Pressure-balanced telemetric pressure sensing system and method therefore

• US 4,653,508 A
• Filed: 01/23/1981
• Issued: 03/31/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Integra Lifesciences Corporation (Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eric R. Cosman
• Inventors: Cosman, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US06/227,900
• Time in Patent Office: 2,258 Days
• Field of Search: 128/748, 73/701, 73/715-722
• US Class Current: 600/561
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves

Abstract

A differential pressure sensing device is fully implanted in the body of a patient to monitor internal pressure such as intracranial pressure. A movable element in the sensor communicates on one side with the internal pressure to be measured and on the other side with an external pressure which is applied by an external pressurizer-control system and which is communicated to the sensor through the intact skin. An imbalance of the two opposing pressures causes a displacement of the movable element which changes a physical characteristic of the sensor, such as the resonant frequency of a tuned L-C circuit. This change is detected outside the body by an external detection system, such as a frequency swept radio frequency oscillator. The external pressure is varied until the external detector senses that the pressures are balanced on the movable element, at which point the external pressure equals the internal pressure, and the former is measured and read out.

Claims

1. A differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation beneath the skin in the living body and for in vivo calibration after implantation, said sensor comprising:

a. a housing having means defining an opening, extending therethrough;

b. a first flexible diaphragm extending across the housing opening and being secured with respect to said housing, at least a portion of said first flexible diaphragm defining a portion of the exterior surface of said sensor and being positioned so that after implantation beneath the skin said portion of said first flexible diaphragm is in mechanical pressure communication with the skin and whereby pressurs external to the body can be communicated mechanically across the intact skin to said first flexible diaphragm;

c. a second flexible diaphragm extending across the housing opening and being secured with respect to said housing, said diaphragms and opening defining means defining a chamber within said sensor and the side of said second flexible diaphragm that is external to said chamber being positioned to be in contact with and in mechanical pressure communication with a bodily medium, the pressure of which is to be sensed when said sensor is implanted in the living body;

d. solid coupling means located within said chamber and secured to both of said flexible diaphragms for coupling the motion of one of said flexible diaphragms to the other of said flexible diaphragms so that, when said sensor is implanted in the living body, changes in the difference in pressures in said bodily medium and on said exterior portion of said first flexible diaphragm will cause motion of said flexible diaphragms and said solid coupling means;

e. contact means connected to said housing for contacting (i) at least one of said diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means thereby defining a mechanical contact reference position with respect to said housing of (i) at least one of said diaphragms or (ii) of said solid coupling means for a predetermined pressure relationship between said pressure in communication with said two flexible diaphragms when said sensor is implanted in the living body; and

,

f. means having a preselected, detectable parameter that is detectable by detection means located outside the living body, said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being at least in part cooperatively connected to and movable with at least one of said flexible diaphragms or said solid coupling means so that said preselected detectable parameter will change with movement of displacement of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) of said solid coupling means and the value of said preselected, detectable parameter can be detected at said mechanical contact reference position, said at least one flexible diaphragm or said solid coupling means and said means having a preselected detectable parameter being so constructed and cooperatively connected that the value of said preselected detectable parameter changes upon a change from said predetermined pressure relationship;

whereby, when said sensor is implanted beneath the skin, (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means can be driven to said mechanical contact reference position by a pressure external to the living body applied to the skin adjacent to said sensor, and said preselected detectable parameter can be determined at said mechanical contact reference position after implantation, and whereby the magnitude of the external pressure applied to the skin that is required to drive (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means to said mechanical contact reference position is a function of the pressure in said bodily medium.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said predetermined pressure relationship is the balance of said pressures.

3. The differential pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said means having a preselected detectable parameter comprises a resonant electrical circuit which includes a coil and a capacitor which are in part fixed relative to said housing and also comprises a tuning element for at least one of said coil or capacitor, said tuning element moving with said flexible diaphragms, whereby a characteristic response parameter of said resonant electrical circuit is changed by the movement of said tuning element and whereby said characteristic response parameter is detectable by electronic apparatus outside the living body.

4. The differential pressure sensor of claim 3 wherein said tuning element includes a magnetic material which is attached to at least one of said flexible diaphragms or said solid means and which moves upon movement of said diaphragms in such a way that the inductance of said coil is varied in accordance with the relative displacement of said magnetic material to said coil.

5. The differential pressure sensor of claim 4 wherein said coil is fixed with respect to said housing and wherein said mechanical contact reference position defining means defines a mechanical stop reference position of said magnetic material with respect to said coil.

6. The differential pressure sensor of claim 3 wherein the motion of said tuning element varies the capacitance of said capacitor in response to the movement of at least one of said diaphragms or of said solid coupling means and thereby changes the characteristic response parameter of said resonant circuit.

