System and apparatus for sensing pressure in living organisms and inanimate objects

• US 7,252,005 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Schulman, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J.
• Application Number:
  US10/921,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20050061079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 737/00, 737/32, 438/53, 600/398
• US Class Current: 73/700
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• 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 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• 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: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication

Abstract

System and apparatus for measuring pressure including a microelectronic device, an interface member attached to the microelectronic device, a pressure sensor having a diaphragm responsive to external pressure exerted upon the diaphragm, wherein the interface member is positioned between the microelectronic device and the pressure sensor and is attached to the pressure sensor providing a first cavity between the pressure sensor diaphragm and the interface member and wherein the pressure in the first cavity is set at an initial predetermined pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring pressure, comprising:

a microelectronic device;

a pressure sensor having a flexible portion responsive to external pressure exerted upon the flexible portion, wherein the pressure sensor is attached to the microelectronic device providing a contiguous chamber with the pressure sensor and the microelectronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microelectronic device comprises:

internal components made of non-gas emissive and non-gas absorbing material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contiguous chamber is at a first initial predetermined pressure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microelectronic device is less than 100 mm in longitudinal dimension and less than 10 mm in lateral dimension.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microelectronic device is a microstimulator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microelectronic device is a microsensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted for implant in a living organism.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted for percutaneous attachment to a living organism.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor includes electrically conductive material.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive material is platinum.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive material is iridium.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive material is deposited on the surface of the pressure sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor is substantially made of titanium alloy.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is AC coupled to the microelectronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a piezoeleotric sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a strain gauge sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first initial predetermined pressure is about one atmosphere.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interface member attached to the microelectronic device,

wherein the interface member is positioned between the microelectronic device and the pressure sensor, providing a first cavity between the pressure sensor flexible portion and the interface member and wherein the pressure in the first cavity is at a second Initial predetermined pressure.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second initial predetermined pressure is about one atmosphere.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the interface member has at least one feed-through passageway and the pressure sensor provides electrical signals to the microelectronic device through the at least one feed-through passageway.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the interface member forms a hermetically sealed cavity with the pressure sensor.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the pressure sensor is releasably attached to the interface member.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the pressure sensor is integrated with the interface member.

24. The apparatus according to claims 1 or 18, further comprising an elongated member in fluid communication with the flexible portion of the pressure sensor, wherein the elongated member comprises a body portion having a substantially non-expandable wall and a squeezable distal portion and wherein the elongated member contains incompressible fluid therein.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 adapted for communications with an external unit, said external unit configured to provide at least one of power, communications, command and control, to said microelectronic device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein communications between said microelectronic device and external unit is through a wireless medium.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said microelectronic device and said external unit are adapted for radio frequency communications therebetween.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the external unit comprises a secondary pressure sensor for measuring the pressure surrounding said external unit and providing thereby a reference pressure to the external unit or to the microelectronic device for comparison with the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

29. A system for measuring pressure comprising:

a microelectronic device;

a pressure sensor having a flexible portion responsive to external pressure exerted upon the flexible portion;

wherein the pressure sensor is attached to the microelectronic device providing a contiguous chamber with the pressure sensor and the microelectronic device; and

an external unit for communicating with the microelectronic device.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising an interface member attached to the microelectronic device,

wherein the interface member is positioned between the microelectronic device and the pressure sensor, providing a first cavity between the pressure sensor flexible portion and the interface member and wherein the pressure in the first cavity is at an initial predetermined pressure.

31. The system according to claims 29 or 30, in which the external unit and the microelectronic device communicate through a wireless medium.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the external unit is adapted to provide power to the microelectronic device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the external unit comprises a secondary pressure sensor for measuring the pressure surrounding said external unit and providing thereby a reference pressure to the external unit or to the microelectronic device for comparison with the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the microelectronic device and the external unit are adapted to provide data communications therebetween.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the microelectronic device and the pressure sensor are adapted for implant in a living organism.