Implantable sensor housing, sensor unit and methods for forming and using the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An in vivo implantable sensor unit comprising:
- a) a glass sensor housing defining an elongated chamber; and
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to wirelessly transmit data;
c) wherein the sensor unit is configured to wirelessly transmit data from an in vivo position to a remote receiver over a period of at least four weeks and the sensor housing is adapted to provide a hermetic seal about the sensor electronics for a period of at least four weeks, wherein the hermetic seal is such that under a helium mass spectrometer leak detection test the sensor housing has a leak rate that is less than about 10−
8 atm-cc/s.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in vivo implantable sensor unit includes a glass sensor housing defining an elongated chamber. Sensor electronics are disposed in the chamber. The sensor electronics are adapted to wirelessly transmit data. The sensor unit is configured to wirelessly transmit data from an in vivo position to a remote receiver over a period of at least four weeks and the sensor housing is adapted to provide a hermetic seal about the sensor electronics for a period of at least four weeks. The hermetic seal is such that under a helium mass spectrometer leak detection test the sensor housing has a leak rate that is less than about 10−8 atm-cc/s.
394 Citations
75 Claims
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1. An in vivo implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a glass sensor housing defining an elongated chamber; and
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to wirelessly transmit data;
c) wherein the sensor unit is configured to wirelessly transmit data from an in vivo position to a remote receiver over a period of at least four weeks and the sensor housing is adapted to provide a hermetic seal about the sensor electronics for a period of at least four weeks, wherein the hermetic seal is such that under a helium mass spectrometer leak detection test the sensor housing has a leak rate that is less than about 10−
8 atm-cc/s. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a tube defining a chamber and an opening communicating with the chamber;
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber;
c) epoxy disposed in the chamber and surrounding the sensor electronics, the epoxy having an end surface adjacent the opening of the tube; and
d) an end plug mounted in the opening of the tube;
e) wherein the end surface of the epoxy and the end plug define a gap therebetween configured to insulate the sensor electronics.
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5. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a tube defining an elongated chamber and an opening communicating with the chamber;
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber; and
c) an end plug mounted in the opening of the tube, wherein the end plug is spherically shaped. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a tube defining a chamber and an opening communicating with the chamber;
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber;
c) epoxy disposed in the chamber and surrounding the sensor electronics, the epoxy having an end surface adjacent the opening of the tube; and
d) a retaining cap including at least one projection extending outwardly from the tube;
e) wherein the retaining cap is secured to the tube by the epoxy. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a sensor housing defining an elongated chamber;
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber; and
c) a retention device mounted on the sensor housing, the retention device including a band surrounding a portion of the sensor housing and at least one projection secured to and extending from the band. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a sensor housing having an outer surface and defining a chamber;
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to wirelessly transmit data; and
c) a bio-compatible anti-migration coating disposed on the outer surface, wherein the anti-migration coating is a Parylene C coating. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a sensor housing having an outer surface and defining a chamber; and
b) a bio-compatible anti-migration mesh layer disposed on the outer surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for forming a sensor unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) inserting an uncured epoxy into a tube in a fluid state;
b) inserting sensor electronics into the uncured epoxy in the tube;
c) evacuating air bubbles from the epoxy and the sensor electronics in the tube; and
thend) curing the epoxy. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for forming a sensor unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) inserting an uncured epoxy in a fluid state into a tube through an opening in the tube;
b) inserting sensor electronics into the uncured epoxy;
c) curing the epoxy such that the epoxy stabilizes the sensor electronics; and
d) sealing the opening in the tube to form a hermetically sealed tube. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for forming a sensor unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a sensor housing having an outer surface and defining a chamber;
b) providing sensor electronics in the chamber, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to wirelessly transmit data; and
c) applying a bio-compatible anti-migration coating to the outer surface of the sensor housing using a plasma polymerization thin film deposition technique. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for forming a sensor unit, the method comprising the step of:
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a) providing a sensor housing having an outer surface and defining a chamber;
b) providing sensor electronics in the chamber, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to wirelessly transmit data; and
c) applying a bio-compatible anti-migration coating to the outer surface of the sensor housing, wherein the anti-migration coating is a Parylene C coating. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for forming a sensor unit, the method comprising the step of:
applying a bio-compatible anti-migration mesh layer to an outer surface of a sensor housing.
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35. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a sensor housing having an outer surface; and
b) a bio-compatible anti-migration layer surrounding at least a portion of the outer surface of the sensor housing;
c) wherein the anti-migration layer is formed of a textile material. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for forming an implantable sensor unit, the method comprising:
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a) providing a sensor housing; and
b) placing a bio-compatible anti-migration layer over the outer surface of the sensor housing, the anti-migration layer being formed of a textile material. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a sensor housing having an end and defining a chamber;
b) sensor electronics disposed in the chamber; and
c) a holding tab extending from the end of the housing, the holding tab being adapted to facilitate handling of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for implanting an implantable sensor unit in a body, the sensor unit including a sensor housing, the method comprising:
handling the sensor housing in the body using a holding tab extending from an end of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method for using an implantable sensor unit in a body, the method comprising:
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a) implanting the sensor unit in the body;
b) conducting an imaging procedure on the body such that the sensor unit in the body serves as a fiducial marker;
c) detecting a parameter using the sensor unit in the body; and
d) transmitting data associated with the detected parameter from the sensor unit to a remote receiver unit. - View Dependent Claims (73)
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74. An implantable sensor unit comprising:
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a) a sensor housing having an outer surface; and
b) a bio-compatible anti-migration layer surrounding at least a portion of the outer surface of the sensor housing;
c) wherein the anti-migration layer is formed of a heat shrinkable thermoplastic material.
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75. A method for forming a sensor unit, the method comprising the step of:
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a) providing a sensor housing having an outer surface and defining a chamber;
b) providing sensor electronics in the chamber, wherein the sensor electronics are adapted to wirelessly transmit data;
c) placing a bio-compatible anti-migration layer about the sensor housing, wherein the anti-migration layer is formed of a heat shrinkable thermoplastic material; and
d) heating the anti-migration layer to shrink the anti-migration layer about the sensor housing.
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Specification