising:

an internal medical device; and

a nanodevice operatively attached to said internal medical device. 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the nanodevice is selected from the group consisting of nanotubes, nanoparticles (such as lithium particles), buckyballs, and nanowires .

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the internal medical device is selected from the group consisting of a stent, catheter, defibrillator and endoscope.