METHOD FOR THE CALIBRATION OF AN IMPLANTABLE SENSOR

• US 20110021887A1
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Original Assignee: Codman Neuro Sciences Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: GINGGEN, Alec, ROTH, Danillo, CRIVELLI, Rocco
• Granted Patent: US 11,169,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02154 by optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02156 Calibration means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/008 with calibration coefficients stored in memory
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/353 influencing the transmission properties of an optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/149 of immersion sensor, e.g. where the sensor is immersed in the measuring medium or for in vivo measurements, e.g. by using catheter tips

Abstract

An implant includes a processor, RF communication circuitry, optical communication circuitry, a power source and a memory, all of which being hermetically sealed within a housing having a transparent window. Sensor readings are transmitted by RF using the RF communication circuitry to a remote reader after receiving interrogation signals from the reader. During calibration of the sensor, corrective coefficients are calculated by comparing actual sensor pressure readings with known pressure readings. The corrective coefficients are transmitted to the memory of the control circuitry using optical communication wherein modulated light is transmitted through the transparent window of the housing to the photo-detector.

Claims

1. A data-collecting implant having a sensor capable of generating output data in response to said implant receiving an interrogation signal, said implant comprising:

a housing used to contain said sensor, said housing including a transparent window;

electrical components located within said housing and selectively creating an RF communication link between said implant and a remote controller, said implant using said RF communication link to selectively transmit said output data of said sensor to said remote controller; and

electrical components that selectively create an optical communication link between said remote controller and said sensor so that calibration data may be transmitted from said remote controller to said sensor optically through said transparent window of said housing.

2. The data-collecting implant, according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made from at least two parts and wherein at least one of these parts is made from a transparent material.

3. The data-collecting implant, according to claim 2, wherein said optical communication link includes a light emitter and a photo-detector, said light emitter being capable of generating light at prescribed intervals and said photo-detector being capable of detecting said light from said light emitter and generated an electrical signal in response.

4. The data-collecting implant, according to claim 2, wherein light emitter is located outside said housing and said photo-detector is located inside said housing and said light generated by said light emitter reaches said photo-detector by passing through said transparent part of said housing.

18. The data-collecting implant of claim 1, wherein said RF communication link and said optical communication link operate simultaneously.

20. The data collecting implant, according to claim 3, wherein said photo-detector is either a phototransistor or a photodiode.

5. A method for calibrating a sensor of an implant wherein said sensor is connected to control circuitry which includes a processor, RF communication circuitry, optical communication circuitry including a light-receiving device, a power source and memory, all of which being hermetically sealed within a housing, said method for calibrating comprising the steps of:

placing said implant into a controlled environment;

creating an RF communication link between a remote controller and said RF communication circuitry of said control circuitry;

adjusting at least one aspect of said controlled environment to a first known value;

allowing said sensor to measure said at least one aspect of said controlled environment and generate a first sensor reading;

transmitting said first sensor reading from said implant to said remote controller using said RF communication link;

comparing said received first sensor reading with said first known value of said at least one aspect of said controlled environment to create a first corrective coefficient;

creating an optical communication link between said remote controller and said control circuitry of said implant;

transmitting said first corrective coefficient to said memory of said control circuitry using said optical communication link; and

allowing said control circuitry of said implant to use said first corrective coefficient to adjust said first sensor reading to align with said first known value for future readings.

6. The method for calibrating according to claim 5, wherein said at least one aspect is selected from the list of pressure, temperature, humidity, acidity, oxygen, glucose and flow rate.

7. The method for calibrating according to claim 5, wherein said housing includes a transparent region through which said optical communication may occur.

8. The method for calibrating according to claim 7, wherein said housing includes at least one part made from glass.

9. The method for calibrating according to claim 7, wherein said housing includes at least one part made from a glass that is suitable for anodic bonding.

14. The method for calibrating according to claim 5, wherein said second transmitting step includes modulation a light emitter outside said housing so that modulated light can pass through said transparent window and be received by said light receiving device and demodulated by said controlling circuitry.

15. The method for calibrating according to claim 14, wherein said housing includes at least one part made from glass.

16. The method for calibrating according to claim 15, wherein said glass part is made from a glass that is appropriate for anodic bonding.

17. The method for calibrating according to claim 14, wherein said light receiving device is a photo-detector.

19. The method for calibrating according to claim 17, wherein said photo-detector is either a phototransistor or a photodiode.

10. A method for calibrating a pressure sensor of an implant wherein said sensor is connected to control circuitry which includes a processor, RF communication circuitry, optical communication circuitry including a photo-detector, a power source and memory, all of which being hermetically sealed within a housing having a transparent window, said method for calibrating comprising the steps of:

placing said implant into a pressure chamber;

creating an RF communication link between a remote controller and said RF communication circuitry of said control circuitry;

adjusting the pressure within said chamber to a known first pressure value;

allowing said sensor to measure said known first pressure of said chamber and generate a first sensor pressure reading;

transmitting said first sensor pressure reading from said implant to said remote controller using said RF communication link;

comparing said received first sensor pressure reading with said known first pressure value to create a first corrective coefficient

creating an optical communication link between said remote controller and said control circuitry of said implant through said transparent window;

transmitting said first corrective coefficient to said memory of said control circuitry using said optical communication link; and

allowing said control circuitry to use said first corrective coefficient to adjust said first sensor pressure reading to align with said known first pressure reading for future readings.

11. The method for calibrating according to claim 10, wherein said second transmitting step includes modulation a light emitter outside said housing so that modulated light can pass through said transparent window and be received by said photodiode and demodulated by said controlling circuitry.

12. The method for calibrating according to claim 10, wherein said housing includes at least one part made from glass.

13. The method for calibrating according to claim 12, wherein said housing includes at least one part made from a glass that is suitable for anodic bonding.