STRAIN MONITORING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing strain, comprising:
- a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor; and
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for implantation in a biological host; and
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for monitoring spinal fusion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring strain as an indicator of biological conditions, such as spinal fusion, glucose levels, spinal loading, and heart rate. The system includes an inter-digitated capacitor sensor, and RF transmitter, and an associated antenna, all of which are microminiature or microscopic in size and can be implanted in a biological host such as a human or animal. An inductively coupled power supply is also employed to avoid the need for implantation of chemical batteries. Power is provided to the sensor and transmitter, and data is transmitted from the sensor, when an external receiving device, such as a handheld RF ID type receiver, is placed proximate the location of the implanted sensor, transmitter and inductively coupled power supply. The implanted sensor, transmitter and inductively coupled power supply can be left in place permanently or removed when desired.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor; and
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for implantation in a biological host; and
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for monitoring spinal fusion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor; and
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for implantation in a biological host; and
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for measuring spinal loading.
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5. A system for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor;
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for implantation in a biological host; and
a receiver configured for receiving a signal from said transmitter indicative of strain;
wherein said receiver comprises a non-implantable remotely operated receiver; and
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for monitoring spinal fusion. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A system for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor;
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for implantation in a biological host; and
a receiver configured for receiving a signal from said transmitter indicative of strain;
wherein said receiver comprises a non-implantable remotely operated receiver; and
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for measuring spinal loading.
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9. A system for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor;
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
a power supply;
said power supply configured for inductive coupling to a power source;
said power supply coupled to said sensor and said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, said antenna, and said power supply are adapted for implantation in a biological host; and
a receiver configured for receiving a signal from said transmitter indicative of strain;
wherein said receiver comprises a non-implantable remotely operated receiver; and
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for monitoring spinal fusion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor;
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
a power supply;
said power supply configured for inductive coupling to a power source;
said power supply coupled to said sensor and said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, said antenna, and said power supply are adapted for implantation in a biological host; and
a receiver configured for receiving a signal from said transmitter indicative of strain;
wherein said receiver comprises a non-implantable remotely operated receiver; and
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for measuring spinal loading.
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13. An apparatus for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor; and
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for implantation in a biological host;
wherein said sensor is adapted for mounting to a spinal plate or spinal rod and configured to produce a signal representative of strain in said spinal plate or spinal rod; and
wherein said transmitter is configured for transmitting said signal representative of strain. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor;
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, and said antenna are adapted for implantation in a biological host;
wherein said sensor is adapted for mounting to a spinal plate or spinal rod and configured to produce a signal representative of strain in said spinal plate or spinal rod; and
wherein said transmitter is configured for transmitting said signal representative of strain; and
a receiver configured for receiving a signal from said transmitter indicative of strain;
wherein said receiver comprises a non-implantable remotely operated receiver. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system for sensing strain, comprising:
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a sensor;
said sensor comprising an inter-digitated capacitor;
a transmitter;
said transmitter coupled to said sensor;
an antenna;
said antenna coupled to said transmitter;
a power supply;
said power supply configured for inductive coupling to a power source;
said power supply coupled to said sensor and said transmitter;
wherein said sensor, said transmitter, said antenna, and said power supply are adapted for implantation in a biological host;
wherein said sensor is adapted for mounting to a spinal plate or spinal rod and configured to produce a signal representative of strain in said spinal plate or spinal rod; and
wherein said transmitter is configured for transmitting said signal representative of strain; and
a receiver configured for receiving a signal from said transmitter indicative of strain;
wherein said receiver comprises a non-implantable remotely operated receiver. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification