Sensors having protective eluting coating and method therefor

• US 20050070768A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Qingsheng, Heil, Ronald W. Jr., Jain, Mudit
• Granted Patent: US 7,225,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0568 with drug delivery

Abstract

An apparatus includes an implantable device, such as a chronically implantable device that has a device body. One or more chemical sensors are coupled with the device body. A drug eluting substance is disposed at a location including at least one of on, directly adjacent, or near the one or more chemical sensors, where the drug eluting substance prevents fibrotic growth on the one or more chemical sensors.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an implantable device having a device body;

one or more chemical sensors coupled with the device body; and

a drug eluting substance disposed at a location including at least one of on, directly adjacent, or near the one or more chemical sensors, the drug eluting substance preventing fibrotic growth on the one or more chemical sensors.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the drug eluting substance includes a drug mixed with a polymeric binding.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the device body includes a cavity therein, the cavity disposed adjacent the one or more chemical sensors, the drug eluting substance disposed within the cavity.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the drug eluting substance is coated on the chemical sensor.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more chemical sensors is defined in part by an outer perimeter, and the drug eluting substance is disposed around the outer perimeter of the one or more chemical sensors.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the drug eluting substance includes a drug eluting matrix that elutes one or more drugs over time.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the drug eluting substance is a drug esterified drug.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the drug eluting substance includes a drug mixed with polymeric binders.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an implantable device having a device body;

one or more blood monitoring sensors coupled with the device body; and

a drug eluting substance disposed on the one or more blood monitoring sensors, the drug preventing fibrotic growth on the one or more blood monitoring sensors.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more blood monitoring sensors is a glucose sensor.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more blood monitoring sensors monitors one or more of bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), brain naturetic peptide (BNP), calcium, chloride, osmolarity, potassium, renin, or sodium.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the device body includes a cavity therein, and a pre-compressed drug substance is shaped to fit within the cavity.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the pre-compressed drug substance includes a drug compressed with a starch.

14. An apparatus comprising:

an implantable device having a device body;

means for sensing a chemical substance coupled with the device body; and

means for chemically preventing fibrotic growth on the one or more chemical sensors.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the device body includes a cavity therein, and a pre-compressed drug substance is shaped to fit within the cavity.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the pre-compressed drug substance includes a drug compressed with a starch.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for sensing a chemical substance is a glucose sensor.

18. A method comprising:

providing a chronically implantable device body;

coupling a chemical sensor with the implantable device body;

disposing a drug eluting substance on a portion of the chronically implantable device body, and disposing the drug eluting substance on a portion of the chronically implantable device body includes disposing the drug eluting substance on, near, or directly adjacent to the chemical sensor; and

preventing fibrotic growth with the drug eluting substance.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein disposing the drug eluting substance includes painting a drug on the chronically implantable device body.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein disposing the drug eluting substance includes filling a cavity of the chronically implantable device body with the drug eluting substance.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising binding the drug eluting substance with a polymer.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising compressing a platelet inhibitor drug and forming a capsule, and disposing the capsule within a cavity of the chronically implantable device body.

23. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising compressing a drug with a starch and pressure molding the drug into a predetermined shape, and disposing the molded drug into a cavity of the chronically implantable device body.

24. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising forming an esterified drug eluting substance prior to disposing the drug eluting substance on, near, or directly adjacent to the chemical sensor.

25. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising mixing a drug with liquid silicone to form the drug eluting substance.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising curing the drug and liquid silicone after the drug and liquid silicone are disposed in one or more cavities of the chronically implantable device body.

27. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising mixing a drug with a hydrogel to form the drug eluting substance.