Method for protecting a resonating sensor
First Claim
1. A method for protecting an implantable, passive ultrasonically excitable resonating sensor from deposition of extraneous materials thereupon, the method comprising:
- providing a sensor having a passive ultrasonically excitable resonating sensor unit, said sensor unit including a substrate and a vibratable member, and a recess disposed between said vibratable member and said substrate to define a first chamber, said first chamber being a sensor unit chamber, said vibratable member having a resonance frequency that varies as a function of a physical variable in a measurement environment in which said sensor is disposed in response to an interrogating ultrasound beam; and
forming a second chamber having walls to protect said vibratable member from the deposition of extraneous material thereupon, said second chamber defined between said vibratable member and a compliant member and filled with a substantially non-compressible medium, said compliant member having a first side and a second side and forming at least part of the walls of said second chamber, said vibratable member forming at least part of the walls of said second chamber;
wherein said substantially non-compressible medium is in contact with said compliant member and said vibratable member;
wherein said first side of said compliant member is in contact with a measurement environment to form a first interface when said sensor is disposed in said measurement environment and said second side of said compliant member is in contact with said substantially non-compressible medium to form a second interface; and
wherein said compliant member comprises a structure that limits reflection of said interrogating ultrasound beam at said first interface and said second interface, said structure selected from the group consisting of a material, a thickness, and a material and thickness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of protecting a resonating sensor is described. The protected resonating sensor may include at least one passive ultrasonically excitable resonating sensor unit. Each sensor unit has one or more vibratable members having a resonating frequency that varies as a function of a physical variable in a measurement environment. The sensor is protected by forming one or more protective chambers defined between a compliant member and the vibratable member(s). A substantially non-compressible medium is disposed within the protective chamber(s). The compliant member has a first side that may be exposed to a measurement environment and a second side that may be exposed to the substantially non-compressible medium. The substantially non-compressible medium may be a liquid or gel and is in contact with the vibratable member(s). When the medium is a liquid, the chamber is sealed. When the medium is a gel, the chamber may be sealed or non-sealed.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for protecting an implantable, passive ultrasonically excitable resonating sensor from deposition of extraneous materials thereupon, the method comprising:
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providing a sensor having a passive ultrasonically excitable resonating sensor unit, said sensor unit including a substrate and a vibratable member, and a recess disposed between said vibratable member and said substrate to define a first chamber, said first chamber being a sensor unit chamber, said vibratable member having a resonance frequency that varies as a function of a physical variable in a measurement environment in which said sensor is disposed in response to an interrogating ultrasound beam; and forming a second chamber having walls to protect said vibratable member from the deposition of extraneous material thereupon, said second chamber defined between said vibratable member and a compliant member and filled with a substantially non-compressible medium, said compliant member having a first side and a second side and forming at least part of the walls of said second chamber, said vibratable member forming at least part of the walls of said second chamber; wherein said substantially non-compressible medium is in contact with said compliant member and said vibratable member;
wherein said first side of said compliant member is in contact with a measurement environment to form a first interface when said sensor is disposed in said measurement environment and said second side of said compliant member is in contact with said substantially non-compressible medium to form a second interface; and
wherein said compliant member comprises a structure that limits reflection of said interrogating ultrasound beam at said first interface and said second interface, said structure selected from the group consisting of a material, a thickness, and a material and thickness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification