Method and apparatus for enhancing the integrity of an implantable sensor device
First Claim
1. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
- a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension;
an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances;
back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; and
wherein said outer tubing is dimensioned relative to the sensor module to provide a compression force on the sensor module; and
wherein the outer tubing has a cross-sectional dimension and the sensor module defines a cross-sectional area within the cross-sectional dimension of the outer tubing and wherein the cross-sectional area of the sensor module is about one-tenth the cross-sectional dimension of the outer tubing.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for enhancing the integrity of an implantable sensor. Voids formed between an outer tubing and a sensor substrate or spacing element may be back-filled with a curable, implantable material, minimizing the extent to which unwanted fluids diffuse within the sensor. An enzyme or protein matrix pellet below the sensor window may be pre-treated with a reducing agent to enhance its bond stability, and to reduce undesired swelling that may cause the sensor window to detach or leak. The bonding between the enzyme pellet and a hydrogel layer may be reinforced by application of an intervening bonding layer of a protein material, such as human serum albumin (HSA). The size of the window may be minimized by minimizing the size of an underlying electrode, providing reduced flux and lengthening sensor. A coating may be deposited on the surface of the sensor leads, providing stiffening and lubrication.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
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a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension; an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances; back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; and wherein said outer tubing is dimensioned relative to the sensor module to provide a compression force on the sensor module; and wherein the outer tubing has a cross-sectional dimension and the sensor module defines a cross-sectional area within the cross-sectional dimension of the outer tubing and wherein the cross-sectional area of the sensor module is about one-tenth the cross-sectional dimension of the outer tubing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24)
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3. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
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a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension; an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances; back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; wherein said internal elements comprise a substrate having an electrode; and wherein said internal elements further comprise a bead structure that is electrically isolated from the electrode and formed adjacent to one or more ends of said substrate.
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4. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
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a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension; an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances; back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; wherein said internal elements comprise a substrate having an electrode; and wherein said internal elements further comprise a bead structure that is electrically isolated from the electrode and formed adjacent to one or more ends of said substrate; and wherein said internal elements further comprise a spacing element adjacent to said substrate.
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18. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
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a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension; an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances; back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; and wherein said sensor module comprises; an electrode; and a spacing element positioned over said electrode; and wherein said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module is an outer dimension of said spacing element.
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19. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
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a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension; an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances; back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; and wherein said sensor module comprises; a substrate having two longitudinal ends that are spaced apart further than a width or a height dimension of the substrate; and a bead attached to each longitudinal end of the substrate; wherein said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module is an outer dimension of said bead.
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21. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
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a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension; an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances; back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; and wherein said outer tubing is dimensioned relative to the sensor module to provide a compression force on the sensor module; and wherein the sensor module fills a volume within the outer tubing and the at least one void comprises a volume of about one-tenth the volume of the outer tubing surrounding the sensor module.
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25. An implantable sensing apparatus comprising:
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a sensor module having internal elements, a portion of said sensor module having an outer dimension; an outer tubing surrounding said sensor module, said outer tubing having an inner dimension, said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module being substantially the same, but defining at least one void between said inner dimension of said outer tubing and said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module due to inherent manufacturing tolerances; back-fill material disposed in said at least one void; and wherein said outer tubing is dimensioned relative to the sensor module to provide a compression force on the sensor module; wherein said sensor module comprises; an electrode; and a spacing element positioned over said electrode; wherein said outer dimension of said portion of said sensor module is an outer dimension of said spacing element.
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Specification