Sensor device covered with foam membrane

• US 5,706,807 A
• Filed: 10/11/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Medical Research
• Original Assignee: Applied Medical Research
• Inventors: Picha, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US08/729,167
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 128/632, 128/635, 204/403
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3092 having an open-celled or open-pored structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/18 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/70 Completely encapsulating inserts B29C70/86 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/78 Moulding material on one side only of the preformed part
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7532 Artificial members, protheses
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes

Abstract

An implant is provided with an open-celled silicone elastomer foam outer layer. The implant may be formed by compressively deforming beads mixed with liquid elastomer in a mold containing a preformed support structure. The elastomer is cured and the beads dissolved out. Infusion and sensor catheters covered with the foam provide improved transport rates and faster response.

Claims

1. A sensor device for sensing a characteristic of a bodily fluid, said device comprising:

means for sensing said characteristic;

a receptacle containing said sensing means, said receptacle having a bodily fluid admitting membrane; and

a polymeric open-celled foam between 10 microns and 2,000 microns in thickness covering a substantial portion of said admitting membrane, said membrane having pits extending at least partially into said foam and at most 100 microns beyond said foam.

2. A sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said foam is a silicone elastomer.

3. A sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said admitting portion comprises a membrane permeable to said bodily fluid or a constituent of said bodily fluid.

4. A sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said admitting portion comprises a membrane having orifices.

7. A sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said pits are spaced apart between 50 and 2,000 microns and said pits are between 50 and 2,000 microns across.

5. A sensor device for sensing a characteristic of a bodily fluid, said device comprising:

means for sensing said characteristic;

a receptacle containing said sensing means, said receptacle having a bodily fluid admitting portion having a membrane having orifices; and

a polymeric open-celled foam between 10 microns and 2,000 microns in thickness covering a substantial portion of said admitting portion, wherein said membrane has pits extending into said foam, said pits containing said orifices.

6. A sensor device according to claim 5, wherein said foam is a silicone elastomer.