Implantable wireless sensor

• US 20050187482A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CardioMEMS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CardioMEMS Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Brien, David, Allen, Mark, White, Jason, Stern, David, Kroh, Jason, Fonseca, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/943,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02014 Determining aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49069 Data storage inductor or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 by winding or coiling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49073 by assembling coil and core

Abstract

The progress of a endovascular aneurysm repair can be monitored by inserting a pressure transducer sensor using a catheter into the sac during endovascular aneurysm repair and then using a small, hand-held read out device to measure pressure easily, safely, inexpensively and accurately. In one aspect a sensor is introduced into the body by the steps of loading the sensor into a catheter, and deploying into the aneurysm sac. This invention also has other applications for measuring physical properties in patients or in other sites.

Claims

1. A sensor for wirelessly determining a physical property, which sensor comprises:

a self-contained resonant circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor, and

two substrates, at least one of which substrates has a recess therein,

wherein the circuit is variable in response to the physical property and wherein the substrates are hermetically sealed together.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the hermetically sealed substrates form a pressure sensitive chamber.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the substrates are comprised of glass, fused silica, sapphire, quartz, or silicone.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the substrates are comprised of fused silica.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the physical property is pressure.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein there are no conductive connections or via holes to provide a direct physical conduit or connection between an upper inductor coil and a lower inductor coil.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein each substrate has an inductor coil arranged therein in planar fashion.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the inductor coil of one substrate is in a plane parallel to the plane of the inductor coil in the second substrate.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the inductor coils are coextensive.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the inductor coil of the substrate with a recess is positioned in the recess.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein each substrate has a recess and an inductor coil is positioned in each recess.

12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the inductor comprises to inductor coils and each inductor coil is a wire spiral.

13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein each wire spiral is formed by electrodeposition.

14. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is from about 0.5 in. to about 1 in. in length and from about 0.1 in. to about 0.5 in. in width.

15. The sensor of claim 14, wherein the sensor has a thickness of from about 0.05 in. to about 0.30 in.

16. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a stabilizer is arranged around the sensor.

17. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the stabilizer stabilizes position, location, and/or orientation.

18. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the stabilizer is a metal basket arranged around the outer surface of the sensor.

19. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the physical property is measured in a patient.

20. A system for delivering a sensor, which comprises a sensor of claim 1 and a delivery guidewire or catheter.

24. A method for measuring a physical property which comprises the steps of inserting a sensor of claim 1 into a desired location and then measuring any signals generated by said sensor.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a physical property in a patient is measured.

21. The system of claim 21, wherein the sensor is removable from the guidewire or catheter.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the sensor is removably attached to the guidewire or catheter.

23. The system of claim 21 which also comprises an instrument for measuring signals from the sensor.