BIO-CHIPS AND NANO-BIOCHIPS

• US 20130345525A1
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kline, Eric V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,320,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• 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 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• 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 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/085 for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

A biochip and nanochip device, or a system of biochips, providing diagnostic testing, sensing and therapeutic functionality useful in diagnosis and treatment of a variety of physiological maladies.

Claims

1. A biocompatible microchip for diagnosis or monitoring of a medical condition in a subject, the microchip comprising:

a housing including a biocompatible coating or covering,

a first semiconductor substrate situated in said housing upon which is located one or more sensor devices for sensing conditions and providing measurements within said subject;

a second semiconductor substrate situated in said housing including a programmed control unit and an associated memory block configured for controlling operations on said microchip in response to received external command or a sensed condition within said subject;

a communications sub-system situated in said housing including one or more communications devices for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a communications receiver device external to said subject;

a plurality of storage vessels for storing therapeutic or diagnostic materials; and

an output fluid connector partially housed in said housing in fluid communication with said one or more said storage vessels for outputting said therapeutic or diagnostic materials under control of said programmed control unit.

2. The biocompatible microchip as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an input fluid connector partially housed in said housing and under programmed control for obtaining one or more biological samples from the subject, wherein one or more of said plurality of storage vessels provide a reactant for reaction with a received biological sample in a reactant chamber located within said housing; and

,

said programmed controller causing a sensor device to sense a resulting condition of said reacted biological sample in said reactant chamber resulting according to said reaction.

3. The biocompatible microchip as claimed in claim 2, wherein said programmed controller initiating a reacted biological sample is output to said subject via said output fluid connector.

4. The biocompatible microchip as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a power source located within said housing for powering said communications sub-system and said programmed control unit.

5. The biocompatible microchip as claimed in claim 4 further comprising:

a radiofrequency antenna operatively connecting said receiver and transmitter of said communications sub-system for receiving communicated control signals for controlling sensing and reacting operations within said housing.

6. The biocompatible microchip as claimed in claim 4 wherein said power source comprises a battery.

7. The biocompatible microchip as claimed in claim 5 wherein said transmitter device of said communications sub-system is adapted to communicate signals from sensor measurements to an external receiving device, or, communicate control signals from said controller unit to a further communications receiver device located within the subject.

8. The biocompatible microchip of claim 1, wherein the microchip is implanted into a fixed position within the subject.

9. The biocompatible microchip of claim 1, wherein the microchip is mobile within the subject.

10. The biocompatible microchip of claim 8, further adapted to operate in conjunction with one or more additional microchips implanted into a fixed position within the subject.

11. The biocompatible microchip of claim 8, wherein the microchip is coordinated to operate in conjunction with one or more additional mobile microchips within the subject.

12. The biocompatible microchip of claim 4, wherein the microchip is powered by a battery within the microchip.

13. The biocompatible microchip of claim 1, wherein said first semiconductor substrate further includes a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) operative under programmed control for providing a reaction with a biological sample.

14. The biocompatible microchip of claim 1, wherein said communications subsystem communicates according to a wireless IEEE 802.x communications protocol.

15. The biocompatible microchip of claim 1, wherein said communications subsystem includes an ultrasonic frequency receiver and transmitter for receiving and sending ultrasonic signals for reaction with biological structures internal said subject.

16. The biocompatible microchip of claim 4, wherein said power source of the microchip provides power to said microchip via inductive or radiofrequency coupling.

17. The biocompatible microchip of claim 1, wherein the medical condition is kidney disease, liver dysfunction, pancreatitis, thyroid diseases, insulin resistance, paralysis due to severed or dysfunctional neurological pathways, and brain biochemical imbalances.

19. The nanochip of claim 16 having a length, width and height dimension of less than 5 μ

m.

20. The nanochip of claim 19, wherein the nanochip is implanted into a fixed position within the subject.

21. The nanochip of claim 19, wherein the microchip is mobile within the subject.

22. The nanochip of claim 19, wherein the nanochip is coordinated to operate in conjunction with one or more additional nanochips implanted into a fixed position within the subject.

23. The nanochip of claim 19, wherein the nanochip is coordinated to operate in conjunction with one or more additional mobile nanochips within the subject.

24. The nanochip of claim 19, wherein the nanochip is powered by inductive or radiofrequency coupling.

25. The nanochip of claim 19, wherein the medical condition is kidney disease, liver dysfunction, pancreatitis, thyroid diseases, insulin resistance, paralysis due to severed or dysfunctional neurological pathways, and brain biochemical imbalances.

18. A biocompatible nanochip for treatment of a medical condition in a subject, the microchip comprising:

a semiconductor substrate upon which is located;

one or more sensor devices for sensing conditions and providing measurements within said subject,

a programmed control unit and an associated memory block configured for controlling operations on said nanochip in response to received external command or a sensed condition within said subject; and

,

a communications sub-system including one or more communications devices for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a communications receiver device external to said subject;

a power source for powering said communications sub-system and said programmed control unit; and

,

an external biocompatible coating or covering for said semiconductor substrate.