IMPLANTABLE BIO-MEDICAL UNIT WITH ELECTRO-MECHANICAL FUNCTION

• US 20110077623A1
• Filed: 05/20/2010
• 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:
  US12/783,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• 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, a communication module, a processing module, and a micro electro-mechanical functional module. The power harvesting module converts a power source signal into a supply voltage that powers the other modules. The communication module converts inbound wireless communication signal into an inbound symbol stream and converts an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless communication signal. The processing module converts the inbound symbol stream into inbound data; generates a command message based on the inbound data; and converts an electro-mechanical response into the outbound symbol stream. The micro electro-mechanical functional module performs an electro-mechanical function within a hosting body in accordance with the command message and, when requested per the command message, generates the electro-mechanical response based on the performing the electro-mechanical function.

Claims

1. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to;

receive a power source signal; and

convert the power source signal into a supply voltage;

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

receive an inbound wireless communication signal;

convert the inbound wireless communication signal into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless communication signal; and

transmit the outbound wireless communication signal;

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

convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

generate a command message based on the inbound data; and

convert an electro-mechanical response into the outbound symbol stream; and

a micro electro-mechanical functional module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the micro electro-mechanical functional module is operable to;

receive the command message;

perform an electro-mechanical function within a hosting body in accordance with the command message; and

when requested per the command message, generate the electro-mechanical response based on the performing the electro-mechanical function.

2. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the power source signal comprises at least one of:

an electromagnetic signal;

a radio frequency signal;

a millimeter wave signal;

an ultrasound signal; and

a light signal.

3. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein each of the inbound and outbound wireless communication signals comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency communication signal;

a millimeter wave communication signal; and

an electromagnetic communication signal.

4. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, electro-mechanical function module comprises at least one of:

a motion propulsion module;

a transducer module;

a flow meter module;

a gyroscope module;

an accelerometer module;

an electrostatic motor module; and

an actuator module.

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

the processing module is further operable to generate a capture digital image command as the command message;

the micro electro-mechanical functional module is further operable to;

receive the capture digital image command;

capture a digital image as the electro-mechanical function in response to the digital image command; and

send the digital image to the processing module; and

the processing module is further operable to convert the digital image into the outbound symbol stream.

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

the processing module is further operable to generate a collect a biological sample command as the command message;

the micro electro-mechanical functional module is further operable to;

receive the collect the biological sample command;

collect a sample of biological material as the electro-mechanical function in response to the collect the biological sample command to produce a collected sample;

analyze the collected sample to produce a sample analysis; and

send the sample analysis to the processing module; and

the processing module is further operable to convert the sample analysis into the outbound symbol stream.

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

the processing module is further operable to generate an administer treatment command as the command message; and

the micro electro-mechanical functional module is further operable to;

receive the administer treatment command;

administer a treatment as the electro-mechanical function in response to the administer treatment command, wherein the treatment is one of applying laser treatment, applying ultrasound treatment, grasping, sawing, drilling, and providing an electronic stimulus.

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

the processing module is further operable to generate a release medication command as the command message; and

the micro electro-mechanical functional module is further operable to;

receive the release medication command;

release an amount of medication as the electro-mechanical function in accordance with the release medication command.

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

the processing module is further operable to generate a produce high voltage stimuli command as the command message; and

the micro electro-mechanical functional module is further operable to;

receive the high voltage stimuli command;

in response to the high voltage stimuli command;

establish a common ground with another bio-medical unit; and

produce a high voltage in accordance with the high voltage stimuli command.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the micro electro-mechanical function module comprises:

a canister module for storing a fluid;

a fluid route control module coupled to the canister module;

an external contact module coupled to the fluid route control module, wherein the fluid route control module controls flow of fluid between the canister module and the external contact module.

11. The bio-medical unit of claim 10 further comprises:

the fluid route control module including at least one of a value module and a pump module; and

the external contact module including at least one of a needle module and a delivery tube.

12. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the micro electro-mechanical function module comprises:

a first receptacle module to receive a first medication ingredient from a first other bio-medical unit;

a second receptacle module to receive a second medication ingredient from a second other bio-medical unit; and

a mixing and release module operable to;

mix the first and second medication ingredients to produce a mixed medication; and

release the mixed medication in accordance with the command message.

13. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to;

receive a power source signal; and

convert the power source signal into a supply voltage;

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

receive an inbound wireless communication signal;

convert the inbound wireless communication signal into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless communication signal; and

transmit the outbound wireless communication signal;

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

convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data;

generate a command message based on the inbound data; and

convert an electro-mechanical response into the outbound symbol stream; and

a canister module for storing a medication ingredient; and

a release module mechanically coupled to the canister module, wherein the release module is operable to;

receive the command message;

retrieve a specified amount of the medication ingredient from the canister module in accordance with the command message; and

release the medication ingredient into a hosting body in accordance with the command message.

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

a second canister module for storing a second medication ingredient, wherein the release module is further operable to;

retrieve a specified amount of the second medication ingredient from the second canister module in accordance with the command message;

mix the medication ingredient with the second medication ingredient to produce a mixed medication; and

release the mixed medication into the hosting body in accordance with the command message.

15. The bio-medical unit of claim 13, wherein the canister module further comprises:

a refill mechanism to receive the medication ingredient from another bio-medical unit or for a source external to the hosting body.

16. A network of bio-medical units comprises:

a first bio-medical unit that includes;

a first power harvesting module to generate a first supply voltage from an external power source signal;

a first communication module that is powered by the first supply voltage and supports in-body wireless communications and out-of-body wireless communications; and

a first functional module that is powered by the first supply voltage and performs a first function; and

a second bio-medical unit that includes;

a second power harvesting module to generate a second supply voltage from the external power source signal;

a second communication module that is powered by the second supply voltage and supports the in-body wireless communications and the out-of-body wireless communications; and

a second functional module that is powered by the second supply voltage and performs a second function in concert with the first function within a hosting body.

17. The network of bio-medical units of claim 16 further comprises:

the first function including generating a first voltage; and

the second function including generating a second voltage, wherein the first and second voltages provide an electrical stimulation within the hosting body.

18. The network of bio-medical units of claim 16 further comprises:

a third bio-medical unit that includes;

a third power harvesting module to generate a third supply voltage from the external power source signal;

a third communication module that is powered by the third supply voltage and supports the in-body wireless communications and the out-of-body wireless communications; and

a processing module operable to generate a command that is transmitted as one of the in-body wireless communications, wherein the command coordinates performance of at least one of the first and second functions.

19. The network of bio-medical units of claim 16 further comprises:

the first function including transferring a medication ingredient; and

the second function including receiving the medication ingredient.