Implantable sensor

• US 20060189898A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy International Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy International Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Spector, Ben-Zion, Nitzan, Yaacov
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6864 Burr holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors

Abstract

A sensor which can be implanted in a body part to collect data relating to the body part, the sensor includes a jacket which has a side wall which can be deformed inwardly, and first and second ends. A sensor part is contained within the jacket, and fastened to the jacket at or towards the first end of the jacket. The sensor part is at least partially isolated from compressive forces applied to the sensor which cause the side wall of the jacket to deform inwardly.

Claims

1. A sensor which can be implanted in a body part to collect data relating to the body part, the sensor comprising:

a jacket which has a side wall which can be deformed inwardly, and first and second ends,

a sensor part which is contained within the jacket, and fastened to the jacket at or towards the first end of the jacket, so that the sensor part is at least partially isolated from compressive forces applied to the sensor which cause the side wall of the jacket to deform inwardly.

2. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which the jacket has at least one compression line that extends generally between the first and second ends which facilitates inward deformation of the jacket.

3. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, in which the compression line extends along at least 60% of the length of the jacket.

4. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, in which the jacket has at least two spaced apart compression lines.

5. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, in which the compression line is a longitudinally extending slit.

6. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, in which the compression line is a longitudinally extending crease which facilitates folding of the jacket along the crease.

7. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, which includes a cord which is connected to the jacket, by which force can be applied to the sensor to remove it from the body part.

8. A sensor as claimed in claim 7, in which the sensor includes a bar which extends across the jacket between opposite side walls, and in which the cord is connected to the bar.

9. A sensor as claimed in claim 8, in which the sensor is connected to the bar.

10. A sensor as claimed in claim 9, in which the connection between the sensor and the bar is embedded in a body of a resin material.

11. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which the jacket is tapered inwardly at at least one of the first and second ends.

12. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which the jacket comprises a first portion at the first end, a second portion at the second end, and a third portion between the first and second ends.

13. A sensor as claimed in claim 12, in which the first, second and third portions of the jacket are formed from separate pieces of material.

14. A sensor as claimed in claim 12, in which the cross-sectional shape of the jacket is approximately constant along the third portion of the jacket.

15. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which the jacket comprises a single sheet of material, welded along a longitudinal seam.

16. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which the jacket is formed from a metallic material.

17. A method of making a sensor which can be implanted in a body part to collect data relating to the body part, the method comprising attaching a sensor part to a first end of a jacket which has a side wall that can be deformed inwardly so that the sensor part is contained within the jacket and at least partially isolated from compressive forces applied to the sensor which cause the side wall of the jacket to deform inwardly.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the step of encapsulating the sensor part in a resin before the step of attaching the jacket.