Implantable pressure transducer system optimized to correct environmental factors

• US 9,060,696 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eigler, Neal L., Mann, Brian M., Whiting, James S., Hafelfinger, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US11/116,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,709 Days
• Field of Search: 600/481, 600/483, 600/485, 600/486, 600/488, 600/561
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

This invention relates generally to systems and methods for optimizing the performance and minimizing complications related to implanted sensors, such as pressure sensors, for the purposes of detecting, diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease in a medical patient. Systems and methods for anchoring implanted sensors to various body structures is also provided.

Claims

1. An implantable sensing system, comprising:

a biocompatible sensor housing,

a pressure sensing interface hermetically sealed to the sensor housing; and

a plurality of strain gauges joined to the pressure sensing interface, wherein said plurality of strain gauges comprises an inner set of strain gauges and an outer set of strain gauges wherein said inner set is generally located about a center of said sensing interface and said outer set is generally located near a periphery of said sensing interface;

wherein the plurality of strain gauges are arranged in a Wheatstone bridge configuration and wherein the plurality of strain gauges are arranged on the pressure sensing interface to cancel side load force effects.

2. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of strain gauges comprises a silicon strain gauge.

3. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 2, wherein said silicon strain gauge comprises an insulation layer.

4. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 3, wherein said insulation layer of the silicon strain gauge comprises silicon dioxide grown on a bottom of the silicon strain gauge.

5. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 1, wherein said inner set of strain gauges and said outer set of strain gauges are generally oriented orthogonally on said pressure sensing interface.

6. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 1, wherein said inner set of strain gauges and said outer set of strain gauges are generally oriented about 180 degrees apart on said sensing interface.

7. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 1, wherein said temperature compensation provides temperature-related information over a physiological range of temperatures.

8. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one strain gauge has a frequency response between about 500 Hz to about 2000 Hz.

9. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one strain gauge has a frequency response less than about 500 Hz.

10. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 1, wherein at least one strain gauge has a frequency response greater than about 2000 Hz.

11. The implantable pressure sensing system of claim 1, further comprising at least one semiconductor component configured to at least one function selected from the group comprising:

power control, pressure signal transduction, local signal processing and data telemetry.

12. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauges have substantially identical temperature coefficients.

13. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauges are oriented such that differential resistance changes between the strain gauges substantially cancel.

14. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauges are oriented such that common-mode resistance changes between the strain gauges are added.

15. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauges depend on temperature in a similar manner.

16. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 1, further comprising anchors configured to secure the biocompatible sensor housing to an atrial septum of a medical patient'"'"'s heart.

17. The implantable pressuring sensing system of claim 16, wherein the anchors comprise at least one proximal anchor and at least one distal anchor.