Wireless breach detection

• US 20060111777A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fulfillium, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fulfillium, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Richard D.Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/8
• 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 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/008 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0036 Intragastrical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0046 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3706 Pacemaker parameters stimulation threshold A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems for detecting wall breach in inflatable prostheses rely on intrusion of a body fluid or inflation medium to electrically alter a signaling circuit. In one embodiment, an open portion of a circuit is closed to enable or modify a transmitted signal. In another embodiment, electrical current is generated to power an electrical transmission.

Claims

1. An improved implantable device having a wall, wherein the improvement comprises a system incorporated into said wall, which system emits a detectable wireless signal upon breach of said wall.

2. An improved implantable device as in claim 1, wherein the all at least partially surrounds a compartment which is inflatable with an inflation medium.

3. An improved device as in claim 2, which comprises a breast implant.

4. An improved device as in claim 2, which comprises a gastric balloon.

5. An improved device as in claim 2, which comprises a penile implant.

6. An improved device as in claim 2, wherein the signal emission system comprises a signaling circuit having one or more components which are exposed to an exterior or interior environment upon breach of the wall, wherein exposure of the component energizes the circuit, closes the circuit or opens the circuit to cause, alter, disable, or enable signal emission.

7. An improved device as in claim 6, wherein the component generates electrical current when exposed to body fluid and/or inflation medium by a wall breach.

8. An improved device as in claim 6, wherein the component includes spaced-apart conductors which are electrically coupled to close the control or signaling circuit, when exposed to a body fluid and/or inflation medium by a wall breach.

9. An improved device as in claim 6, wherein the signaling circuit comprises a transponder and an antenna, wherein the transponder is powered by an external reader which is tuned to the antenna of the transponder, wherein the transponder and antenna are inactive or operational in a first mode until a wall breach closes the control or signaling circuit, wherein closing of the control or signaling circuit activates or alters the transponder emission.

10. A method for signaling wall breach of an implantable device, said method comprising emitting an externally detectable wireless signal when the wall has been at least partially breached.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the prosthesis is a breast implant.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the prosthesis is a gastric balloon.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein the prosthesis is a penile implant.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein emitting comprises closing or opening a control or signaling circuit when the wall is at least partially breached.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the signaling circuit is unpowered and comprises an antenna and a transponder, further comprising directing an interrogation signal to the antenna and detecting a return signal from the transponder, wherein the returned signal is altered, present or ceases only when the control or signaling circuit has been closed or opened by a wall breach.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein the signaling circuit is powered and emitting comprises exposing a component of a control or signaling circuit to an internal or external environment when the wall is at least partially breached wherein the control or signaling circuit is closed and transmits a signal.

17. A method as in claim 10, wherein emitting comprises exposing a component of a control or signaling circuit to an internal or external environmental when the wall is at least partially breached, wherein the control or signaling circuit generates energy and transmits a signal.