Bio-Medical Unit with Wireless Signaling Micro-Electromechanical Module

• US 20110077476A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US12/829,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077476A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module and first and second micro-electro mechanical modules. The power harvesting module is operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic source signal. The first micro-electro mechanical module is powered by the supply voltage and transmits a wireless signal. The second micro-electro mechanical module is powered by the supply voltage and receives the wireless signal. The bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body, wherein, when implanted, the bio-medical unit is positioned proximal to monitor fluid flow in the host body based on the transmitting and receiving of the wireless signal.

Claims

1. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic source signal;

a first micro-electro mechanical module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the first micro-electro mechanical module transmits a wireless signal; and

a second micro-electro mechanical module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the second micro-electro mechanical module receives a representation of the wireless signal, wherein the bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body, wherein, when implanted, the bio-medical unit is positioned proximal to monitor fluid flow in the host body based on the transmitting and receiving of the representation of the wireless signal.

2. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the bio-medical unit is positioned proximal to monitor fluid flow further comprises:

positioning the bio-medical unit approximately parallel to blood flow in the host body.

3. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 of claim 1 further comprises:

a communication module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the communication module is operable to;

convert an inbound wireless communication into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless communication;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the processing module is operable to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream;

generate a control signal based on the inbound data;

send the control signal to the first micro-electro mechanical module to enable the first micro-electro mechanical module to transmit the wireless signal;

generate flow monitoring data based on the second micro-electro mechanical module receiving the representation of the wireless signal;

generate the outbound data based on the flow monitoring data.

4. The bio-medical unit of claim 3, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

calculating, as the flow monitoring data, a fluid flow rate based on at least one of phase shifting and frequency shifting between the transmitting of the wireless signal and the receiving of the representation of the wireless signal.

5. The bio-medical unit of claim 3, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

gathering, as the flow monitoring data, at least one of phase shifting data or frequency shifting data based on the transmitting of the wireless signal and the receiving of the representation of the wireless signal.

6. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises at least one of:

an ultrasound signal;

a radio frequency signal; and

a millimeter wave signal.

7. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic source signal;

a first micro-electro mechanical module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the first micro-electro mechanical module transmits a wireless signal; and

a second micro-electro mechanical module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the second micro-electro mechanical module receives a representation of the wireless signal, wherein the bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body, wherein, when implanted, the bio-medical unit is positioned proximal to obtain an image of a body object in the host body based on the transmitting and receiving of the representation of the wireless signal.

8. The bio-medical unit of claim 7 further comprises:

a communication module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the communication module is operable to;

convert an inbound wireless communication into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless communication;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the processing module is operable to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream;

generate a control signal based on the inbound data;

send the control signal to the first micro-electro mechanical module to enable the first micro-electro mechanical module to transmit the wireless signal;

generate imaging data based on the second micro-electro mechanical module receiving the representation of the wireless signal;

generate the outbound data based on the imaging data.

9. The bio-medical unit of claim 8, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

calculating, as the image data, an image of the body object based on at least one of absorption of the wireless signal by the body object and vibration of the body object.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 8, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

gathering, as the image data, at least one of absorption of the wireless signal by the body object and vibration of the body object.

11. The bio-medical unit of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal comprises at least one of:

an ultrasound signal;

a radio frequency signal; and

a millimeter wave signal.

12. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic source signal; and

a micro-electro mechanical module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the second micro-electro mechanical module receives a representation of a wireless signal, wherein the bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body, wherein, when implanted, the bio-medical unit is positioned proximal to obtain an image of a body object in the host body based on the receiving of the representation of the wireless signal or to monitor fluid flow in the host body based on the receiving of the wireless signal.

13. The bio-medical unit of claim 12 further comprises:

a communication module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the communication module is operable to;

convert an inbound wireless communication into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless communication;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the processing module is operable to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream;

generate at least one of;

imaging data based on the micro-electro mechanical module receiving the representation of the wireless signal;

flow monitoring data based on the micro-electro mechanical module receiving the wireless signal; and

generate the outbound data based on the imaging data or the flow monitoring data.

14. The bio-medical unit of claim 13, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

calculating, as the image data, an image of the body object based on at least one of absorption of the wireless signal by the body object and vibration of the body object.

15. The bio-medical unit of claim 13, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

gathering, as the image data, at least one of absorption of the wireless signal by the body object and vibration of the body object.

16. The bio-medical unit of claim 13, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

calculating, as the flow monitoring data, a fluid flow rate based on at least one of phase shifting and frequency shifting between the transmitting of the wireless signal and the receiving of the representation of the wireless signal.

17. The bio-medical unit of claim 13, wherein the processing module generating the flow monitoring data further comprises:

gathering, as the flow monitoring data, at least one of phase shifting data or frequency shifting data based on the transmitting of the wireless signal and the receiving of the representation of the wireless signal.

18. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal comprises at least one of:

an ultrasound signal;

a radio frequency signal; and

a millimeter wave signal.

19. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic source signal; and

a first micro-electro mechanical module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the first micro-electro mechanical module transmits a wireless signal, wherein the bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body, wherein, when implanted, the bio-medical unit is positioned to transmit the wireless signal at a body object in the host body to obtain imaging data of the body object or to transmit the wireless signal for monitoring fluid flow in the host body.

20. The bio-medical unit of claim 19 further comprises:

a communication module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the communication module is operable to;

convert an inbound wireless communication into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless communication;

a processing module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the processing module is operable to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream;

generate a control signal based on the inbound data; and

send the control signal to the micro-electro mechanical module to enable the micro-electro mechanical module to transmit the wireless signal.

21. The bio-medical unit of claim 19, wherein the wireless signal comprises at least one of:

an ultrasound signal;

a radio frequency signal; and

a millimeter wave signal.