7. The differential pressure sensor of claim 3 wherein said resonant electrical circuit is a parallel resonant circuit and wherein said preselected, detectable parameter is the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit.

8. The differential pressure sensor of claim 3 further comprising first and second area electrodes electrically connected to said coil, third and fourth area electrodes positioned with respect to said first and second area electrodes, respectively, for capacitive coupling thereto, and means electrically connected to said third and fourth area electrodes for detecting said parameter and any variation therein.

9. The differential pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said preselected, detectable parameter means includes means for spring-loading at least one of said diaphragms, said spring-loading means having a known spring constant.

10. The differential pressure sensor of claim 1 further comprising means for detecting said preselected, detectable parameter and any variation therein.

11. The differential pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein said means solid for motion coupling said first and second diaphragms includes a rigid mechanical coupling between said diaphragms.

12. The differential pressure sensor of claim 11 wherein said first and second diaphragms have equal areas and said rigid mechanical coupling has symmetrical diaphragm contacting ends to provide end-for-end pressure symmetry.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are substantially planar flexible diaphragms.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are convoluted to achieve flexibility.

15. An in vivo pressure detecting system comprising:

a. a differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation in a living body, said sensor comprising;

(1) a housing having means defining an opening extending therethrough;

(2) flexible diaphragm means extending across said housing opening and being fluid pressure sealed with respect to said housing, said flexible diaphragm means communicating with pressures in two separate regions external to the sensor that are separated by the flexible diaphragm means with the pressure in one of the regions being an internal bodily pressure when the sensor is implanted in a living body;

(3) contact means connected to said housing for contacting said flexible diaphragm means thereby defining a mechanical contact reference position of said flexible diaphragm means with respect to said housing for a predetermined pressure relationship in said regions when said sensor is implanted in the living body; and

,

(4) means having a preselected, detectable parameter that is detectable by detection means located outside the living body, said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being at least in part cooperatively connected to and movable with said flexible diaphragm means so that said preselected detectable parameter will change with movement of said flexible diaphragm means and the value of said preselected detectable parameter can be detected at said mechanical contact reference position, said flexible diaphragm means and said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being so constructed and cooperatively connected that the value of said preselected detectable parameter changes upon a change from said predetermined pressure relationship;

whereby, when said sensor is implanted beneath the skin and flexible diaphragm means can be driven to said mechanical contact reference position by a pressure external to the living body applied to the skin adjacent to said sensor and said preselected detectable parameter can be determined at said mechanical contact reference position after implantation, and whereby the magnitude of the external pressure applied to the skin that is required to drive said flexible diaphragm means to said mechanical contact reference position is a function of the internal bodily pressure;

b. a controllable pressure source means external to the living body for establishing said predetermined pressure relationship and for applying and measuring the external pressure applied to the skin and,

c. means for detecting said sensor parameter and the value of the parameter at the reference position and any variation therefrom when said sensor is implated in a living being, said detecting means being located externally of the living body and without any connection to said sensor which requires a break in the skin of the living body.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of said controllable pressure source means and said sensor parameter detecting means comprise an integral unit.

17. The sensor of claim 15 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter comprises a scatterer of ultrasonic radiation which moves with said flexible diaphragms and wherein said means for detecting said sensor parameter comprises a source and detector of ultrasonic radiation, whereby the movement of said scatterer alters the characteristic of the scattered ultrasonic radiation from said source that can be detected by said detector.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said flexible diaphragm means is a substantially planar flexible diaphragm.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are convoluted to achieve flexibility.

20. An in vivo pressure detecting system comprising:

a. a differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation in a living body and in in vivo calibration after implantation, said sensor comprising;

(1) a housing having means defining an opening extending therethrough;

(2) a first flexible diaphragm extending across said housing opening and being secured with respect to said housing, at least a portion of said first flexible diaphragm defining a portion of the exterior surface of said sensor and being positioned so that after implantation beneath the skin said portion of said first flexible diaphragm is in mechanical pressure communication with the skin and whereby pressures external to the body can be communicated mechanically across the intact skin to said first flexible diaphragm;

(3) a second flexible diaphragm extending across the housing opening and being securd with respect to said housing, said flexible diaphragms and opening defining means defining a chamber within said sensor and the side of said second flexible diaphragm that is external to said chamber being positioned to be in contact with and in mechanical pressure communication with a bodily medium, the pressure of which is to be sensed when the sensor is implanted in a living body;

