Implantable optical pressure sensor for sensing urinary sphincter pressure
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- transmitting light via an optical fiber positioned proximate a sphincter within a patient;
detecting reflected light via the optical fiber; and
generating pressure information based on the detected light, wherein;
the optical fiber is coupled to a flexible tube section that contains a reflective, flexible diaphragm mounted within the flexible tube section, and the flexible tube section is mounted within the sphincter; and
the diaphragm reflects the light transmitted via the optical fiber and deflects in response to exertion of pressure against the flexible tube section by the sphincter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure describes an optical fiber pressure sensor to measure sphincter pressure which may be incorporated into a therapeutic sphincter control system. The system senses sphincter pressure and sends the information to a stimulator that is capable of stimulation therapy to control sphincter contractility, thus reducing unwanted urinary incontinence. Measuring sphincter pressure is accomplished through the use of an optical fiber connected to flexible tube section placed through the sphincter, where properties of the emitted light are changed proportional to the pressure on the tube section. The light is returned to a light detector to measure light properties and create an electrical signal representative of the pressure on the tube section. The signal may then be sent by wireless telemetry to an implanted stimulator or external programmer.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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transmitting light via an optical fiber positioned proximate a sphincter within a patient; detecting reflected light via the optical fiber; and generating pressure information based on the detected light, wherein; the optical fiber is coupled to a flexible tube section that contains a reflective, flexible diaphragm mounted within the flexible tube section, and the flexible tube section is mounted within the sphincter; and the diaphragm reflects the light transmitted via the optical fiber and deflects in response to exertion of pressure against the flexible tube section by the sphincter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification