BLOOD PRESSURE SENSOR APPARATUS

• US 20080146946A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kevin S. Montegrande, Valentino Montegrande
• Original Assignee: Kevin S. Montegrande, Valentino Montegrande
• Inventors: Montegrande, Valentino, Montegrande, Kevin S.
• Application Number:
  US11/959,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• 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 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6884 Clamps or clips

Abstract

A method for measuring blood pressure utilizes an implantable sensor for measuring blood pressure. The implantable sensor includes a probe having a neck portion extending outwardly from the main body to a conical locking flange; a terminus of the conical locking flange forming an aperture that is covered with a flexible membrane that defines an internal chamber that is filled with a biocompatible fluid; and a capacitor electronically connected to the implant inductor and operatively positioned adjacent the internal chamber. The implantable sensor is positioned adjacent a blood vessel such that the probe extends through a blood vessel wall such that the conical locking flange lockingly engages the blood vessel wall.

Claims

1. A method for measuring blood pressure in a blood vessel through a blood vessel wall, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an implantable sensor comprising;

a probe having a neck portion extending outwardly from a main body to a conical locking flange, the conical locking flange having a diameter that is larger than the neck portion and being shaped to penetrate through and then lockingly engage the blood vessel wall;

a terminus of the conical locking flange forming an aperture that is covered with a flexible membrane that defines an internal chamber, the internal chamber being filled with a biocompatible fluid; and

a capacitor operatively positioned adjacent the internal chamber for measuring pressure of the biocompatible fluid;

positioning the implantable sensor adjacent the blood vessel;

penetrating the conical locking flange through the blood vessel wall such that probe extends through the blood vessel wall and into the blood vessel, and such that the conical locking flange lockingly engages the blood vessel wall; and

measuring the pressure within the blood vessel with the capacitor based upon the movements of the flexible membrane.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capacitor includes a flexible capacitive membrane in contact with the biocompatible fluid, and a rigid capacitive membrane spaced from the flexible capacitive membrane by a gap.

3. A method for measuring blood pressure in a blood vessel through a blood vessel wall, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an implantable sensor comprising;

a probe having a neck portion extending outwardly from the main body to a conical locking flange, the conical locking flange having a diameter that is larger than the neck portion and being shaped to penetrate through and then lockingly engage the blood vessel wall;

a terminus of the conical locking flange forming an aperture that is covered with a flexible membrane that defines an internal chamber, the internal chamber being filled with a biocompatible fluid; and

a capacitor electronically connected to the implant inductor and operatively positioned adjacent the internal chamber for measuring pressure within the blood vessel by measuring the pressure of the biocompatible fluid,

wherein the capacitor includes a flexible capacitive membrane in contact with the biocompatible fluid, and a rigid capacitive membrane spaced from the flexible capacitive membrane by a gap;

positioning the implantable sensor adjacent the blood vessel;

penetrating the conical locking flange through the blood vessel wall such that probe extends through the blood vessel wall and into the blood vessel, and such that the conical locking flange lockingly engages the blood vessel wall; and

measuring the pressure within the blood vessel based upon the movements of the flexible membrane and the induced movement of the flexible capacitive membrane in relation to the position of the rigid capacitive membrane.