(4) solid coupling means located within said chamber and secured to both of said flexible diaphragms for coupling the motion of one of said flexible diaphragms to the other of said flexible diaphragms so that when said sensor is implanted in the living body, changes in the difference in pressures in said bodily medium and on said exterior portion of said first flexible diaphragm will cause motion of said flexible diaphragms and said solid coupling means;

(5) contact means connected to said housing for contacting (i) at least one of said diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means thereby defining a mechanical contact reference position with respect to said housing of (i) at least one of said diaphragms or (ii) of said solid coupling means for a predetermined pressure relationship between said pressures in communication with said two flexible diaphragms when said sensor is implanted in the living body;

(6) means having a preselected, detectable parameter that is detectable by detecting means located outside the living body, said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being at least in part cooperatively connected to and movable with at least one of said flexible diaphragms or said solid coupling means so that said preselected detectable parameter will change with movement of (i) at least one of said diaphragms or (ii) of said solid coupling means and the value of said preselected, detectable parameter can be detected at said mechanical contact reference position, said at least one flexible diaphragm or said solid coupling means and said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being so constructed and cooperatively connected that the value of said preselected, detectable parameter changes upon a change from said predetermined pressure relationship;

whereby said sensor is implanted beneath the skin, (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said incompressible means sensor can be driven to said mechanical contact reference position by a pressure external to the living body applied to the skin adjacent to said sensor, and said preselected detectable parameter can be determined at said mechanical contact reference position after implantation, and whereby the magnitude of the external pressure applied to the skin that is required to drive (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid means sensor to said mechanical cntact reference position is a function of the pressure in said bodily medium;

b. controllable pressure source means external to the living body adapted to apply and measure an external pressure to the intact skin adjacent to said sensor, and thereby transmitting said external pressure to said first flexible diaphragm for establishing said predetermined pressure relationship; and

,

c. means for detecting said preselected, detectable parameter and the value of the parameter at said mechanical contact reference position and any variation therefrom when said sensor is implanted in a living body, said detecting means being located externally of the living body and without any connection to said sensor which requires a break in the skin of the living body.

21. The pressure detecting system of claim 20 wherein one end of said pressure sensor comprises:

defines a fluid containing chamber, said first flexible diaphragm defines a flexible wall of said fluid containing chamber, said housing opening means comprises means for fluid pressure coupling the fluid containing chamber to said second flexible diaphragm;

said incompressible means comprises a fluid filling said fluid containing chamber;

whereby when said pressure sensor is implanted beneath the skin of the living body with said flexible chamber wall being in mechanical contact with the skin then said external pressure exerted on the skin in proximity to said flexible chamber wall is transmitted to said second diaphragm.

22. The pressure detecting system of claim 20 wherein the pressure source comprises:

a. means defining a fluid containing chamber having a flexible, substantially planar wall;

b. means for fluid pressure coupling the chamber to said first diaphragm;

c. a fluid filling the chamber;

said fluid containing chamber being located externally of the living body.

23. The pressure detecting system of claim 20 further comprising a catheter fluidly coupled to said second diaphragm to communicate thereto pressure of internal bodily fluids.

24. The pressure detection system of claim 20 further comprising a first catheter fluidly coupled to the second diaphragm, a shunt valve fluidly coupled at one end to said second diaphragm, and a second catheter fluidly coupled to the other end of said shunt valve whereby said sensor is adapted to be in series with and measures the pressure in a conduit of an internal bodily fluid.

25. The pressure detecting system of claim 20 wherein said means having a preselected variable parameter comprises a resonant electrical circuit which includes a coil and a capacitor.

26. The pressure detecting system of claim 25 wherein said means for motion coupling said diaphragms includes a magnetic material which moves upon movement of the diaphragms in such a way that the inductance of said coil is varied in accordance with the relative displacement of the magnetic material, to the coil.

27. The pressure detecting system of claim 26 wherein said coil is fixed with respect to said housing and wherein said reference position defining means defines a reference position of said magnetic material with respect to said coil.

28. The pressure detecting system of claim 25 further comprising means for varying the capacitance of said capacitor in response to the movement of at least one of said diaphragms or of said motion coupling means.

29. The pressure detecting system of claim 25 wherein said resonant electrical circuit is a parallel resonant circuit and wherein said variable parameter is the resonant frequency of the parallel resonant circuit.

30. The pressure detecting system of claim 25 further comprising first and second area electrodes electrically connected to said coil, third and fourth area electrodes positioned with respect to said first and second area electrodes, respectively, for capacitive coupling thereto, said third and fourth area electrodes being external to the living body and electrically connected to said means for detecting said parameter and any variation therein.

31. The pressure detecting system of claim 30 wherein said capacitor is external to the living body and is electrically connected to said third and fourth area electrodes.

32. The pressure detecting system of claim 30 wherein said coil is external to the living body and is electrically, connected to said third and fourth area electrodes.

