Sensor system
First Claim
1. A sensor system, comprising:
- a sensor to sense a biological indicator;
a protective member located adjacent the sensor to shield the sensor from a surrounding environment for a selectable time period; and
a processing circuit in communication with the sensor to receive a signal of the biological indicator and to indicate a therapy to be delivered.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved implantable sensor system is disclosed that includes an array of sensors. Each of the sensors is associated with a protective member that prevents the sensor from interacting with the surrounding environment. At a selected time, the protective member may be disabled, thereby allowing the sensor to begin sensing signals within a living body. In one embodiment, the protective member is formed of a conductive material that can oxidize, is biocompatible, bio-absorbable, and that may be dissolved in solution such as blood upon application of an electric potential. In another embodiment, the protective member is formed of a dissolvable member that dissolves within the body over a predetermined time period.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A sensor system, comprising:
-
a sensor to sense a biological indicator;
a protective member located adjacent the sensor to shield the sensor from a surrounding environment for a selectable time period; and
a processing circuit in communication with the sensor to receive a signal of the biological indicator and to indicate a therapy to be delivered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
11. A system for sensing a biological agent, comprising:
-
at least two sensors; and
at least two protective members, each being associated with a respective one of the sensors to prevent the respective sensor from interacting with a surrounding environment. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
19. A method of sensing signals in a living body, comprising:
-
a.) providing a sensor;
b.) providing a protective member to prevent the sensor from interacting with the living body;
c.) selectively disabling the protective member;
d.) obtaining at least one signal from the sensor; and
e.) determining a therapy to be delivered to the living body based on the obtained signal from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
providing multiple sensors;
providing multiple protective members; and
disabling at least one of the multiple protective members to activate a selected one or more of the multiple sensors.
-
-
23. The method of claim 22, wherein step d.) includes obtaining multiple signals from activated ones of the multiple sensors.
-
24. The method of claim 23, and further including processing the multiple signals.
-
25. The method of claim 24, and further including discarding selected ones of the multiple signals that are determined to be outside of a pre-defined signal range.
-
26. The method of claim 24, and further including determining that one or more of the multiple sensors are becoming degraded based on the multiple signals.
-
27. The method of claim 26, and further including disabling at least one additional one of the multiple protective members to activate a selected one or more additional ones of the multiple sensors to replace sensors becoming degraded.
-
28. The method of claim 23, wherein obtaining the multiple signals includes receiving signals from the activated ones of the multiple sensors in a time-multiplexed manner.
-
29. The method of claim 19, and further including providing therapy to the living body based on the at least one signal.
-
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the sensor is a glucose sensor, and providing therapy includes delivering insulin to the living body.
Specification