Implantable optical pressure sensor for sensing urinary sphincter pressure
First Claim
1. An implantable electrical stimulation system comprising:
- an implantable pressure sensor including;
an optical fiber,an emitter that transmits light via the optical fiber,a flexible tube section coupled to the optical fiber,a reflective, flexible diaphragm mounted within the flexible tube section, wherein the diaphragm reflects the light transmitted via the optical fiber and deflects in response to exertion of pressure against the flexible tube section by a sphincter with a patient,a detector that detects reflected light via the optical fiber,circuitry that generates pressure information based on the detected light, anda fixation mechanism that positions the optical fiber proximate the sphincter within the patient; and
an implantable stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation to the patient based on the pressure information.
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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
21 Claims
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1. An implantable electrical stimulation system comprising:
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an implantable pressure sensor including; an optical fiber, an emitter that transmits light via the optical fiber, a flexible tube section coupled to the optical fiber, a reflective, flexible diaphragm mounted within the flexible tube section, wherein the diaphragm reflects the light transmitted via the optical fiber and deflects in response to exertion of pressure against the flexible tube section by a sphincter with a patient, a detector that detects reflected light via the optical fiber, circuitry that generates pressure information based on the detected light, and a fixation mechanism that positions the optical fiber proximate the sphincter within the patient; and an implantable stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation to the patient based on the pressure information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An implantable pressure sensor comprising:
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an optical fiber; an emitter that transmits light via the optical fiber; a flexible tube section coupled to the optical fiber; a reflective, flexible diaphragm mounted within the flexible tube section, wherein the diaphragm reflects the light transmitted via the optical fiber; a detector that detects reflected light via the optical fiber; circuitry that generates pressure information based on the detected light; and a fixation mechanism that positions the optical fiber proximate a sphincter within a patient, wherein the diaphragm deflects in response to exertion of pressure against the flexible tube section by the sphincter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An implantable pressure sensor comprising:
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a sensor housing; an optical fiber extending from the sensor housing; a flexible tube section coupled to the optical fiber; a reflective, flexible diaphragm within the flexible tube section; an emitter that transmits light via the optical fiber to the diaphragm; a detector that detects reflected light from the diaphragm the optical fiber; circuitry that generates pressure information based on the detected light; and a fixation mechanism that positions the optical fiber proximate a sphincter within a patient, wherein the diaphragm deflects in response to exertion of pressure against the flexible tube section by the sphincter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification