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Audio-telemetric pressure sensing systems and methods

  • US 4,378,809 A
  • Filed: 06/19/1980
  • Issued: 04/05/1983
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1978
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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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