Wristband or other type of band having an adjustable antenna for use with a sensor reader

• US 20060047327A1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated (Senseonics Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sensors For Medicine and Science Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Connor, Casey J., McLeod, Benjamin N., Colvin, Arthur E., Hutchins, Burleigh M., Shannon, Colleen
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• 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: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides, among other things, a sensor system, having (1) a sensor implanted in a body part of the subject, wherein the sensor has a first antenna, and (2) a sensor reader worn on the subject'"'"'s body part, wherein the sensor reader has a band housing a second antenna, which is inductively coupled with the first antenna, for enabling the sensor reader to communicate with the sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor implanted in a subject, wherein the sensor is configured to measure one or more aspects of the subject and wherein the sensor comprises a sensor antenna;

a sensor reader that provides power to and/or communicates with the implanted senor, wherein the sensor reader is worn by the subject and comprises (i) a reader housing housing an electronic circuit and (ii) a reader antenna for coupling with the sensor antenna, wherein the reader antenna is electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, wraps around a body part of the subject, and is used by the sensor reader while the sensor reader provides power to and/or communicates with the sensor.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor reader further comprises a band for releasably attaching the sensor reader to the subject.

3. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the reader antenna is disposed within the band.

4. The sensor system of claim 3, wherein the reader antenna comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the reader antenna is disposed within a first portion of the band and the second portion of the reader antenna is disposed within a second portion of the band.

5. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the first portion of the band and the second portion of the band are separate parts, each of which are connected to the reader housing.

6. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the band is a single piece band and the reader housing connects to the band at a location substantially between the first portion of the reader antenna and the second portion of the reader antenna.

7. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the first antenna portion is electrically connected to a first contact that is disposed substantially adjacent to an end of the first portion of the band and the second antenna portion is electrically connected to a plurality of tuning elements.

8. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein each tuning element comprises a capacitive and/or an inductive element.

9. The sensor system of claim 8, wherein the capacitive element comprises at least one capacitor and the inductive element comprises at least one inductor.

10. The sensor system of claim 8, wherein the inductive element comprises ferrite that is adjacent to and/or surrounding a conductor electrically connected to the reader antenna.

11. The sensor system of claim 8, wherein the capacitive tuning elements have different capacitive values and/or the inductive tuning elements have different inductive values.

12. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein each tuning element is associated with a second contact capable of releasably mating with the first contact to thereby complete the reader antenna by electrically connecting the first antenna portion with the second antenna portion.

13. The sensor system of claim 12, wherein each contact is a male or female contact.

14. The sensor system of claim 13, wherein each contact is a male or female half of a snap.

15. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the band is integral with the reader housing and/or the reader electronic circuit.

16. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the reader antenna comprises a primary conductor that runs substantially along a first edge of the band.

17. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the reader antenna further comprises a second primary conductor that is positioned so that it is substantially parallel with the first primary conductor and the second primary conductor runs substantially along a second edge of the band.

18. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein the parallel primary conductors are electrically connected by one or more transverse conductors at one or more locations along their lengths.

19. The sensor system of claim 18, wherein the reader antenna further comprises at least one auxiliary conductor having a smaller cross section than either of the primary conductors and being located between the primary conductors and being electrically coupled to each primary conductor.

20. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein:

the reader antenna is disposed within the band;

the reader housing further includes a first contact;

the band includes a second contact releasably mateable with the first contact for releasably attaching the sensor reader to the subject.

21. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the reader antenna comprises a flexible dielectric substrate with a circuit disposed thereon.

22. The sensor system of claim 21, wherein the circuit comprises a first elongate conductor extending from a first region of the substrate to a second region of the substrate along a first side edge of the substrate.

23. The sensor system of claim 22, wherein the circuit further comprises a second elongate conductor extending from a third region of the substrate to a fourth region of the substrate along a second side edge of the substrate, the second side edge being opposite the first side edge, wherein the first and second elongate conductors are electrically connected to each other and both the first and third regions are adjacent to a first end of the substrate.

24. The sensor system of claim 23, wherein the circuit further comprises a first transverse conductor having a first end in contact with the first elongate conductor and a second end in contact with the second elongate conductor, thereby electrically connecting the first elongate conductor to the second elongate conductor.

25. The sensor system of claim 23, wherein the circuit further comprises a tuning element electrically connected in series with the first elongate conductor and a mating contact that is used in securing the wristband around the subject'"'"'s wrist.

26. A sensor reader system, comprising:

a band; and

a housing encasing electronic circuitry, said housing being attached to the band, wherein

the band houses an antenna electrically connected to said electronic circuitry,

the antenna comprises a first circuit and a second circuit,

the first circuit is electrically connected to a first contact,

the second circuit is electrically connected to at least two tuning elements,

each of said at least two tuning elements is electrically connected to a second contact configured to mate with said first contact, and

the first circuit comprises;

a first elongate electrical conductor that extends substantially along a first side edge of the band.

27. The sensor reader system of claim 26, wherein:

the antenna further comprises a flexible dielectric substrate,

the first circuit is disposed on a first portion of the substrate, and

the second circuit disposed on a second portion of the substrate.

28. The sensor reader system of claim 26, wherein the first circuit further comprises:

a second elongate electrical conductor that extends substantially along a second side edge of the band;

a first transverse electrical conductor having a first end connected to the first elongate electrical conductor and a second end connected to the second elongate electrical conductor; and

a second transverse electrical conductor having a first end connected to the first elongate electrical conductor and a second end connected to the second elongate electrical conductor.

