IMPLANTATION AND ANTENNA ORIENTATION OF AN IMPLANTABLE SENSOR

• US 20140275859A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated (Senseonics Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated (Senseonics Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tankiewicz, Szymon, Whitehurst, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 10,206,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/40 characterised by components specially adapted for near-field transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils

Abstract

A sensor system including an implantable sensor and an external transceiver. Aspects of the sensor system may provide improved implantation and antenna orientation of the implanted sensor. The sensor may include a sensor antenna, the transceiver may include a transceiver antenna. In some embodiments, the sensor antenna and/or transceiver antenna may include a first set of coils oriented in a first plane and a second set of coils oriented in a second plane that is different than the first plane. In some embodiments, the sensor may have a geometry that will prevent or reduce movement and/or rotation of the implanted sensor. For instance, in some embodiments, the sensor may be enclosed in silicon that contains antenna coils and/or include wings, a fluid filled sack, a swelling material, an expansion material, and/or arms.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor including a sensor antenna; and

a transceiver including a transceiver antenna including a first set of coils and a second set of coils,

wherein the first and second set of coils of the transceiver antenna are configured to couple with the sensor antenna, the first set of coils is oriented in a first plane, and the second set of coils is oriented in a second plane different than the first plane.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises a controller configured to determine a strength of connection between the sensor antenna and the first set of coils and between the sensor antenna and the second set of coils, and the controller activates the set of coils with the strongest connection to the sensor antenna.

3. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver antenna further includes a third set of coils, and the third set of coils is oriented in a third plane different than the first plane and the second plane.

4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the second plane is approximately orthogonal to the first plane.

5. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor antenna includes a first set of sensor coils and a second set of sensor coils, and the first set of sensor coils is oriented in a first sensor plane and the second set of sensor coils is oriented in a second sensor plane different than the first sensor plane.

6. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor further includes a controller configured to determine a strength of connection between the first set of sensor coils and the transceiver antenna and between the second set of sensor coils and the transceiver antenna, and the controller activates the set of sensor coils with the strongest connection to the transceiver antenna.

7. A sensor system, comprising:

a transceiver including at least one transceiver antenna; and

a sensor including at least one sensor antenna and a body, wherein said body is configured to expand after implantation to immobilize the sensor.

8. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein the body of the sensor is composed of memory metal configured to transform from a first shape to a second shape.

9. The sensor system of claim 8, wherein the first shape includes an approximately circular cross section and the second shape includes an approximately flat cross section.

10. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein the body includes a substance configured to expand in response to a stimulus.

11. The sensor system of claim 10, wherein the stimulus is water.

12. The sensor system of claim 10, wherein the substance is acrylic acid.

13. The sensor system of claim 10, wherein the stimulus is temperature.

14. The sensor system of claim 10, wherein the substance is a liquid at room temperature and a gas at body temperature.

15. The sensor system of claim 10, wherein the substance is 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutane.

16. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes a first substance and a second substance that expand when mixed together.

17. The sensor system of claim 16, wherein the sensor includes a removable barrier separating the first and second substances.

18. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein the body includes a first wing, a second wing and a removable seal coupled to an end of the first wing and an end of the second wing in a first orientation with an approximately circular cross section, and, upon removal of the removable seal, the first wing and second wing transform to a second orientation with an approximately flat cross section.

19. A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor including a sensor antenna having a first set of coils and a second set of coils; and

a transceiver including a transceiver antenna,

wherein the first and second set of coils of the sensor antenna are configured to couple with the transceiver antenna, the first set of coils is oriented in a first plane, and the second set of coils is oriented in a second plane different than the first plane.

20. A sensor comprising:

a body including indicator molecules,

an antenna outside the body, and

a casing surrounding the body and antenna.

21. The sensor of claim 20, wherein the casing has an oblong shape.

22. The sensor of claim 20, wherein the casing has a flat, round shape.

23. The sensor of claim 20, wherein the casing comprises a polymer material.