Method and device for treatment of medical conditions and monitoring physical movements

• US 20060212097A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
• Inventors: Varadan, Vijay, Harbaugh, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/361,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• 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 5/1101 Detecting tremor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/685 Microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

Abstract

The subject invention utilizes MEMS devices and wireless data transmission means to monitor and sense certain patient conditions or reactions, such as changes in pressure, patient movements, and tremors. These sensor devices include but are not limited to MEMS gyroscopes, MEMS accelerometers, and MEMS pressure sensors. The data from the sensor means is then preferably wirelessly transmitted to a second MEMS device to treat or alter the medical condition that has been monitored.

Claims

1. A system for treating medical conditions comprising:

(a) a first MEMS device for detecting a change in patient condition;

(b) an antenna means for wirelessly transmitting data generated by said first MEMS device; and

(c) a second MEMS device which is implanted in the patient in order to treat a medical condition based upon the data generated by the first MEMS device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS device is a MEMS gyroscope.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second MEMS device includes electrodes comprising carbon nanotubes.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second MEMS device includes structural elements made from shape shifting polymers as a means of post surgically adjusting the placement of an electrode within brain tissue.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmission comprises an antenna made from low temperature cofired ceramics.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS device is a pressure sensor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first MEMS device is manufactured using carbon nanotubes.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the second MEMS device comprises a valve or shunt for regulating fluid pressure within a given system.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS device is an accelerometer.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller software dictates the pulse to be received by the antennae, and converts ordinary GHZ into a low frequency signal.

9. A system for monitoring and recording human physical movements comprising:

(a) a Sensor for detecting movement or pressure change; and

(b) a wireless transmission means for transmitting data from the Sensor to a recording or monitoring device.