System for monitoring temperature

• US 8,555,894 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Schulman, Joseph H., Gord, John C., Wolfe, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US10/920,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,345 Days
• Field of Search: 600/549, 600/300, 128/897, 128/898, 128/903, 128/904
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• 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 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5058 having means for restoring the perception of senses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A system for monitoring temperature in a body, the system comprising at least one implantable device, wherein the implantable device(s) is operable to sense temperature in the body and to generate status signals based on the sensed temperature in the body. The system further comprising a system control unit for wirelessly communicating with the implantable device(s), and the system control unit comprising a signal receiver for receiving the status signals, and also a programmable controller for producing notification signals based on the received status signals. A notification unit can alternatively communicate with the system control unit or the implantable device(s) for disclosing the sensed body temperature based on the notification signals.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring temperature in a body, the system comprising:

at least one implantable device comprising a hermetically sealed elongate housing configured for implantation in a body, said sealed housing having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, wherein said at least one implantable device is operable to sense temperature in the body and to generate status signals based on the sensed temperature in the body, said at least one implantable device configured for bidirectional wireless communication; and

a system control unit configured for bidirectional wireless communication with the at least one implantable device, said system control unit comprising;

a housing;

a signal receiver in said housing for receiving the status signals; and

a programmable controller in said housing for producing notification signals based on the received status signals;

a notification unit communicating with the system control unit for disclosing the sensed body temperature based on the notification signals.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery configured for powering the at least one implantable device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system control unit further comprises:

a signal transmitter in said housing for transmitting command signals, wherein said system control unit controls controllable operating parameters in said at least one implantable device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system control unit commands the at least one implantable device to generate the status signals based on the sensed temperature in the body.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the notification unit is an audible alarm system.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the notification unit is a display unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the display unit is a graphic display.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the system control unit is suitable for implantation in the body.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a first implantable device is placed in a first position and a second implantable device is placed in a second position, and wherein the system control unit is adapted to determine a temperature difference between the first position and the second position based on the status signals received from the first implantable device and the second implantable device.

10. A system for monitoring temperature in a body, the system comprising:

at least one implantable device comprising a hermetically sealed elongate housing configured for implantation in a body, said sealed housing having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, wherein said at least one implantable device is operable to sense temperature in the body and to generate communication signals responsive to the sensed body temperature; and

a notification unit, communicating with the at least one implantable device, for disclosing the sensed body temperature.