Breast implant with regionalized analyte sensors and internal power source

• US 8,795,359 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Boyden, Edward S., Della Rocca, Gregory J., Hawkins, Daniel, Hyde, Roderick A., Langer, Robert, Leuthardt, Eric C., Myckatyn, Terence, Parikh, Parag Jitendra, Rivet, Dennis J., Shimony, Joshua S., Smith, Michael A., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US13/495,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 623 7- 8
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/06 Arrangements of multiple sensors of different types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/162 Capsule shaped sensor housings, e.g. for swallowing or implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14735 comprising an immobilised reagent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6867 specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part A61B5/6847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/528 Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/57415 of breast

Abstract

Breast implants including sensor modules and related methods are described herein. Breast implants include those with: a shell configured to be substantially filled with a viscous material; a plurality of projections extending from an external surface of the shell, the projections forming a plurality of compartments adjacent to the external surface of the shell; at least one fluid-permeable cover attached to the projections, the cover completely enveloping the shell and the plurality of projections; a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell, each of the sensor modules oriented to detect one or more analytes in a fluid within one of the plurality of compartments, wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules includes a unique identifier; and at least one power source operably attached to the plurality of sensor modules.

Claims

1. A breast implant comprising:

a shell configured to be substantially filled with a viscous material;

a plurality of projections extending from an external surface of the shell, each of the plurality of projections including a first end surface sealed to the external surface of the shell, the projections forming a plurality of compartments adjacent to the external surface of the shell;

at least one fluid-permeable cover attached to the projections, each of the plurality of projections including a second end surface sealed to a surface of the cover, the cover completely enveloping the shell and the plurality of projections;

a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell, each of the sensor modules positioned within one of the plurality of compartments, wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules includes a unique identifier; and

at least one power source operably attached to the plurality of sensor modules.

2. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartments comprise:

a region of the at least one fluid-permeable cover forming a side of each of the compartments, the region including at least one set of influx microchannels configured to direct the fluid into the compartment, and including at least one set of efflux microchannels configured to direct the fluid out of the compartment.

3. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

a mesh structure.

4. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

an analyte-permeable cover.

5. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

a porous structure.

6. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell comprise:

at least one sensor module configured to detect at least two analytes in the fluid within a compartment, wherein the at least two analytes are of different types.

7. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell comprise:

at least two sensor types in each sensor module.

8. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell are configured to detect one or more biological analytes arising from biological tissue.

9. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor modules are configured to be rechargeable.

10. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier for each of the plurality of sensor modules comprises:

an alphanumeric code.

11. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier for each of the plurality of sensor modules comprises:

a positional identifier.

12. The breast implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one power source is configured to be rechargeable.

13. A breast implant comprising:

a shell configured to be substantially filled with a viscous material;

a plurality of projections extending from an external surface of the shell, each of the plurality of projections including a first end surface sealed to the external surface of the shell, the projections forming a plurality of compartments adjacent to the external surface of the shell;

at least one fluid-permeable cover attached to the projections, each of the plurality of projections including a second end surface sealed to a surface of the cover, the cover completely enveloping the shell and the plurality of projections;

a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell, each of the sensor modules positioned within one of the plurality of compartments, wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules includes a unique identifier;

at least one processor operably attached to the plurality of sensor modules; and

at least one power source operably attached to the at least one processor.

14. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the plurality of compartments comprise:

a region of the at least one fluid-permeable cover forming a side of each of the compartments, the region including at least one set of influx microchannels configured to direct the fluid into the compartment, and including at least one set of efflux microchannels configured to direct the fluid out of the compartment.

15. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

an analyte-permeable cover.

16. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

a porous structure.

17. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell comprise:

at least one sensor module configured to detect at least two analytes in the fluid within a compartment, wherein the at least two analytes are of different types.

18. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell comprise:

at least two sensor types in each sensor module.

19. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell are configured to detect one or more biological analytes arising from biological tissue.

20. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensor modules are configured to be rechargeable.

21. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the unique identifier for each of the plurality of sensor modules comprises:

an alphanumeric code.

22. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the unique identifier for each of the plurality of sensor modules comprises:

a positional identifier.

23. The breast implant of claim 13, wherein the at least one power source is configured to be rechargeable.

24. A breast implant comprising:

a shell configured to be substantially filled with a viscous material;

a plurality of projections extending from an external surface of the shell, each of the plurality of projections including a first end surface sealed to the external surface of the shell, the projections forming a plurality of compartments adjacent to the external surface of the shell;

at least one fluid-permeable cover attached to the projections, each of the plurality of projections including a second end surface sealed to a surface of the cover, the cover completely enveloping the shell and the plurality of projections;

a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell, each of the sensor modules positioned within one of the plurality of compartments, wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules includes a unique identifier;

at least one processor operably attached to the plurality of sensor modules;

at least one power source operably attached to the at least one processor; and

at least one transmission unit operably attached to the at least one processor.

25. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the plurality of compartments comprise:

a region of the at least one fluid-permeable cover forming a side of each of the compartments, the region including at least one set of influx microchannels configured to direct the fluid into the compartment, and including at least one set of efflux microchannels configured to direct the fluid out of the compartment.

26. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

a mesh structure.

27. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

an analyte-permeable cover.

28. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the at least one fluid-permeable cover comprises:

a porous structure.

29. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell comprise:

at least one sensor module configured to detect at least two analytes in the fluid between the shell and the cover, wherein the at least two analytes are of different types.

30. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell comprise:

at least two sensor types in each sensor module.

31. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell are configured to detect one or more biological analytes arising in biological tissue.

32. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the plurality of sensor modules are configured to be rechargable.

33. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the unique identifier for each of the plurality of sensor modules comprises:

an alphanumeric code.

34. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the unique identifier for each of the plurality of sensor modules comprises:

a positional identifier.

35. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the at least one power source is configured to be rechargeable.

36. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the at least one transmission unit comprises:

a radio-frequency transmitter.

37. The breast implant of claim 24, wherein the at least one transmission unit comprises:

an infrared transmitter.

38. A breast implant comprising:

a shell configured to be substantially filled with a viscous material;

a plurality of projections extending from an external surface of the shell, each of the plurality of projections including a first end surface sealed to the external surface of the shell, the projections forming a plurality of compartments adjacent to the external surface of the shell;

a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell, each of the sensor modules positioned within one of the plurality of compartments;

at least one transmission unit attached to the plurality of sensor modules; and

at least one power source attached to the plurality of sensor modules and to the transmission unit.

39. The breast implant of claim 38, wherein the plurality of sensor modules are positioned on the shell with a distance between the sensor modules.

40. The breast implant of claim 38, comprising:

at least one switch attached to both the at least one transmission unit and the plurality of sensor modules, the at least one switch configured to activate the transmission unit in response to a signal from one or more of the sensor modules.