29. The sensor reader system of claim 28, wherein the first and second elongate conductors are substantially parallel and substantially equal in length.

30. The sensor reader system of claim 29, wherein the transverse conductors are spaced apart and substantially perpendicular with respect to the elongate conductors.

31. The sensor reader system of claim 30, wherein the distance between the first transverse conductor and the second transverse conductor is substantially equal to the length to the first elongate conductor.

32. The sensor reader of claim 28, wherein the first circuit further comprises an auxiliary conductor that is disposed between the elongate conductors.

33. The sensor reader of claim 32, wherein the auxiliary conductor has a first end connected to the first transverse conductor and a second end connected to the second transverse conductor.

34. The sensor reader system of claim 33, wherein the second circuit comprises:

a third elongate electrical conductor that extends along the first side edge of the band and a fourth elongate electrical conductor that extends along the second side edge of the band, wherein the third elongate electrical conductor is electrically connected to the fourth elongate electrical conductor.

35. The sensor reader system of claim 34, wherein the second circuit further comprises:

(a) a third transverse electrical conductor having a first end connected to the third elongate electrical conductor and a second end connected to the fourth elongate electrical conductor and (b) a fourth transverse electrical conductor having a first end connected to the third elongate electrical conductor and a second end connected to the fourth elongate electrical conductor.

36. The sensor reader system of claim 35, wherein the second circuit further comprises a second auxiliary conductor that is disposed between the third and fourth elongate conductors.

37. The sensor reader system of claim 36, wherein the second auxiliary conductor has a first end connected to the third transverse conductor and a second end connected to the fourth transverse conductor.

38. The sensor reader system of claim 37, wherein the third and fourth elongate conductors are substantially parallel and substantially equal in length.

39. The sensor reader system of claim 38, wherein the third and fourth transverse conductors are spaced apart and substantially perpendicular with respect to the third and fourth elongate conductors.

40. The sensor reader system of claim 39, wherein the length of the second auxiliary conductor is less than ¾

of the length of the third elongate conductor.

41. The sensor reader system of claim 40, wherein the width of the second auxiliary conductor is thinner than the width of the third elongate conductor.

42. The sensor reader system of claim 41, wherein the width of the second auxiliary conductor is about equal to or less than ½

the width of the third elongate conductor.

43. The sensor reader system of claim 42, wherein both of the at least two tuning elements are electrically connected between one of the second contacts and the fourth transverse conductor.

44. The sensor reader system of claim 26, wherein each of said tuning elements comprises a capacitive and/or an inductive element.

45. The sensor system of claim 44, wherein the capacitive element comprises at least one capacitor and the inductive element comprises at least one inductor.

46. The sensor system of claim 44, wherein the inductive element comprises ferrite that is adjacent to and/or surrounding a conductor electrically connected to the second circuit.

47. The sensor system of claim 44, wherein the capacitive tuning elements have different capacitive values and the inductive tuning elements have different inductive values.

48. The sensor reader system of claim 26, wherein said first contact is a female contact.

49. The sensor reader system of claim 48, wherein said female contact is the female half of a snap.

50. The sensor reader system of claim 49, wherein each of said second contacts is the male half of a snap.

51. A sensor reader system, comprising:

a band; and

a housing encasing electronic circuitry, said housing being attached to or integral with the band, wherein

the band houses an antenna electrically connected to said electronic circuitry,

the antenna comprises a flexible dielectric substrate with a circuit disposed thereon, and

the circuit comprises a first elongate conductor extending from a first region of the substrate to a second region of the substrate along a first side edge of the substrate.

52. The sensor reader system of claim 51, wherein the circuit further comprises:

a second elongate conductor extending from a third region of the substrate to a fourth region of the substrate along a second side edge of the substrate, the second side edge being opposite the first side edge, wherein both the first and third regions are adjacent to a first end of the substrate; and

a first transverse conductor having a first end in contact with the first elongate conductor and a second end in contact with the second elongate conductor.

53. The sensor reader system of claim 51, wherein the circuit further comprises a tuning element and a mating contact for securing the band around a body part of the subject, wherein the mating contact is electrically connected to the first elongate conductor through the tuning element.

54. The sensor system of claim 53, wherein the tuning element comprises a capacitive and/or an inductive element.

55. The sensor system of claim 54, wherein the capacitive element comprises at least one capacitor and the inductive element comprises at least one inductor.

56. The sensor system of claim 54, wherein the inductive element comprises ferrite that is adjacent to and/or surrounding a conductor electrically connected to the first circuit.

57. The sensor system of claim 54, wherein the capacitive tuning elements have different capacitive values and the inductive tuning elements have different inductive values.

58. A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor implanted in a body part of a subject, said sensor having a first antenna means for communicating with a sensor reader; and

a sensor reader system comprising;

a demodulation means for demodulating a signal;

a housing for housing said demodulating means;

band means attached to the housing for enabling the subject to wear the housing on the body part; and

second antenna means, integral with the band means and coupled to the demodulating means, for enabling the sensor reader system to communicate with the implanted sensor.

59. The sensor system of claim 58, wherein said demodulation means comprises a demodulator.

60. The sensor system of claim 59, wherein said demodulator is an amplitude modulation demodulator.

61. The sensor system of claim 58, further comprising data processing means coupled to the demodulation means for processing data.

62. The sensor system of claim 58, wherein said second antenna means comprises a first circuit and a second circuit.

63. The sensor system of claim 62, wherein the first circuit comprises a first elongate electrical conductor and the second circuit comprises a second elongate electrical conductor electrically connected to said first elongate electrical conductor through a releasable contact means.