Implantable, retrievable, thrombus minimizing sensors

• US 7,181,261 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Darius Fredrick Mostowfi, James H. Silver
• Original Assignee: Darius Fredrick Mostowfi, James H. Silver
• Inventors: Silver, James H., Mostowfi, Darius Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/758,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/187 Strain relief means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6862 Stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes

Abstract

A sensor is disclosed, for implantation within a blood vessel to monitor a substance in or property of blood. In one embodiment, the sensor is retrievable. In another embodiment, the sensor has a layer that minimizes the formation of thrombus. A signal representative of the substance in or property of blood is transmitted to an external receiver. In another embodiment, the sensor detects nitric oxide or a nitric oxide metabolite and can be implanted for a period of hours, days, weeks or years. Methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sensor for implantation within a blood vessel comprising:

a support structure;

a sensor housing carried by the support structure; and

a sensing surface exposed to the exterior of the housing;

wherein the sensor is configured to detect nitric oxide or a metabolic of nitric oxide, and wherein the sensor has streamlined configuration with respect to the support, and wherein the sensing surface includes a layer that minimizes the formation of thrombus.

2. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a stent.

3. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a catheter.

4. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises an expandable metal mesh.

5. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor housing is positioned on the luminal side of the support structure.

6. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor housing is positioned within an opening on the side wall of the support structure.

7. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, further comprising a tubular sleeve surrounding the support structure.

8. An implantable sensor as in claim 7, wherein the tubular sleeve is on the radially outwardly facing surface of the support structure.

9. An implantable sensor as in claim 7, wherein the tubular sleeve comprises ePTFE.

10. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an ion-selective electrode.

11. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of amperometric electrodes, porphyrinic electrodes, and microchip electrodes.

12. An implantable sensor as in claim 1, further containing an analyte permeable membrane and an enzyme gel layer.

13. An implantable sensor as in claim 12, wherein the enzyme gel layer comprises nitrate reductase.

14. A sensor for implantation within a blood vessel comprising:

a support structure;

a sensor housing carried by the support structure; and

a sensing surface exposed to the exterior of the housing and wherein the sensing surface includes a layer that minimizes the formation of thrombus;

wherein the sensor is configured to detect a metabolic product of nitric oxide.

15. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, wherein the support structure comprises a stent.

16. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, wherein the support structure comprises a catheter.

17. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, wherein the support structure comprises an expandable metal mesh.

18. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, wherein the sensor housing is positioned on the luminal side of the support structure.

19. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, wherein the sensor housing is positioned within an opening on the side wall of the support structure.

20. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, further comprising a tubular sleeve surrounding the support structure.

21. An implantable sensor as in claim 20, wherein the tubular sleeve is on the radially outwardly facing surface of the support structure.

22. An implantable sensor as in claim 20, wherein the tubular sleeve comprises ePTFE.

23. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises an ion-selective electrode.

24. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of amperometric electrodes, porphyrinic electrodes, and microchip electrodes.

25. An implantable sensor as in claim 14, further containing an analyte permeable membrane and an enzyme gel layer.

26. An implantable sensor as in claim 25, wherein the enzyme gel layer comprises nitrate reductase.