Method and apparatus for in-vivo physiological monitoring

• US 8,494,623 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.), Stanford University
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Lin, Bryant, Wang, Paul J., Al-Ahmad, Amin, Koh, Dorothea, Guion-Johnson, Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinga, Roland
• Application Number:
  US12/481,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/124, 607/133, 607/138, 600/515
• US Class Current: 600/515
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/008 Detecting noise of gastric tract, e.g. caused by voiding

Abstract

A method is provided that includes providing a monitoring apparatus including one or more modules within a target cavity or lumen of a body. The one or more modules are provided within the target cavity or lumen in a first state in which the monitoring apparatus is configured to remain within the target cavity or lumen. The method further includes monitoring physiological conditions of the body using one or more sensors within the one or more modules, and providing the one or more modules in a second state in which the monitoring apparatus is configured to exit the target cavity or lumen.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus comprising:

a plurality of modules connected in series configured to be provided within a target cavity or lumen of a body,

wherein one or more of the plurality of modules is configured to continuously monitor physiological conditions of the body, and

wherein the plurality of modules are configured to be provided

in a first state in which each of the plurality of modules is locked to another one or more of the plurality of modules to form a closed ring shape and said monitoring apparatus is configured to remain within the target cavity or lumen without fixing to a wall of the target cavity or lumen, and

in a different second state in which the plurality of modules separate from each other and said monitoring apparatus is configured to exit the target cavity or lumen, and

wherein a state indicates a form of a collection of the plurality of modules.

2. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more modules are configured to be provided in a third state in which said monitoring apparatus is configured to be inserted within the target cavity or lumen.

3. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more modules are configured to transform into said second state based upon a signal generated from a component within said one or more modules.

4. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more modules includes a module configured to wirelessly transmit and receive communications from an external device provided outside of the body.

5. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said one or more modules are configured to transform into said second state based upon a signal from the external device.

6. A method comprising:

providing a monitoring apparatus including a plurality of modules connected in series within a target cavity or lumen of a body, wherein the plurality of modules are provided within the target cavity or lumen in a first state in which each of the plurality of modules is locked to another one or more of the plurality of modules to form a closed ring shape and the monitoring apparatus is configured to remain within the target cavity or lumen without fixing to a wall of the target cavity or lumen;

monitoring physiological conditions of the body using one or more sensors within one or more of the plurality of modules; and

providing the one or more modules in a different second state in which the plurality of modules separate from each other and the monitoring apparatus is configured to exit the target cavity or lumen,

wherein a state indicates a form of a collection of the plurality of modules.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring apparatus is implanted within the target cavity or lumen with the one or more modules in a third state in which the monitoring apparatus is configured to be inserted into the target cavity or lumen.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the monitoring apparatus is implanted within the target cavity or lumen using a delivery portion, wherein the monitoring apparatus is detachably attached to the delivery portion in the third state during implantation into the target cavity or lumen, wherein the delivery portion is used to transform and lock the monitoring apparatus into the first state within the target cavity or lumen, and wherein the delivery portion is used to detach the monitoring apparatus from the delivery portion within the target cavity or lumen.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the one or more modules are provided into the second state based upon a signal generated from a component within the one or more modules.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the one or more modules includes a module that is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive communications from an external device provided outside of the body.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving a signal at the module from the external device, wherein the one or more modules are provided into the second state based upon the signal received from the external device.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising transmitting data regarding the monitored physiological conditions of the body to the external device from within the target cavity or lumen.