Electromagnetic interference immune tissue invasive system

• US 7,013,174 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: MacDonald, Stuart G., Connelly, Patrick R., Miller, Victor, Weiner, Michael L., Helfer, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/077,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/8, 607/5, 607 62- 63, 607/138, 607/148, 607/115, 607/116, 600/509, 600372-382, 600/347
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/285 Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/288 Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room

Abstract

An electromagnetic immune tissue invasive system includes a primary device housing. The primary device housing having a control circuit therein. A shielding is formed around the primary device housing to shield the primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference. A lead system transmits and receives signals between the primary device housing. The lead system is either a fiber optic system or an electrically shielded electrical lead system.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system, comprising:

a photonic lead having a proximal end and a distal end;

a light source, in the proximal end of said photonic lead, to produce a first light having a first wavelength;

a wave-guide between the proximal end and distal end of said photonic lead;

a bio-sensor, in the distal end of said photonic lead, to sense characteristics of a predetermined tissue region; and

a distal sensor, in the distal end of said photonic lead, to convert the first light into electrical energy;

said distal sensor, responsive to said bio-sensor, causing a second light, the second light having a second wavelength, to be propagated, through said wave-guide, to the proximal end of said photonic lead such that a characteristic of the second light is modulated to encode the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region;

said light source, in the proximal end of said photonic lead, producing said second light having said second wavelength;

said distal sensor, in the distal end of said photonic lead, reflecting the second light back to the proximal end of said photonic lead such that a characteristic of the second light is modulated to encode the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region.

2. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a proximal sensor, in the proximal end of said photonic lead, to convert the modulated second light into electrical energy.

3. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a transmitter, in the proximal end of said photonic lead and operatively connected to said proximal sensor, to transmit, in response the electrical energy from the converted modulated second light, information representing the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region.

4. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source includes a first emitter to emit the first light having the first wavelength and a second emitter to emit the second light having the second wavelength.

5. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source includes a first laser to produce the first light having the first wavelength and a second laser to produce the second light having the second wavelength.

6. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distal sensor includes:

an optical attenuator coupled to a mirror; and

an optical-electrical conversion device to convert the first light into electrical energy;

said optical attenuator attenuating the second light to encode the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region.

7. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said optical attenuator attenuating the second light to create pulses of light having equal intensity and periods of no light, the periods of no light differing in time in response to the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region.

8. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said optical attenuator attenuating the second light to create light having differing intensities over a period of time.

9. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a beam splitter to direct the second light to said optical feedback device and to direct said first light to said optical-electrical conversion device.

10. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said optical attenuator comprises liquid crystal material having a variable optical transmission density responsive to applied electrical voltage.

11. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distal sensor includes:

a variable reflectance optical reflector; and

an optical-electrical conversion device to convert the first light into electrical energy;

said variable reflectance optical reflector variably reflecting the second light to encode the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region.

12. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said variable reflectance optical reflector variably reflecting the second light to create pulses of light having equal intensity and periods of no light, the periods of no light differing in time in response to the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region.

13. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said variable reflectance optical reflector variably reflecting the second light to create light having differing intensities over a period of time.

14. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a beam splitter to direct the second light to said variable reflectance optical reflector and to direct said first light to said optical-electrical conversion device.

15. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distal sensor includes an optical-electrical conversion device to convert the first light into electrical energy and a variable reflectance optical reflector overlaying said optical-electrical conversion device;

said variable reflectance optical reflector variably reflecting the second light to encode the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region and being optically transparent to said first light.

16. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said variable reflectance optical reflector variably reflecting the second light to create pulses of light having equal intensity and periods of no light, the periods of no light differing in time in response to the sensed characteristics of the predetermined tissue region.

17. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said variable reflectance optical reflector variably reflecting the second light to create light having differing intensities over a period of time.

18. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensed characteristic is an ECG signal.

19. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensed characteristic is an EKG signal.

20. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensed characteristic is glucose level.

21. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensed characteristic is a hormone level.

22. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensed characteristic is a cholesterol level.

23. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wave-guide is a fiber optic.

24. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wave-guide includes a first fiber optic to transmit the first light and a second fiber optic to transmit the second light.

25. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wave-guide is a bundle of fiber optics.

26. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximal and distal ends include an electromagnetic shielding thereon to shield components within said proximal and distal ends from electromagnetic interference.

27. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said electromagnetic shielding is a metallic sheath.

28. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said electromagnetic shielding is a carbon composite sheath.

29. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said electromagnetic shielding is a polymer composite sheath.

30. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximal and distal ends include a biocompatible material, said biocompatible material being a non-permeable diffusion resistant biocompatible material.