Audio-telemetric pressure sensing systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method for detecting an in-vivo differential pressure, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) implanting beneath the skin in a living body a differential pressure sensor comprising;
(1) a flexible-diaphragm means having a first side and a second side, the differential pressure sensor being so adapted that when implanted in the living body the first side of the flexible diaphragm means is in mechanical pressure communication with a first bodily medium and the second side of said flexible diaphragm means is in mechanical pressure communication with a second bodily medium, so that changes in the difference in the pressures in said two bodily regions will cause movement of said flexible diaphragm means;
(2) means located within said differential pressure sensor and at least in part cooperatively connected to said flexible diaphragm means having a detectable characteristic response to movement of said flexible diaphragm means, said detectable characteristic response being detectable by external detection apparatus which is located outside the living body, said external detection apparatus being so adapted to convert said detectable characteristic response to an audible acoustic signal that is an audible representation of the changes in the difference in pressures on said two sides of said flexible diaphragm means;
(b) detecting said audible acoustic signal in order to detect variations in the difference in said two pressures on said flexible diaphragm means and;
(c) applying an external pressure on the skin above said implanted sensor with a controllable pressure source while detecting said audible audio signal, and varying said external pressure on the skin until said audible audio response indicates that said diaphragm means is at a stop position, at which point the value of said external pressure is in a known pressure relationship to said internal bodily pressure to be measured.
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Abstract
A differential pressure sensing device is fully implanted beneath the skin in the living body such that its pressure responsive means, such as a diaphragm means, senses the difference in pressure between an internal bodily pressure and the pressure on the skin which is just above the sensor. The sensor has a stop, or a mechanical contact means, for the diaphragm means so that the diaphragm will be pressed against the stop when an externally applied pressure on the skin equals or exceeds the internal pressure. The sensor also has a means with a detectable parameter that can be detected outside the body by external apparatus. The external apparatus also converts the parameter to an audible sound or audio signal. The parameter has a specific response when the diaphragm is near the stop position, and this response can be heard via the audio signal. Thus by increasing the externally applied pressure to the skin above the sensor and listening for the characteristic audio signal corresponding to the diaphragm being at or near the stop position, one can determine the external pressure needed to balance the internal bodily pressure, and thus measure the latter.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for detecting an in-vivo differential pressure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) implanting beneath the skin in a living body a differential pressure sensor comprising; (1) a flexible-diaphragm means having a first side and a second side, the differential pressure sensor being so adapted that when implanted in the living body the first side of the flexible diaphragm means is in mechanical pressure communication with a first bodily medium and the second side of said flexible diaphragm means is in mechanical pressure communication with a second bodily medium, so that changes in the difference in the pressures in said two bodily regions will cause movement of said flexible diaphragm means; (2) means located within said differential pressure sensor and at least in part cooperatively connected to said flexible diaphragm means having a detectable characteristic response to movement of said flexible diaphragm means, said detectable characteristic response being detectable by external detection apparatus which is located outside the living body, said external detection apparatus being so adapted to convert said detectable characteristic response to an audible acoustic signal that is an audible representation of the changes in the difference in pressures on said two sides of said flexible diaphragm means; (b) detecting said audible acoustic signal in order to detect variations in the difference in said two pressures on said flexible diaphragm means and; (c) applying an external pressure on the skin above said implanted sensor with a controllable pressure source while detecting said audible audio signal, and varying said external pressure on the skin until said audible audio response indicates that said diaphragm means is at a stop position, at which point the value of said external pressure is in a known pressure relationship to said internal bodily pressure to be measured. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for measuring an in-vivo pressure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) implanting in a living body a differential pressure sensor comprising; (1) a flexible diaphragm means having a first and a second side, said differential pressure sensor being so adapted that when implanted beneath the skin in the living body said first side of said flexible diaphragm means is in mechanical pressure communication with a bodily medium the pressure of which is to be measured and said second side of said flexible diaphragm means is in mechanical pressure communication with an interior portion of the skin, so that changes in the difference in pressure on said two sides of said diaphragm will cause movement of said diaphragm means; (2) stop means located within said sensor for stopping the movement of said diaphragm means, said stop means thereby defining a stop position of said diaphragm means when the pressure on said second side of said diaphragm means is in a known pressure relationship with respect to the pressure on the first side of said diaphragm means; (3) means located within said sensor and at least in part cooperatively connected to said diaphragm means having a detectable characteristic response to movement of said diaphragm means; (b) detecting by means of external detection apparatus located outside the living body, said detectable characteristic response and converting said response to an audible audio signal, whereby said audible audio signal provides an indication that said diaphragm means is at said stop position; (c) applying an external pressure on the skin above said implanted sensor with a controllable pressure source while detecting said audible audio signal, and varying said external pressure until said audible audio response indicates that said diaphragm means is at said stop position, at which point the value of said external pressure is in said known pressure relationship to said internal bodily pressure to be measured. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification