Implantable Capacitive Pressure Sensor Apparatus and Methods Regarding Same
First Claim
1. An implantable capacitive pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
- a first pressure sensor portion comprising a diaphragm electrode connectable to ground, wherein the diaphragm electrode is positioned in close proximity to the body when implanted therein such that the diaphragm electrode is deformable in response to pressure applied thereto by the body; and
a second pressure sensor portion comprising;
a signal electrode, wherein the first pressure sensor portion and the second pressure sensor portion provide a gap between the diaphragm electrode and the signal electrode, andan insulator material, wherein the signal electrode is provided on and in direct contact with the insulator material to electrically isolate the signal electrode such that parasitic capacitance effects on the signal electrode caused by electrical activity in the body when the pressure sensor apparatus is implanted therein are reduced, and further wherein the diaphragm electrode is grounded when the implantable pressure sensor apparatus is implanted in the body to shield the signal electrode from electrical activity in the body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable capacitive pressure sensor apparatus and method for making such an apparatus includes a first pressure sensor portion and a second pressure sensor portion. The first pressure sensor portion includes a diaphragm electrode connectable to ground (e.g., the diaphragm electrode being positioned in close proximity to the body when implanted therein such that the diaphragm electrode is deformable in response to pressure applied thereto by the body). The second pressure sensor portion includes a signal electrode (e.g., wherein the first pressure sensor portion and the second pressure sensor portion are coupled such that a gap is provided between the diaphragm electrode and the signal electrode) and an insulator material. The signal electrode is provided on and in direct contact with the insulator material to electrically isolate the signal electrode such that parasitic capacitance effects on the signal electrode are reduced.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An implantable capacitive pressure sensor apparatus, comprising:
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a first pressure sensor portion comprising a diaphragm electrode connectable to ground, wherein the diaphragm electrode is positioned in close proximity to the body when implanted therein such that the diaphragm electrode is deformable in response to pressure applied thereto by the body; and a second pressure sensor portion comprising; a signal electrode, wherein the first pressure sensor portion and the second pressure sensor portion provide a gap between the diaphragm electrode and the signal electrode, and an insulator material, wherein the signal electrode is provided on and in direct contact with the insulator material to electrically isolate the signal electrode such that parasitic capacitance effects on the signal electrode caused by electrical activity in the body when the pressure sensor apparatus is implanted therein are reduced, and further wherein the diaphragm electrode is grounded when the implantable pressure sensor apparatus is implanted in the body to shield the signal electrode from electrical activity in the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of making an implantable capacitive pressure sensor apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing a first pressure sensor portion comprising a diaphragm electrode connectable to ground, wherein the diaphragm electrode is positioned in close proximity to the body when implanted therein such that the diaphragm is deformable in response to pressure applied thereto by the body; and providing a second pressure sensor portion comprising a signal electrode relative to the first pressure sensor portion to provide a gap between the diaphragm electrode and the signal electrode, wherein the second pressure sensor portion further comprises an insulator material, wherein the signal electrode is provided on and in direct contact with the insulator material to electrically isolate the signal electrode such that parasitic capacitance effects on the signal electrode caused by electrical activity in the body when the pressure sensor apparatus is implanted therein are reduced, and further wherein the diaphragm electrode is grounded when the implantable pressure sensor apparatus is implanted in the body to shield the signal electrode from electrical activity in the body. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification