HYDROGEL BASED DEVICE FOR DETECTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL STATE

• US 20100114072A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kurt, Ralph, Van Bruggen, Michel Paul Barbara, Krijnsen, Hendrika Cecilia, Iordanov, Ventzeslav Petrov, Janner, Anna-Maria
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery

Abstract

The invention relates to a transducer device (100,200,300,400) for detecting an environmental state or a change in the environmental state, in particular for detecting an environmental state within a biological material. The transducer device (100,200,300,400) comprises a channel (2,22,51) comprising a fluid, a hydrogel material (1,21,51), which is adapted to change its volume when getting into contact with an environmental material and/or when detecting an environmental change, and which is mechanically coupled to the channel (2,22,51) such that the volume of the channel (2,22,51) changes when the volume of the hydrogel material (1,21,51) changes. The transducer device (100,200,300,400) further comprises a sensor (11,12,25,35), which is adapted to generate a signal upon detection of the change of a physical property of the fluid that is induced by the volume change of the channel (2,22,51). By applying the transducer device (100,200,300,400) according to the invention within a bodily lumen, an accurate monitoring of physiological parameters, for which the hydrogel material (1,21,51) is sensitive, within the bodily lumen is possible. It is also possible to apply the transducer device (100,200,300,400) outside of the bodily lumen, for example to monitor the blood of a patient outside the bodily lumen.

Claims

1. A transducer device (100,200,300,400) for detecting an environmental state, in particular for detecting an environmental state, or a change in the environmental state, within a biological material, the transducer device (100,200,300,400) comprising:

a channel (2,22,52) comprising a fluid;

a hydrogel material (1,21,51), which is adapted to change its volume when getting into contact with the biological material and/or when detecting a change in the environmental state of the biological material, and which is mechanically coupled to the channel (2,22,51) such that the volume of the channel (2,22,51) changes when the volume of the hydrogel material (1,21,51) changes; and

a sensor (11,12,25,35), which is adapted to generate a signal upon detection of the change in a physical property of the fluid that is induced by the volume change of the channel (2,22,51).

2. A transducer device (100) as claimed in claim 1, in which the sensor (11,12) is adapted to measure a change in the pressure and/or the flow of the fluid in the channel (2).

3. A transducer device (200,300,400) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light source (29,39), which is adapted to radiate light into the channel (22,51), and in which the sensor (25,35) is adapted to measure a change in the optical properties of the fluid in the channel (22,51).

4. A transducer device (100,200,300,400) as claimed in claim 1, in which the transducer device comprises a substrate (10,30) in which the sensor (11,12, 35) is integrated, and on which substrate (10,30) the channel (2,22,51) and the hydrogel material are formed.

5. A transducer device (200,300,400) as claimed in claim 3, in which the light source (29,39) is integrated in the substrate (10,30).

6. A transducer device (100,200,300,400) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electronic circuit (13,26,36) in electrical contact with the sensor (11,12,25,35).

7. A transducer device (100,200,300,400) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transmitter unit (27), which is adapted to communicate with an external receiving unit.

10. A medical system comprising the transducer device (100,200,300,400) according to claim 1, and a drug release device, which is coupled to the transducer device (100,200,300,400) and which is adapted to release a certain amount of drug when being triggered by the signal of the transducer device (100,200,300,400).

11. A diagnostic device comprising a transducer device according to claim 1.

12. A diagnostic device according to claim 11, wherein the diagnostic device is suitable for in vitro analysis of the fluid and further comprises an entry port and an outlet for the fluid.

8. A method for detecting an environmental state, in particular for detecting an environmental state within a biological material, by means of a transducer device (100,200,300,400) comprising a hydrogel material (1,21,51) and a channel (2,22,51) comprising a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

getting the transducer device into contact with the biological material, such that a hydrogel material (1,21,51) changes its volume such that the volume of the channel (2,22,51) changes,

generating a signal upon detection of a change in a physical property of the fluid that is induced by the change of the volume of the channel (2,22,51).

9. A method for detecting an environmental state, in particular for detecting an environmental state within a biological material, by means of a transducer device (200,300,400) comprising a hydrogel material (21,51) and a channel (22,51) comprising a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

radiating light from a light source (29,39) into the channel (22,51);

getting the transducer device (200,300,400) into contact with the biological material, such that a hydrogel material (21,51) changes its volume such that the volume of the channel (22,51) changes;

generating a signal upon detection of the change of the optical properties of the fluid that is induced by the change of the volume of the channel (22,51).