Methods and devices for treatment of medical conditions and monitoring physical movements

• US 20090048542A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Harbaugh, Vijay Varadan
• Original Assignee: Robert Harbaugh, Vijay Varadan
• Inventors: Varadan, Vijay, Harbaugh, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/287,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20090048542A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• 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 present systems use nanotechnology, MEMS devices and wireless data transmission to monitor and treat physical activities, and medical and physiological conditions. The MEMS devices and wireless data transmission systems monitor and sense certain patient conditions or reactions, such as changes in pressure, movements, and tremors. These sensor devices include, but are not limited to, MEMS gyroscopes, MEMS accelerometers, and MEMS pressure sensors. Data from the sensor is wirelessly transmitted to a second MEMS device to treat or alter the medical condition being monitored.

Claims

1. A system for treating medical conditions, comprising:

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

(b) an antenna for wireless transmission of data generated by said first MEMS device; and

(c) a second MEMS device being implanted in the subject for treatment of a medical condition based upon the data generated by said first MEMS device.

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

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

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second MEMS device further includes structural elements comprising shape shifting polymers for post surgically adjusting the placement of an electrode within brain tissue.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmission includes an antenna comprising low temperature cofired ceramics.

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

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first MEMS device further comprises carbon nanotubes.

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

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS device comprises an accelerometer.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising controller software capable of dictating a pulse to be received by the antenna and converting GHZ into a low frequency signal.