33. The pressure detecting system of claim 20 wherein said means having a variable parameter includes means for spring-loading at least one of said diaphragms, said spring-loading means having a known spring constant.

34. The pressure detecting system of claim 20 further comprising means for detecting said parameter and any variation therein.

35. The pressure detecting system of claim 20 wherein said means for motion coupling said first and second diaphragms includes a rigid mechanical coupling between said diaphragms.

36. The pressure detecting system of claim 35 wherein said first and second diaphragms have equal areas and said rigid mechanical coupling has symmetrical diaphragm contacting ends to provided end-for-end pressure symmetry.

37. The system of claim 20 wherein at least a portion of said controllable pressure source means and said sensor parameter detecting means comprise an integral unit.

38. The sensor of claim 20 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter comprises a scatterer of ultrasonic radiation which moves with said flexible diaphragms and wherein said means for detecting said sensor parameter comprises a source and detector of ultrasonic radiation, whereby the movement of said scatterer alters the characteristic of the scattered ultrasonic radiation from said source that can be detected by said detector.

39. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are substantially planar flexible diaphragms.

40. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are convoluted to achieve flexibility.

41. An in vivo pressure detecting system comprising:

a. a balanced differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation in a living body, said sensor comprising;

(1) a housing having means defining an opening extending therethrough;

(2) a flexible diaphragm extending across said housing opening and being fluid pressure sealed with respect to said housing, said diaphragm communicating with pressures in two separate regions external to the sensor that are separated by the flexible diaphragm with one side of the diaphragm communicating with a pressure source and the other side of the diaphragm communicating with an internal bodily pressure when the sensor is implanted in a living body;

(3) means for defining a reference position of said diaphragm with respect to said housing for a predetermined pressure relationship between the pressure of the pressure source and the internal bodily pressure;

(4) means having a preselected, detectable variable parameter that changes with displacement of said diaphragm means from the reference position upon a change from said predetermined pressure relationship;

b. pressure source means external to the living body for establishing said predetermined pressure relationship; and

,

c. means for detecting said sensor parameter and the value of the parameter at the reference position and any variation therefrom when said sensor is implanted in a living being, said detecting means being located externally of the living body and without any connection to said sensor which requires a break in the skin of the living body.

42. The pressure detecting system of claim 41 further including a pressure source comprising:

a. means defining a fluid containing chamber having a flexible, substantially planar wall;

b. means for fluid pressure coupling the chamber to said first diaphragm;

c. a fluid filling the chamber;

said pressure source being implanted beneath the skin of the living body with the chamber wall being substantially co-planar with the surface of the skin whereby external pressure exerted on the skin in proximity to the wall is transmitted to one side of said diaphragm.

43. The pressure detecting system of claim 41 further including a pressure source comprising:

a. means defining a fluid containing chamber having a flexible, substantially planar wall;

b. means for fluid pressure coupling the chamber to said first diaphragm;

c. a fluid filling the chamber;

said fluid containing chamber being located externally of the living body.

44. The pressure detecting system of claim 41 further comprising a catheter fluidly coupled to one side of said diaphragm to communicate thereto pressure of bodily fluids.

45. The pressure detection system of claim 41 wherein the pressure from said pressure source means is transmitted to the first diaphragm through adjacent intact skin and further comprising a first catheter fluidly coupled to the second diaphragm, a shunt valve fluidly coupled at one end to said second diaphragm, and a second catheter fluidly coupled to the other end of said shunt valve.

46. The pressure detecting system of claim 41 wherein said means having a preselected variable parameter comprises a resonant electrical circuit which includes a coil and a capacitor.

47. The pressure detecting system of claim 46 further comprising a magnetic material which moves with the diaphragm in such a way that the inductance of said coil is varied in accordance with the relative displacement of the magnetic material and the coil.

48. The pressure detecting system of claim 47 wherein said coil is fixed with respect to said housing and wherein said reference position defining means defines a reference position of said magnetic material with respect to said coil.

49. The pressure detecting system of claim 47 further comprising first and second area electrodes electrically connected to said coil, third and fourth area electrodes positioned with respect to said first and second area electrodes, respectively, for a capacitive coupling thereto, said third and fourth area electrodes being external to the living body and, electrically connected to said means for detecting said parameter and any variation therein.

50. The pressure detecting system of claim 49 wherein said capacitor is external to the living body and is electrically connected to said third and fourth area electrodes.

51. The pressure detecting system of claim 49 wherein said coil is external to the living body and is electrically connected to said third and fourth area electrodes.

52. The pressure detecting system of claim 46 further comprising means for varying the capacitance of said capacitor in response to the movement of said diaphragm.

