Implantable telemetric medical sensor and method

• US 6,638,231 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• 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: Zilberstein, Joel, Capezzuto, Louis J., Govari, Assaf, Ben-Haim, Shlomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/739,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 600/483, 600/484, 600/485, 600/486, 600/487, 600/488, 600/300, 600/317, 600/301, 600/509, 600/561, 600/505, 600/462, 600/480, 607/2, 607/9, 607/18, 607/27, 128/903, 128/899
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 sensor for implantation in a patient'"'"'s body for measuring a parameter therein is provided. The sensor comprises a housing and a membrane at one end of the housing. The membrane is deformable in response to the parameter being measured. A microchip is positioned within the housing and operatively communicates with the membrane for transmitting a digital signal indicative of the parameter. The microchip comprises an array of photoelectric cells for use with an LED for transmitting light at the photoelectric cells. A shutter is connected to the membrane and moveable between the photoelectric cells and the LED in response to deforming of the membrane.

Claims

1. 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;

a microchip positioned within the housing and operatively communicating with the membrane for transmitting a signal indicative of the parameter, wherein the signal is a digital signal, the microchip comprising an array of photoelectric cells;

an LED for transmitting light at the photoelectric cells; and

a shutter connected to the membrane and moveable between the photoelectric cells and the LED in response to deforming of the membrane.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the photoelectric cells are arranged in staggered rows.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the array includes a reference photoelectric cell.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the reference photoelectric cell is not blocked by the shutter.

5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the microchip further comprises a plurality of comparators operatively connected to the photoelectric cells.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein the microchip further comprises a buffer operatively connected to the comparators for storing and transmitting the digital signal.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises an antenna operatively connected to the microchip.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the antenna is located at the exterior of the housing.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the sensor further comprises a plurality of anchoring legs resiliently attached to the housing for anchoring the sensor into tissue.

10. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the housing includes a notch in an outer surface thereon.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the housing further includes a circumferential groove at the notch.

12. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the housing further includes a tapered end.

13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein the tapered end includes a piercing tip thereon.

14. The sensor of claim 13, wherein the tapered end further includes helical threads thereon.

15. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the antenna is made of wire.

16. The sensor of claim 15, wherein the wire comprises silver and platinum iridium.

17. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the antenna has 20-25 turns.