External magnetic detection of physiopathological and other parameters
First Claim
1. The method of transmitting from within the body information regarding an internal parameter, comprising the steps ofsurgically implanting a device containing means for generating a magnetic field having a spatial orientation with respect to said device that is influenced by changes in said parameter, andusing an external detection element to detect the spatial orientation of said field with respect to said device, to thereby detect said changes in said parameter.
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Abstract
A technique for transmitting from within the body information concerning an internal parameter (e.g., a measurement of a physiopathological parameter or a parameter generated by an implanted pacemaker), without physical connections to the implanted device, without an externally applied or internally generated electromagnetic field, and without implantation of radioactive material. The implanted device generates a magnetic field having an orientation influenced by changes in the internal parameter. The field is generated by one or more permanent magnets in the implanted device. The orientation of the field is detected externally using a viewer that provides a display indicative of the orientation. The display may provide an image of the magnetic field (e.g., a compass needle or magnetometer) that aligns itself with the field in a known manner. The magnetic field can be generated by a rotatable element on which are carried one or more permanent magnets (e.g., a disk of a magnetic alloy such as samarium cobalt on which has been impressed one or more magnetic regions). In some embodiments the image seen in the viewer is in the form of a pointer (e.g., an arrow) and is provided by implanted magnets that have a north/south boundary of the same shape. If the internal parameter is a fluid pressure, the implanted device may include a diaphragm manometer with a rotatable drum (e.g., rotated by levers connected to the diaphragm and arranged to pull a thread wrapped around the drum) on which is mounted the previously mentioned disk with impressed magnetic regions.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. The method of transmitting from within the body information regarding an internal parameter, comprising the steps of
surgically implanting a device containing means for generating a magnetic field having a spatial orientation with respect to said device that is influenced by changes in said parameter, and using an external detection element to detect the spatial orientation of said field with respect to said device, to thereby detect said changes in said parameter.
- 31. A surgically-implantable device for use as part of apparatus for transmitting from within the body information regarding an internal parameter, said device containing means for generating a magnetic field having a spatial orientation with respect to said device that is influenced by changes in said parameter, said means and device being adapted so that changes in the spatial orientation of said magnetic field with respect to said device are detectable outside of the body.
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32. Apparatus for transmitting from within the body information regarding an internal parameter, comprising
a surgically-implantable device containing means for generating a magnetic field having a spatial orientation with respect to said device that is influenced by changes in said parameter, said means and device being adapted so that changes in the spatial orientation of said magnetic field with respect to said device are detectable outside of the body, and detection apparatus comprising a detection element with means for detecting the spatial orientation of said magnetic field with respect to said device after said device has been surgically implanted.
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35. The apparatus 33 wherein said parameter is the pressure difference across a cerebrospinal fluid shunt valve and wherein said implantion is a manometer connected in parallel with an implantion device said shunt valve.
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57. The method of measuring cerebrospinal fluid pressure comprising the steps of
implanting a shunt valve in a conduit connecting the cerebral ventricle to a drainage site, and implanting a manometer with first and second pressure ports connected in parallel with said shunt valve so that said first pressure port of said manometer is connected upstream of said valve and said second pressure port is connected downstream of said valve, thereby providing that said manometer measures the pressure difference across said valve.
Specification