PLACEABLE SENSOR AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20150150493A1
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Original Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Inventors: SHACHAM-DIAMAND, Yosi, RAGONES, Heftsi, FREEMAN, Amihay, SCHREIBER, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,016,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/286 Power or signal connectors associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/327 Biochemical electrodes , e.g. electrical or mechanical details for in vitro measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A sensor system is disclosed. The system comprises: a solid substrate having a front side and a back side, a sensing assembly formed on the front side and being configured to provide electrochemical sensing, a plurality of electrical contacts, formed on the back side and being in electrical communication with the sensing assembly via a plurality of interconnects passing through the substrate and extending at least from the front side to the back side, and a mounting member configured for mounting the back side onto a tip of a movable device.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

a solid substrate having a front side and a back side;

a sensing assembly formed on said front side and being configured to provide electrochemical sensing;

a plurality of electrical contacts, formed on said back side and being in electrical communication with said sensing assembly via a plurality of interconnects passing through said substrate and extending at least from said front side to said back side; and

a mounting member configured for mounting said back side onto a tip of a movable device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is a hand-held device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is a movable arm of a robot.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is an internal medical tool selected from the group consisting of an endoscope, a laparoscope and a cannula, and wherein said substrate is adapted for being introduced into the body of a mammal via endoscopic procedure.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable device is an external medical tool.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is sizewise comparable with said tip.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said electrochemical sensing assembly comprises at least a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said front side is non-adhesive to tissue.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electrochemical sensing assembly comprises at least a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said interconnects have a shape selected from the group consisting of a generally conical shape, a generally cylindrical shape, and an hourglass shape.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said interconnects have a shape selected from the group consisting of a generally conical shape, a generally cylindrical shape, and an hourglass shape.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is flexible.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising said movable device.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises an adhesive.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises a housing configured to receive said substrate at a front side of said housing and said movable device at a back side of said housing.

16. A method, comprising providing a movable device and mounting the sensor system according to claim 1, on said hand-held device using said mounting member.

17. A method of sensing a target substance, comprising contacting the target substance with the system according to claim 1, and receiving signals from said plurality of electrical contacts, thereby sensing the target substance.

18. A method of sensing a target substance, comprising maintaining a surface substantially at rest, placing a sensing assembly on said surface, and operating said sensing assembly for determining presence, absence or level of the target substance on said surface;

wherein said sensing assembly is formed on a front side of a solid substrate and being configured to provide electrochemical sensing; and

wherein said operating said sensing assembly comprises receiving electrical signals from a plurality of electrical contacts formed on a back side of said substrate and being in electrical communication with said sensing assembly via a plurality of interconnects passing through said substrate and extending at least from said front side to said back side.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said placing said sensing assembly on said surface, comprising approaching said surface from above.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said placing said sensing assembly on said surface, comprising approaching said surface from the side.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said surface is a skin surface of a living body.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said surface is a surface of an internal organ of a living body, and wherein said placing is executed endoscopically or laparoscopically.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said placing is executed in vitro.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein said surface is a surface of a sample in a well of a multi-well plate, and wherein said placing comprising inserting said sensing assembly into said well from above.

25. A sensor system, comprising:

a movable device having a handle and a tip;

a solid substrate, mounted on said tip and having a front side and a back side;

a sensing assembly formed on said front side and being configured to provide electrochemical, electrobiochemical, pressure or electrical sensing; and

at least one electrical contact, formed on said back side and being in electrical communication with said sensing assembly via at least one interconnect passing through said substrate and extending at least from said front side to said back side.