MICROFABRICATED IMPLANTABLE WIRELESS PRESSURE SENSOR FOR USE IN BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS AND PRESSURE MEASUREMENT AND SENSOR IMPLANTATION METHODS

• US 20080058632A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Tai, Yu-Chong, Rodger, Damien C., Chen, Po-Jui, Humayun, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/398
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/16 for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0072 using variations in capacitance

Abstract

A variable capacitor, a microfabricated implantable pressure sensor including a variable capacitor and an inductor, and related pressure measurement and implantation methods. The inductor may have a fixed or variable inductance. A variable capacitor and pressure sensors include a flexible member that is disposed on a substrate and defines a chamber. Capacitor elements extend indirectly from the flexible member. Sufficient fluidic pressure applied to an exterior surface of the flexible member causes the flexible member to move or deform, thus causing the capacitance and/or inductance to change. Resulting changes in resonant frequency or impedance can be detected to determine pressure, e.g., intraocular pressure.

Claims

1. A computerized system for prescribing medications through the Internet, the prescription system comprising:

a medical prescription service website that is accessed over the Internet by a general use computer, the medical prescription service website further comprised of an unique Uniform Resource Locator (URL);

encryption means for securing the medical prescription service website;

a dedicated remote server for hosting the medical prescription service website;

a recoverable and secure storage system on the remote server for storing patient records;

means for accessing the patient records through the medical prescription service website, the medical prescription service website further comprising one or more patient records screens;

means for limiting access to the patient records to medical personnel having an authorized identification code;

means for the authorized medical personnel to enter medical prescriptions on the medical prescription service website, the medical prescriptions stored in the storage system with matching patient records;

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means for the patient, patient'"'"'s representative or the patient'"'"'s physician to select a pharmacy to fill the medical prescription, the pharmacy further comprised of one or more pharmaceutical personnel; and

means for pharmaceutical personnel to retrieve the medical prescriptions from the medical prescription service website, access to the medical prescription service website further limited to pharmaceutical personnel having an authorized identification code.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the medical prescription service website further comprises internet links to one or more drug information databases comprising drug history, adverse reactions to drugs, interactions between two or more prescribed medications.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage system further comprises a database of patient medication history.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the website further comprises means for logging off the patient records screen so as to secure patient information.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the patient records comprise identifying information selected from a group comprising:

patient name, patient social security number, patient driver'"'"'s license, patient I.D. code or a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical personnel authorization code or the pharmaceutical personnel authorization code is selected from a group comprising:

driver'"'"'s license number, social security number, a personal code or identification number.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the medical personnel authorization code aiidlor the pharmaceutical personnel authorization code is selected from a group comprising eye scan, thumb scan, hand scan, fingerprint scan or voice recognition.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the website further comprises Internet links to health insurance providers.

9. A process for prescribing medications through the Internet comprising:

(a) providing an encrypted medical prescription service website for subscribers for entering and retrieving medical prescriptions, the medical prescription service website stored on one dedicated remote server;

(b) providing a unique URL address for accessing the website so that the website is accessed by a general use computer connected to the Internet;

(c) securing the website of step (a) by encryption and further securing the website of step (a) by limiting access to medical personnel having an authorized I.D. and pharmaceutical personnel having authorized I.D.;

(d) storing active patient data in a storage system, the patient data entered and retrieved via the website of step (a);

(e) accessing a patient file through the medical prescription service website;

(f) entering a prescription into patient file through the medical prescription service website; and

(g) selecting a pharmacy to fill the medical prescription, the pharmacy further comprised of one or more pharmaceutical personnel; and

(h) retrieving the prescription entered into patient file by authorized pharmacy personnel logging on to the medical prescription service website.

10. The process of claim 9 further comprising the step of creating a new patient file, the new patient file comprising patient identifying information, the identifying information selected from a group comprising:

patient name, patient social security number, patient driver'"'"'s license, patient I.D. code or a combination thereof.

11. The process of claim 9 further comprising the step of logging off the medical prescription service website to secure patient information.

12. A computerized system for storing medical prescription records comprising:

a medical prescription service website that is accessed over the Internet by a general use computer, the medical prescription service website further comprised of an unique Uniform Resource Locator (URL);

encryption means for securing the medical prescription service website;

a dedicated Internet server connected to the internet for hosting the medical prescription service website;

a central remote server comprising patient records, the remote server connected to the Internet server;

means for creating a patient file with patient identifying information through the medical prescription service website, the patient file stored on the remote server;

means for entering patient prescription into the patient file through the medical prescription service website, the patient prescription stored on the remote server;

means for entering data regarding changes to patient file through the medical prescription service website, the changes to the patient file data stored on the remote server;

means for storing data regarding one or more pharmacies selected to fill the patient prescription; and

means for logging off the medical prescription service website so as to secure patient information.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the medical prescription service website further comprises Internet links to one or more medical information databases comprising current therapy and medical treatment for medical diseases and disorders.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the medical prescription service website further comprises Internet links to one or more drug information databases comprising drug history, adverse reactions to drugs, interactions between two or more prescribed medications.