53. The pressure detecting system of claim 46 wherein said resonant electrical circuit is a parallel resonant circuit and wherein said variable parameter is the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit.

54. The pressure detecting system of claim 41 wherein said means having a variable parameter includes means for spring-loading at least one of said diaphragms, said spring-loading means having a known spring constant.

55. An in vivo differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation beneath the skin in the living body and for in vivo calibration after implantation, said sensor comprising:

a. a housing having means defining an opening therethrough;

b. a first flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said first flexible diaphragm extending across the housing opening at substantially one end thereof and being secured to said housing, at least a portion of said exterior side of said flexible diaphragm defining a portion of the exterior surface of said sensor and being positioned so that after said sensor is implanted beneath the skin said portion of said exterior side of said first flexible diaphragm is in mechanical pressure communication with the skin whereby pressures external to the living body can be communicated mechanically across the intact skin to said first flexible diaphragm;

c. a second flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said second flexible diaphragm extending across said housing opening at substantially the other end thereof and being secured to said housing, said first and second flexible diaphragm interior sides and said housing opening defining a chamber within said sensor and, when said sensor is implanted in a living body, said exterior side of said second flexible diaphragm being positioned to be in contact with and in mechanical pressure communication with a bodily medium, the pressure of which is to be sensed;

d. solid coupling means located within said chamber and secured to both of said flexible diaphragms for coupling the motion of one of said flexible diaphragms to the other of said flexible diaphragms, the motion of said flexible diaphragms being in response to changes in the difference in pressures on said exterior sides of said two flexible diaphragms;

e. contact means connected to said housing for contacting (i) at least one of said diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means thereby defining a mechanical contact reference position within said sensor and with respect to said housing of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means, said reference position corresponding to a predetermined pressure relationship between said pressure on the exterior side of the first flexible diaphragm and the pressure on the exterior side of the second flexible diaphragm; and

,

f. means having a preselected, detectable parameter that is detectable by detection means located outside the living body, said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being at least in part cooperatively connected to and movable with at least one of said flexible diaphragms or said solid coupling means so that said preselected, detectable parameter will change with movement of (i) at least a portion of one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means and the value of said preselected, detectable parameter can be detected at said mechanical contact reference position, said at least one flexible diaphragm or said solid coupling means and said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being so constructed and cooperatively connected that the value of said preselected detectable parameter changes upon a change from said predetermined pressure relationship;

whereby said sensor is implanted beneath the skin, (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means can be driven to said mechanical contact reference position to said mechanical contact reference position by a pressure external to the living body applied to the skin adjacent to said sensor, and said preselected detectable parameter can be determined at said mechanical contact reference position after implantation, and whereby the magnitude of the external pressure applied to the skin that is required to drive (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means to said mechanical contact reference position is a function of the pressure in said bodily medium.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said mechanical contact reference position means comprises a mechanical stop for at least one of said flexible diaphragms or for said solid coupling means with respect to said housing.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms are fluid pressure sealed with respect to said housing.

58. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said mechanical contact reference position means includes electrode contacts that touch at a reference position relative to said housing of (i) of at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means, and said means having a preselected, detectable parameter includes circuit means within said sensor cooperative with said electrode contacts whereby the touching of said electrode contacts produces a detectable characteristic response of said circuit means.

59. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said first and second flexible diaphragm interior sides and said housing opening define a single, undivided chamber.

60. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said solid motion coupling means comprises a rigid mechanical coupling.

61. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said solid motion coupling means comprises a rigid piston located within said chamber and connected between said flexible diaphragms.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the inner space of said chamber within said sensor that is not occupied by said rigid piston is filled with an ionic water solution which has similar osmotic pressure as bodily fluids, whereby the difference in osmotic pressures inside and outside of said sensor are equlized and whereby the transport of water and ions across said flexible diaphragms is reduced.

63. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said mechanical reference position corresponds to the balance of said pressures on said exterior side of said two flexible diaphragms.

64. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein at least one of said flexible diaphragms or said motion coupling means is spring loaded with respect to said housing.

65. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms have substantially equal areas and symmetries to provide end-for-end pressure symmetry of said sensor.

66. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein at least one of said housing opening ends is planar and the flexible diaphragm secured to said planar opening end is substantially coplanar with said planar opening end at said predetermined pressure relationship to the pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms.

67. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter comprises electronic circuit means, said detectable parameter being a characteristic response parameter of said electronic circuit means that is detectable by electromagnetic coupling to an electronic detection means located external to said living body.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said electronic circuit means includes an inductor and further comprises a magnetic material which moves relative to the inductor with movement of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said motion coupling means, such movement producing a displacement of said magnetic material relative to said inductor thereby varying the inductance of said inductor and thus varying said circuit characteristic response parameter.

69. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said electronic circuit means include an inductor and further comprises a conductive material which moves relative to the inductor with movement of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said solid coupling means, such movement producing a displacement of said conductive material relative to the inductor thereby varying the inductance of said inductor and thus varying said circuit characteristic response parameter.

70. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said electronic circuit means comprises a resonant electrical circuit which includes a coil and a capacitor, an element of said resonant circuit moving relative to another element of said resonant circuit upon movement of said flexible diaphragms so as to produce a change in said characteristic response parameter.

71. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said coil is fixed with respect to said housing.

72. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein an element of said resonant circuit moves with said flexible diaphragms so as to vary the capacitance of said capacitor in response to the displacement of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragm means or (ii) said solid coupling means, and thereby varying said characteristic response parameter of said resonant circuit.

73. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said resonant electrical circuit is a parallel resonant circuit and wherein said preselected detectable parameter is the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit.

74. The sensor of claim 55 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter includes at least one of said flexible diaphragms.

75. The sensor of claim 55 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter comprises a scatterer of ultrasonic radiation, which moves with said flexible diaphragms so that said motion can be detected by ultrasonic radiation source and detection apparatus located outside the living body.

76. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are substantially planar flexible diaphragms.

77. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are convoluted to achieve flexibility.

78. The sensor of claim 55 wherein said housing has a first and a second end such that the perimeter of said through opening in said housing at each of said two ends is substantially planar, said first flexible diaphragm being substantially planar when in its relaxed state and being secured to said planar perimeter at said first end and forming part of the external surface of said sensor, said second flexible diaphragm being substantially planar when in its relaxed state and being secured to said planar perimeter at said second end, each of said flexible diaphragms being substantially coplanar with its respective through opening perimeter when the pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms are equal, said mechanical contact reference position comprising a stop means on said housing for the motion of said flexible diaphragms when the pressure on the exterior side of said first flexible diaphragm is equal to or greater than the pressure on the exterior side of said second flexible diaphragm, whereby when said sensor is implanted beneath the skin in the living body, said sensor is adapted so that said first flexible diaphragm is in mechanical contact with the skin and said second flexible diaphragm is in contact with a bodily tissue the pressure of which is to be sensed, and whereby surface tension force components of the skin and the bodily tissue in contact with said flexible diaphragms are reduced when the pressure on said external sides of said flexible diaphragms are equal.

79. An in vivo differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation beneath the skin in the living body and for in vivo calibration after implantation, said sensor comprising:

a. a housing having means defining an opening therethrough;

b. first flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said first flexible diaphragm extending across the housing opening at one end thereof and being secured to said housing, at least a portion of said exterior side of first flexible diaphragm defining a portion of the exterior surface of said sensor and being positioned so that after said sensor is implanted beneath the skin said portion of said exterior side of said first flexible diaphragm is in mechanical pressure communication with the skin, whereby pressures external to the living body can be communicated mechanically across the intact skin to said first flexible diaphragm;

c. a second flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said second flexible diaphragm extending across said housing opening at the other end thereof and being secured to said housing, said first and second flexible diaphragm interior sides together with said housing opening defining a chamber within said sensor and, when said sensor is implanted in a living body, said exterior side of said second flexible diaphragm being positioned to be in contact with and in mechanical pressure communication with a bodily medium, the pressure of which is to be sensed;

d. a rigid piston located within said chamber, the rigid piston extending between and being secured to the interior sides of said flexible diaphragms, so that changes in said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms will cause a motion of said flexible diaphragms and said rigid piston, said piston including a magnetic material portion;

e. parallel resonant circuit means comprising an inductor and a capacitor that are mounted within said housing so that the inductance of said inductor and thus the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit means is varied in accordance with the position of the magnetic material portion relative to the inductor, the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit means being detectable by detection apparatus located external to the living body, whereby said resonant frequency changes in accordance with changes in said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms; and

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f. a mechanical stop for said piston against said housing when the pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms are equal;

whereby, when said sensor is implanted beneath the skin, said rigid piston can be driven to said mechanical stop by a pressure external to the living body applied to the skin adjacent to said sensor, and said resonant frequency can be detected at the position of said rigid piston at said mechanical stop after said sensor has been implanted in the living body, and whereby the value of the external pressure applied to the skin required to drive said rigid piston to said mechanical stop, as indicated by said resonant freqency, is equal to the pressure in said bodily medium.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the inner space of said chamber within said sensor that is not occupied by said rigid piston is filled with an ionic water solution which has similar osmotic pressure as bodily fluids, whereby the difference in the osmotic pressure inside and outside said sensor are equalized and whereby the transport of water and ions across said flexible diaphragms is reduced.

81. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are substantially planar flexible diaphragms.

82. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are convoluted to achieve flexibility.

83. An in vivo differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation beneath the skin in the living body and for in vivo calibration after implantation, said sensor comprising:

a. a housing having means defining an opening therethrough;

b. a first flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said first flexible diaphragm extending across the housing opening at one end thereof and being secured to said housing, at least a portion of said exterior side of said first flexible diaphragm defining a portion of the exterior surface of said sensor and being positioned so that after said sensor is implanted beneath the skin said portion of said exterior side of said first flexible diaphragm is in mechanical pressure communication with the skin, whereby pressures external to the living body can be communicated mechanically across the intact skin to said first flexible diaphragm;

c. a second flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said second flexible diaphragm extending across said housing opening at the other end thereof and being secured to said housing, said first and second flexible diaphragm interior sides together with said housing opening defining a chamber within said sensor and, when said sensor is implanted in a living body, said exterior side of said second flexible diaphragm being positioned to be in contact with and in mechanical pressure communication with a bodily medium, the pressure of which is to be sensed;

d. a rigid piston located within said chamber, the rigid piston extending between and being secured to the interior sides of said flexible diaphragms, so that changes in said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms will cause a motion of said flexible diaphragms and said rigid piston, said piston including an electrically conductive portion;

e. parallel resonant circuit means comprising an inductor and a capacitor that are mounted within said housing so that the inductance of said inductor and thus the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit means is varied in accordance with the position of the electrically conductive portion of said rigid piston relative to the inductor, the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit means being detectable by detection apparatus located external to the living body, whereby said resonant frequency changes in accordance with changes in said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms; and

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f. a mechanical stop for said piston against said housing when the pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms are equal;

whereby, when said sensor is implanted beneath the skin, said rigid piston can be driven to said mechanical stop by a pressure external to the living body applied to the skin adjacent to said sensor, and said resonant frequency can be detected at the position of said rigid piston at said mechanical stop after said sensor has been implanted in the living body, and whereby the value of the external pressure applied to the skin required to drive said rigid piston to said mechanical stop, as indicated by said resonant frequency, is equal to the pressure in said bodily medium.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the inner space of said chamber within said sensor that is not occupied by said rigid piston is filled with an ionic water solution which has similar osmotic pressure as bodily fluids, whereby the difference in the osmotic pressures inside and outside of said sensor are equalized and whereby the tranport of water and ions across said flexible diaphragms is reduced.

85. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are substantially planar flexible diaphragms.

86. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are convoluted to achieve flexibility.

87. An in vivo differential pressure sensor adapted for implantation beneath the skin in the living body and for in vivo calibration after implantation, said sensor comprising:

a. a housing having means defining an opening therethrough;

b. a first flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said first flexible diaphragm means extending across said opening at one end thereof and being secured to said housing, at least a portion of said exterior side of said first flexible diaphragm defining a portion of the exterior surface of said sensor and being positioned so that after said sensor is implanted beneath the skin said portion of said exterior side of said first flexible diaphragm is in mechanical pressure communication with the skin, whereby pressures external to the body can be communicated mechanically across the intact skin to said first flexible diaphragm;

c. a second flexible diaphragm having an interior side and an exterior side, said second flexible diaphragm extending across said opening and being secured to said housing, said first and second flexible diaphragms interior sides and a portion of said housing defining a chamber within said sensor, and said sensor being so adapted that, when said sensor is implanted in a living body, said exterior side of said second flexible diaphragm can be placed in mechanical pressure communication with a bodily medium, the pressure of which is to be sensed;

d. rigid means located within said chamber and secured to both of said flexible diaphragms for coupling the motion of one of said flexible diaphragms to the other of said flexible diaphragms, the motion of said flexible diaphragms being in response to changes in the difference in said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms;

e. contact means connected to said housing for contacting (i) at least one of said diaphragms or (ii) said rigid coupling means thereby defining a mechanical contact reference position within said sensor and with respect to said housing of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said rigid coupling means, said mechanical contact reference position corresponding to a predetermined pressure relationship between said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms; and

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f. means having a preselected, detectable parameter that is detectable by detection means located outside the living body, said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being at least in part cooperatively connected to and movable with at least one of said flexible diaphragms or said rigid means so that said preselected, detectable, parameter will change with movement of (i) at least a portion of one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said rigid coupling means and the value of said preselected, detectable parameter can be detected at said mechanical contact reference position, said at least one flexible diaphragms or said rigid coupling means and said means having a preselected, detectable parameter being so constructed and cooperatively connected that the value of said preselected, detectable parameter changes upon a change from said predetermined pressure relationship;

whereby, when said sensor is implanted beneath the skin, said sensor can be driven to said mechanical contact reference position by a pressure external to the living body applied to the skin adjacent to said sensor, and said preselected, detectable parameter can be determined at said mechanical contact reference position after implantation, and whereby the magnitude of the external pressure applied to the skin that is required to drive said sensor to said mechanical contact reference position is a function of the pressure in said bodily medium.

88. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said mechanical contact reference position means comprises a mechanical stop for at least one of said flexible diaphragms or for said rigid motion coupling means with respect to said housing.

89. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said mechanical contact reference position means includes electrode contacts that touch at a reference position relative to said housing of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said rigid motion coupling means and said means having a preselected, detectable parameter includes circuit means within said sensor cooperative with said electrode contacts whereby the touching of said electrode contacts produces a detectable characteristic response of said circuit means.

90. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms are fluid pressure sealed with respect to said housing.

91. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said rigid motion coupling means comprise a rigid piston located within said chamber and connected between said flexible diaphragms.

92. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said mechanical reference position corresponds to the balance of said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms.

93. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms have substantially equal areas and said rigid mechanical coupling has substantially symmetrical diaphragm-contacting ends to provide end-for-end pressure symmetry of said sensor.

94. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein one end of said housing opening is planar, and said first flexible diaphragm is secured to said planar end and is substantially coplanar with said planar opening end at said predetermined pressure relationship of the pressures on said external sides of said flexible diaphragms.

95. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter comprises electronic circuit means, said detectable parameter being a characteristic response parameter of said electronic circuit means that is detectable by electromagnetic coupling to an electronic detection means located external to said living body.

96. The apparatus of claim 95 wherein said electronic circuit means includes an inductor and further comprises a magnetic material which moves relative to the inductor with (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said rigid motion coupling means, such movement producing a displacement of said magnetic material relative to the said inductor, thereby varying the inductance of said inductor, and thus varying said circuit characteristic response parameter.

97. The apparatus of claim 95 wherein said electronic circuit means includes an inductor and further comprises a conductive material which moves relative to the inductor with (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said rigid motion coupling means, such movement producing a displacement of said conductive material relative to the said inductor, thereby varying the inductance of said inductor, and thus varying said circuit characteristic response parameter.

98. The apparatus of claim 95 wherein said electronic circuit means comprises a resonant electrical circuit which includes a coil and a capacitor, an element of said resonant circuit moving relative to another element of said resonant circuit upon movement of said flexible diaphragms so as to produce a change in said characteristic response parameter.

99. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said coil is fixed with respect to said housing.

100. The apparatus of claim 95 wherein an element of said resonant circuit moves with said flexible diaphragm so as to vary the capacitance of said capacitor in response to the displacement of (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragm means or (ii) said rigid motion coupling means, thereby varying said characteristic response parameter.

101. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said resonant electrical circuit is a parallel resonant circuit and wherein said preselected detectable parameter is the resonant frequency of said parallel resonant circuit.

102. The apparatus of claim 87 further comprising means for providing fluid communication between the exterior side of said second flexible diaphragm and an internal bodily fluid, the pressure of which is to be sensed.

103. The apparatus of claim 102 and further comprising a second fluid communication means to allow exit of said internal bodily fluid away from the exterior side of said second flexible diaphragm, whereby said sensor is adapted to be in series connection with a conduit of said internal bodily fluid.

104. The apparatus of claim 103 further comprising fluid shunt valve means interposed in series with at least one of said fluid communication means for regulating the flow of said internal bodily fluid.

105. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said preselected, detectable parameter varies as a known function of the displacement with respect to said housing (i) at least one of said flexible diaphragms or (ii) said rigid motion coupling means, said displacement being a known function of the difference of said pressures on said exterior sides of said flexible diaphragms.

106. The sensor of claim 87 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter include at least one of said flexible diaphragms.

107. The sensor of claim 87 wherein said means having a preselected, detectable parameter comprises a scatterer of ultrasonic radiation which moves with said flexible diaphragms so that said motion can be detected by ultrasonic radiation source and detection apparatus located outside the living body.

108. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the inner space of said chamber within said sensor that is not occupied by said rigid means is filled with an ionic water solution which has similar osmotic pressure as bodily fluids, whereby the difference in the osmotic pressures inside and outside of said sensor are equalized and whereby the tranport of water and ions across said flexible diaphragms is reduced.

109. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are substantially planar flexible diaphragms.

110. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein said two flexible diaphragms are convoluted to achieve flexibility.