Telemetric in vivo bladder urine monitor system

• US 6,319,208 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Mostwin, Jacek L., Carkhuff, Bliss G., Abita, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/454,091
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 600/561, 600/486, 600/488
• US Class Current: 600/561
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/205 Determining bladder or urethral pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6874 Bladder

Abstract

A telemetric in vivo bladder urine monitor system is disclosed. The invention includes a small, buoyant recorder that floats in the bladder of an animal and telemetrically relays data to an external receiver. The invention may be used in measuring urinary tract pressure in diagnosing and treating urinary tract infections, anomalous bladder contraction, etc. The invention may also be used as a monitoring system for bed wetting syndrome, artificial bladders and sphincters.

Claims

1. A bladder monitor system comprising:

a pressure measurement device capable of using magnetic induction telemetry, said measurement device further capable of being removably insertable into a bladder of an animal, said measurement device comprising;

a. a self-contained device power source;

b. a pressure sensor;

c. at least one offset balance resistor operatively interconnected to said pressure sensor;

d. a differential amplifier operatively interconnected to an output portion of said pressure sensor, said differential amplifier further operatively interconnected to a discharge portion of said self-contained device power source;

e. a frequency modulator operatively interconnected to an output portion of said amplifier, said frequency modulator further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained device power source;

f. an induction coil-antenna operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained device power source;

g. an oscillator operatively interconnected to said modulator, said oscillator further operatively interconnected to said induction coil antenna, said oscillator further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained device power source; and

h. a telemetry circuit operatively interconnected to said pressure sensor, said telemetry circuit further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained device power source, said telemetry circuit further operatively interconnected to said induction coil antenna; and

a receiver for receiving data from said pressure measurement device, said receiver comprising;

a. a self-contained or external receiver power source;

b. at least one pickup coil operatively interconnected to a discharge portion of said receiver power source;

c. at least one preamplifier operatively interconnected to an output portion of said pickup coil, said preamplifier further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said receiver power source; and

d. a signal conditioner operatively interconnected to an output portion of said preamplifier, said signal conditioner further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said receiver power source.

3. A bladder monitor system as in claim 1, wherein said pressure measurement device is coated with a biocompatible coating.

4. A bladder monitor system as in claim 1, wherein said self-contained device power source comprises at least one battery.

5. A bladder monitor system as in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor is a piezoresistive sensor.

2. A bladder monitor system comprising:

a pressure measurement device capable of using magnetic induction telemetry, said measurement device further capable of being removably insertable into a bladder of an animal; and

a receiver for receiving data from said measurement device, said receiver comprising;

a. a self-contained and/or external power source;

b. at least one pickup coil operatively interconnected to a discharge portion of said power source;

c. at least one preamplifier operatively interconnected to an output portion of said pickup coil, said preamplifier further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power source;

d. a signal conditioner operatively interconnected to an output portion of said preamplifier, said signal conditioner further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power source;

e. a detector operatively interconnected to an output portion of said signal conditioner, said detector further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power source;

f. a scaling amplifier, said scaling amplifier operatively interconnected to an output portion of said detector, said scaling amplifier further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power source; and

g. memory means for data acquisition and storage, said memory means operatively interconnected to said output portion of said readout circuit.

6. A bladder monitor system as in claim 2, wherein said detector comprises a demodulator.

7. A bladder monitor system as in claim 2, wherein said power source comprises at least one battery.

8. A bladder monitor system as in claim 2 further comprising:

h. a readout circuit, said readout circuit operatively interconnected to an output portion of said scaling amplifier, said readout circuit further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power source; and

i. a readout display operatively interconnected to an output portion of said readout circuit, said readout display further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said power source.

9. A bladder monitor system as in claim 8, wherein said readout display comprises an alphanumeric readout display.

10. A bladder monitor system, comprising:

a measurement device capable of using magnetic induction telemetry, said measurement device further capable of being removably insertable into a bladder of an animal, said measurement device comprising;

a. a self-contained power source;

b. a sensor;

c. at least one offset balance resistor operatively interconnected to said sensor;

d. a transconductance amplifier operatively interconnected to an output portion of said sensor, said transconductance amplifier further operatively interconnected to a discharge portion of said self-contained power source;

e. a pulse width modulator operatively interconnected to an output portion of said transconductance amplifier, said pulse width modulator further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained power source;

f. a clock operatively interconnected to said pulse width modulator, said clock further operatively interconnected to said sensor and said transconductance amplifier, said clock further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained power source; and

g. an oscillator operatively interconnected to said pulse width modulator, said oscillator further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained power source.

11. A monitor system as in claim 10, wherein said measurement device is coated with a biocompatible coating.

12. A monitor system as in claim 10, wherein said self-contained power source comprises at least one battery.

13. A monitor system as in claim 10, wherein said sensor is a piezoresistive sensor.

14. A monitor system as in claim 13, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.

15. A method for determining urinary tract pressure in an animal comprising the steps of:

a. inserting a pressure measurement device (PMD) into said animal'"'"'s bladder or urinary tract;

b. measuring said bladder or urinary tract pressure on said PMD; and

c. removing said PMD from said animal'"'"'s bladder or urinary tract.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein said PMD comprises a pressure measurement device, said pressure measurement device comprising:

a. a self-contained power source;

b. a pressure sensor;

c. at least one offset balance resistor operatively interconnected to said pressure sensor;

d. a differential amplifier operatively interconnected to an output portion of said pressure sensor, said differential amplifier further operatively interconnected to a discharge portion of said self-contained power source;

e. a frequency modulator operatively interconnected to an output portion of said differential amplifier, said frequency modulator further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained power source;

f. an induction coil antenna, said induction coil antenna operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained power source;

g. an oscillator operatively interconnected to said frequency modulator, said oscillator further operatively interconnected to said induction coil antenna, said oscillator further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained power source; and

h. a telemetry circuit operatively interconnected to said oscillator, said telemetry circuit further operatively interconnected to said pressure sensor, said telemetry circuit further operatively interconnected to said discharge portion of said self-contained power source.

17. A bladder monitor system comprising:

a measurement device capable of using magnetic induction telemetry, said measurement device further capable of being removably insertable into a bladder of an animal, said measurement device comprising;

a. a power source;

b. a sensor for sensing a biophysical aspect of the bladder; and

c. telemetry means, operatively connected to said power source and to said sensor, for telemetering a data signal received from said sensor; and

a receiver, said receiver comprising;

a. antenna means for receiving said data signal from said telemetry means;

b. prearnplification means, operatively connected to said antenna means, for preamplifying said data signal; and

c. signal conditioning means, operatively connected to said preamplification means, for conditioning said data signal.