Sensor unit and procedure for monitoring intracranial physiological properties
First Claim
1. An sensor unit configured to position a sensing element for monitoring a physiological parameter within a cavity of a living body, the sensor unit comprising:
- an anchor comprising;
a shank portion defining a distal end of the anchor, the shank portion having an outer cross-sectional shape that defines a maximum outer cross-sectional dimension thereof, the shank portion having a bore defining an opening at the distal end of the anchor, the opening having a cross-sectional shape; and
a head portion defining a proximal end of the anchor and having an outer cross-sectional shape that defines a larger cross-sectional dimension than the maximum outer cross-sectional dimension of the shank portion;
a sensing device comprising a hermetically-sealed housing that has an outer cross-sectional shape, a proximal end, and an oppositely-disposed distal end at which the sensing element is disposed, the housing containing processing circuitry electrically coupled to the sensing element; and
a telemetry antennae adapted to communicate with the processing circuitry within the housing of the sensing device;
wherein the opening in the shank portion of the anchor has a cross-sectional shape that is complementary to the outer cross-sectional shape of the housing of the sensing device, the housing is assembled with the anchor through the opening in the shank portion so that at least the proximal end of the housing is within the bore of the anchor, the distal end of the housing is exposed by the opening of the bore, the housing closes the opening in the bore to prevent biological matter from entering the bore, and the sensing element is exposed by the opening of the bore to sense the physiological parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An anchor for an implantable sensing device, a sensor unit formed by the anchor and sensing device, and a surgical procedure for implanting the sensor unit for monitoring a physiological parameter within a cavity of a living body, such as an intracranial physiological property. The anchor includes a shank portion and a head portion. The shank portion defines a distal end of the anchor and has a bore defining an opening at the distal end. The head portion defines a proximal end of the anchor and has a larger cross-sectional dimension than the shank portion. The sensor unit comprises the anchor and the sensing device placed and secured within the bore of the anchor so that a sensing element of the sensing device is exposed for sensing the physiological parameter within the cavity.
48 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An sensor unit configured to position a sensing element for monitoring a physiological parameter within a cavity of a living body, the sensor unit comprising:
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an anchor comprising; a shank portion defining a distal end of the anchor, the shank portion having an outer cross-sectional shape that defines a maximum outer cross-sectional dimension thereof, the shank portion having a bore defining an opening at the distal end of the anchor, the opening having a cross-sectional shape; and a head portion defining a proximal end of the anchor and having an outer cross-sectional shape that defines a larger cross-sectional dimension than the maximum outer cross-sectional dimension of the shank portion; a sensing device comprising a hermetically-sealed housing that has an outer cross-sectional shape, a proximal end, and an oppositely-disposed distal end at which the sensing element is disposed, the housing containing processing circuitry electrically coupled to the sensing element; and a telemetry antennae adapted to communicate with the processing circuitry within the housing of the sensing device; wherein the opening in the shank portion of the anchor has a cross-sectional shape that is complementary to the outer cross-sectional shape of the housing of the sensing device, the housing is assembled with the anchor through the opening in the shank portion so that at least the proximal end of the housing is within the bore of the anchor, the distal end of the housing is exposed by the opening of the bore, the housing closes the opening in the bore to prevent biological matter from entering the bore, and the sensing element is exposed by the opening of the bore to sense the physiological parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A surgical procedure comprising:
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providing an anchor comprising a shank portion that defines a distal end of the anchor and a head portion that defines a proximal end of the anchor, the shank portion having a bore defining an opening at the distal end of the anchor, the opening having a cross-sectional shape; assembling a sensor unit by placing a sensing device through the opening in the distal end of the shank portion of the anchor and into the bore within the shank portion so that the distal end of the anchor or a distal end of the sensing device defines a distal end of the sensor unit, the sensing device closes the opening in the bore to prevent biological matter from entering the bore, and a sensing element of the sensing device is exposed at the distal end of the sensor unit by the opening of the bore, the sensing element being adapted to sense a physiological parameter; making an incision in the scalp of a patient to expose a portion of the skull; making a hole through the skull; placing the shank portion of the anchor the hole such that the distal end of the sensor unit is flush with or protrudes into the cranial cavity within the skull and the head portion of the anchor contacts the skull; securing the anchor to the skull such that the sensing device is secured to the skull by the anchor and the hole is occluded by the anchor; and
thentelemetrically communicating with the sensing device to obtain a reading of the physiological parameter using a readout device located outside the patient. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification