IMPLANTABLE DEVICES FOR DYNAMIC MONITORING OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF TUMORS

• US 20100261983A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SNC Holdings Corp., North Carolina State University (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: Sicel Technologies, Inc., North Carolina State University (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: Mueller, Jeffrey, Nagle, H. Troy, Scarantino, Charles W., Kermani, Bahram Ghaffarzadeh, Hall, Lester C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/507 for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1071 for verifying the dose delivered by the treatment plan
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

Biocompatible sensors configured for implantation include a first body in communication with a plurality of remote sensor bodies to detect physiological parameters in vivo.

Claims

1. An implantable biocompatible device, comprising:

a primary sensor body holding operating electronics; and

a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the primary sensor body, each of said arms having distal portions containing at least one sensor element thereon and having at least one signal path extending between said operating electronics in said primary body portion to said sensor elements.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said arms includes a plurality of sensor elements, and wherein said implantable sensor unit is inductively powered.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said arms are configured with an anchor portion adapted to positionally attach to a desired solid tissue body portion thereby allowing attachment to a surface or at a depth into the tumor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said sensor elements include at least one temperature sensor element and at least one radiation sensor element.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the arms comprises a radiation sensor element that is configured to passively detect radiation in vivo.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the primary body comprises a transmitter coil and associated electronic components configured for wireless transmittal of the sensor data to a spatially remote receiver, wherein the primary body is inductively powered.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said primary sensor body and arms are sized and configured to be chronically implanted in a subject.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the arms comprises at least one MOSFET radiation sensor element that is configured to detect ionizing radiation delivered to the subject.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the MOSFET radiation sensor element is passive during exposure to ionizing radiation and is configured to be inductively powered after a radiation exposure to wirelessly transmit data corresponding to a dose of radiation delivered internally at the target site while remaining implanted.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising an external reader in wireless communication with the primary sensor body.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the discrete sensors comprise at least one MOSFET radiation sensor element, the MOSFET radiation sensor element being passive during exposure to ionizing radiation and inductively powered after a radiation exposure to wirelessly transmit data via the primary sensor body to an external reader while remaining implanted, the data corresponding to a dose of radiation that was delivered internally at a target tumor site.

12. An implantable biocompatible device, comprising:

a primary sensor body holding operating electronics; and

a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the primary sensor body, each of said arms having distal portions containing at least one sensor thereon and having at least one signal path extending between said operating electronics in said primary body portion to said sensors,

wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a MOSFET radiation sensor that is passive during exposure to ionizing radiation and is configured to be inductively powered after a radiation exposure to wirelessly transmit data to the first body corresponding to a dose of radiation delivered internally at a target tumor treatment site while remaining implanted.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to detect temperature and/or oxygen.