Flexible and Scalable Sensor Arrays for Recording and Modulating Physiologic Activity

• US 20110054583A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Inventors: Viventi, Jonathan, Litt, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,107,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/2686 using incoherent radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/28 : Manufacture of electrodes on semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/268 etching for patterning the electrodes H01L21/311, H01L21/3213; multistep manufacturing processes for data storage electrodes H01L29/4011
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/56 : Encapsulations, e.g. encapsulation layers, coatings

Abstract

An implantable sensor array incorporates active electronic elements to greatly increase the number of sensors and their density that can be simultaneously recorded and activated. The sensors can be of various configurations and types, for example: optical, chemical, temperature, pressure or other sensors including effectors for applying signals to surrounding tissues. The sensors/effectors are arranged on a flexible and stretchable substrate with incorporated active components that allow the effective size, configuration, number and pattern of sensors/effectors to be dynamically changed, as needed, through a wired or wireless means of communication. Active processing allows many channels to be combined either through analog or digital means such that the number of wires exiting the array can be substantially reduced compared to the number of sensors/effectors on the array.

Claims

1. An implantable multi-purpose sensor array, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

an array of sensors arranged on said substrate; and

active electronic elements incorporated into said flexible substrate, said active elements selectively connecting respective sensors so as to enable the effective size, configuration and number of sensors to be dynamically changed.

2. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said sensors comprise electrodes, optical sensors, chemical sensors, force sensors, and/or temperature sensors.

3. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said active electronic elements comprise analog or digital switches between respective sensors, said switches being responsive to logic for selectively opening or closing to selectively connect the respective sensors to each other.

4. A sensor array as in claim 3, wherein a plurality of sensors are connected by said switches to form a macrosensor.

5. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said active electronic elements are flexible and/or stretchable.

6. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said active electronic elements include an amplifier and an analog to digital converter for amplifying and digitizing signals detected by said sensors.

7. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said active electronic elements are responsive to configuration and control signals provided by wire or wirelessly to said array of sensors.

8. A sensor array as in claim 7, wherein said active electronic elements comprise a processor that provides said configuration and control signals to said array of sensors.

9. A sensor array as in claim 8, wherein said processor includes an algorithm that tracks the position of respective sensors and identifies migration of said sensors within tissue.

10. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said active electronic elements comprise a buffer amplifier at each sensor and a set of multiplexing switches arranged in rows and columns.

11. A sensor array as in claim 10, wherein said active electronic elements further comprise an amplifier that receives and amplifies the outputs of all sensors.

12. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors comprises at least 100×

100 sensors in an area no greater than 36 cm².

13. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said active electronic elements are utilized to sample from a large number of sensors simultaneously.

14. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are formed into a hollow or solid cylindrical shape to be implanted into a deep brain structure, wrapped around a nerve bundle or auditory nerve, a blood vessel, a peripheral or cranial nerve, or provided outside or inside a viscus or in or around the heart or eye.

15. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are disposed in a chamber in which biological material removed from the body is placed, whereby the array or sensors record from or monitor activity from the biological materials after removal from the body.

16. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are formed into a device suitable for cardiac implantation or for recording from peripheral or cranial nerves, a spinal cord, a heart, a viscus or other biological target in a patient.

17. A sensor array as in claim 16, wherein said device comprises a stent that is deployable within a patient'"'"'s body.

18. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors receive power from at least one source outside of a patient'"'"'s body.

19. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration.

20. An implantable multi-purpose effector array for applying stimulation to adjacent tissue of a patient, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

an array of electrodes arranged on said substrate; and

active electronic elements incorporated into said flexible substrate, said active elements selectively connecting respective electrode so as to enable the effective size, configuration and number of electrodes to be dynamically changed.

21. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said electrodes comprise effectors or optical emitters that apply stimulation signals to the adjacent tissue of the patient when implanted in the tissue of the patient.

22. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said active electronic elements comprise analog or digital switches between respective electrodes, said switches being responsive to logic for selectively opening or closing to selectively connect the respective electrodes to each other.

23. An effector array as in claim 22, wherein a plurality of electrodes are connected by said switches to form a macroelectrode.

24. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said active electronic elements are flexible and/or stretchable.

25. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said active electronic elements are responsive to configuration and control signals provided by wire or wirelessly to said array of electrodes.

26. An effector array as in claim 25, wherein said active electronic elements comprise a processor that provides said configuration and control signals to said array of electrodes.

27. An effector array as in claim 26, wherein said processor includes an algorithm that tracks the position of respective electrodes and identifies migration of said electrodes within tissue.

28. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said active electronic elements comprise a buffer amplifier at each electrode and a set of multiplexing switches arranged in rows and columns.

29. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes comprises at least 100×

100 electrodes in an area no greater than 36 cm².

30. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes are formed into a hollow or solid cylindrical shape to be implanted into a deep brain structure, wrapped around a nerve bundle or auditory nerve, a blood vessel, a peripheral or cranial nerve, or provided outside or inside a viscus or in or around the heart or eye.

31. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes are formed into a device suitable for cardiac implantation or for implantation on or near peripheral or cranial nerves, a spinal cord, a viscus or other biological target in a patient and for applying stimulation thereto.

32. An effector array as in claim 31, wherein said device comprises a stent that is deployable within a patient'"'"'s body.

33. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes receive power from at least one source outside of a patient'"'"'s body.

34. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration.

35. A method of introducing a sensor and/or effector array into tissue of a patient, comprising the steps of:

forming an array of sensors and/or effectors arranged in a two-dimensional grid on a flexible substrate;

rolling up said flexible substrate around introducing means; and

using said introducing means to implant said flexible substrate within tissue of the patient; and

unfolding or unfurling said flexible substrate at an implantation position.

36. A method as in claim 35, wherein said introducing means comprises an endoscope, a vascular stent, or a catheter that may be manipulated inside the patient'"'"'s body to enable placement of the flexible substrate inside vessels or organs, around peripheral or cranial nerves, or on, in or around other structures within the patient'"'"'s body.

37. A method as in claim 35, wherein said introducing means comprises surgical utensils and said flexible substrate in deployed within the tissue of the patient through surgery.