PRESSURE SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 3,853,117 A
• Filed: 05/15/1972
• Issued: 12/10/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William C. Murr
• Original Assignee: William C. Murr
• Inventors: Murr, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/253,058
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5Z,2.5D,2.5E,2P,2V 73/67.2,398R
• US Class Current: 600/438
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue

Abstract

A pressure sensing system for measuring fluid pressure of a living body employs a resonant sonic transponder implanted inside the living body. The resonant frequency of the transponder is a function of the fluid pressure impinging on the transponder. A sound signal is directed from the exterior of the body to the transponder, causing the transponder to emit a resonance signal. The resonance signal is received at the exterior of the body and converted to fluid pressure data.

Claims

1. A system for determining the pressure within a pressured body comprising transducer means adapted to be placed on the exterior of said body to direct an interrogating sonic signal into said body;

passive sonic transponder means adapted to be implanted within said body having a mechanical and sonic resonant frequency varied by said pressure within said body, said transponder means being caused to resonate by receiving said interrogating sonic signal and emitting a different sonic resonance signal;

sonic receiver means adapted to be placed on the exterior of said body to receive said sonic resonance signal; and

output means connected to said sonic receiver means to convert said sonic resonance signal to data related to said pressure within said pressured body.

2. A method for determining the pressure within a pressured body comprising the steps of implanting a sonic transponder within said pressured body, said transponder having a mechanical and sonic resonance frequency varying with said pressure;

directing an interrogating sonic signal at said transponder, causing said transponder to resonate and emit a sonic resonance signal;

receiving said sonic resonance signal outside said body; and

converting the frequency of said sonic resonance signal to data related to said pressure within said pressured body.