SYSTEM HAVING WIRELESS IMPLANTABLE SENSOR

• US 20090105557A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UIM Pressure Implant Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Najafi, Nader, Sparks, Douglas Ray
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6864 Burr holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means

Abstract

A system for monitoring a charge-based physiological parameter within an internal organ of a living body, and a sensor adapted to be implanted in the living body and an organ therein. The sensor includes sensing elements adapted to sense the charge-based physiological parameter within the organ, and the sensing elements include at least first and second sensing elements that are electrically conductive, aligned, spaced apart and exposed at the exterior of the sensor. The sensor further includes a device for passing an alternating current from the first to the second sensing elements through an ionic solution contacting the sensing elements. The sensor also includes a device for generating a signal corresponding to the impedance of the ionic solution based on the alternating current.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a charge-based physiological parameter within an internal organ of a living body, the system comprising at least one sensor adapted to be implanted in the living body and an organ therein, the sensor comprising sensing elements adapted to sense the charge-based physiological parameter within the organ, the sensing elements comprising at least first and second sensing elements that are electrically conductive, aligned, spaced apart and exposed at the exterior of the sensor, the sensor further comprising means for passing an alternating current from the first to the second sensing elements through an ionic solution contacting the sensing elements, and means for generating a signal corresponding to the impedance of the ionic solution based on the alternating current.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charge-based physiological parameter sensed by the first and second sensing elements is chosen from the group consisting of flow rates, chemical concentrations, conductivity, and pH of the ionic solution.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ionic solution is chosen from the group consisting of blood, cerebral spinal fluid, lymph, interstitial fluids, urine, saline solution, ringers lactate, intravenous solutions, drugs and dialysates.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a readout device that is not adapted to be implanted in the living body, the readout device comprising means for telemetrically communicating with the sensor to obtain a reading of the charge-based physiological parameter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a surface and the first and second sensing elements are pads that do not protrude from the surface.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a surface and the first and second sensing elements protrude from the surface.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sensing elements are disposed at a distal end of a wire that protrudes from the sensor.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises means for ionizing the ionic fluid in the vicinity of the first and second sensing elements.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the ionizing means comprises a pair of biasing electrodes aligned transverse to the alignment of the first and second sensing elements.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the sensor further comprises a third sensing element, and the pair of biasing electrodes are between the first and second sensing elements and the third sensing element.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the sensor further comprises means for passing an alternating current from the third sensing element to one of the first and second sensing elements through the ionic solution contacting the sensing elements.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for anchoring the sensor within a tubular-shaped passage.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the anchoring means comprises the first and second sensing elements, which protrude from a surface of the sensor.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for anchoring the sensor to a wall.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises a housing having a surface at which the sensing elements are disposed, and the housing contains the current-passing means and the signal-generating means.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the sensor further comprises an inductive coil.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the inductive coil is within the housing.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the inductive coil is outside the housing.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the inductive coil is connected to the housing with a cable.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises an additional sensing element adapted to sense an additional physiological parameter chosen from the group consisting of pressure, strain, temperature, and velocity.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises an actuator.