Telemetric medical system and method

• US 6,636,769 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Govari, Assaf, Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Zilberstein, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US09/739,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 607/30, 607/32, 607/60, 600/300, 600/301, 600/347, 600/483, 600/484, 600/485, 600/486, 340/870.07, 340/870.28, 340/870.29, 340/573.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.34, 128/903, 128/904, 205/778
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A telemetric medical system comprises a telemetric medical sensor for implantation in a patient'"'"'s body for measuring a parameter therein. The sensor comprises a housing and a membrane at one end of the housing. The membrane is deformable in response to the parameter. A microchip is positioned within the housing and operatively communicates with the membrane for transmitting a signal indicative of the parameter. The system also includes a signal reading and charging device locatable outside of a patient'"'"'s body for communication with the sensor. The signal reading and charging device comprises a casing and a circuit within the casing. The circuit includes a logic control unit and a processing unit. The logic control unit sends a powering signal to the sensor for remotely powering the sensor. The logic control unit also receives the transmitted signal from the sensor wherein the processing unit operatively connected to the control unit converts the transmitted signal by the sensor into a measured parameter.

Claims

1. A telemetric medical system comprising:

a telemetric medical sensor for implantation in a patient'"'"'s body for measuring a parameter therein, the sensor comprising a housing, a membrane at one end of the housing, the membrane being deformable in response to the parameter, and a microchip positioned within the housing and operatively communicating with the membrane for transmitting a signal indicative of the parameter; and

a signal reading and charging device locatable outside of a patient'"'"'s body for communication with the sensor, the signal reading and charging device comprising a casing; and

a circuit within the casing, the circuit comprising a logic control unit and a processing unit, the logic control unit for sending a powering signal to the sensor for remotely powering the sensor, the logic control unit also for receiving the transmitted signal from the sensor, the processing unit operatively connected to the control unit for converting the transmitted signal by the sensor into a measured parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted by the sensor is a digital signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor further comprises an antenna operatively connected to the microchip.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the antenna is located at the exterior of the housing.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal reading and charging device includes an antenna coil for sending the powering signal to the sensor and for receiving the transmitted digital signal from the sensor.

6.The system of claim 5, wherein the signal reading and charging device includes a display for displaying the measured parameter.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit decodes the transmitted signal.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the microchip comprises an array of photoelectric cells.

6. The system of claim 6, wherein the display is an LCD screen.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the signal reading and charging device includes a sine wave driver operatively connected to the control unit for sending the powering signal to the sensor.

8. The system of claim 8, wherein the powering signal is a sinusoidal wave signal approximately 4-6 MHz.

10. The system of claim 10, wherein the signal reading and charging device includes a deep detector for receiving the transmitted signal.

11. The system of claim 11, wherein the signal reading and charging device includes a power source operatively connected to the circuit.

12. The system of claim 12, wherein the signal reading and charging device includes a power switch for activating and deactivating the device.

14. The system of claim 14, further comprising an LED for transmitting light at the photoelectric cells.

15. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor further comprises a shutter connected to the membrane and moveable between the photoelectric cells and the LED in response to deforming of the membrane.

16. The system of claim 16, wherein the photoelectric cells are arranged in staggered rows.

17. The system of claim 17, wherein the array includes a reference photoelectric cell.

19. The system of claim 19, wherein the microchip further comprises a plurality of comparators operatively connected to the photoelectric cells.

18. The system of claim 19, wherein the reference photoelectric cell is not blocked by the shutter.

20. The system of claim 20, wherein the microchip further comprises a buffer operatively connected to the comparators for storing and transmitting the digital signal.

21. A method for telemetrically measuring a parameter in a patient'"'"'s body comprising the steps of:

providing a telemetric medical sensor comprising a housing, a membrane at one end of the housing, the membrane being deformable in response to the parameter, and a microchip positioned within the housing and operatively communicating with the membrane for transmitting a signal indicative of the parameter;

implanting the sensor at a site within the patient'"'"'s body; and

telemetrically measuring the parameter from outside of the patient'"'"'s body.

22. The method according to claim 22, including telemetrically powering the sensor from outside of the patient'"'"'s body.

23. The method according to claim 23, including telemetrically measuring the parameter and telemetrically powering the sensor from outside the patient'"'"'s body with a signal reading and charging device comprising a casing, and a circuit within the casing comprising a log control unit and a processing unit, the logic control unit for sending a powering signal to the telemetric medical sensor for remotely powering the sensor, the logic control unit also for receiving the transmitted signal from the sensor, the processing unit operatively connected to the control unit for converting the transmitted signal by the sensor into the measured parameter.

24. The method of claim 24, including displaying the measured parameter.