Flexible and scalable sensor arrays for recording and modulating physiologic activity

• US 9,107,592 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Inventors: Litt, Brian, Viventi, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAIRCHILD, MALLIKA DIPAYAN
• Application Number:
  US12/921,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20110054583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,350 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• 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 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• 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 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/2686 using incoherent radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/28 : Manufacture of electrodes on semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/268 etching for patterning the electrodes H01L21/311, H01L21/3213; multistep manufacturing processes for data storage electrodes H01L29/4011
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/56 : Encapsulations, e.g. encapsulation layers, coatings

Abstract

An implantable sensor array incorporates active electronic elements to greatly increase the number of sensors and their density that can be simultaneously recorded and activated. The sensors can be of various configurations and types, for example: optical, chemical, temperature, pressure or other sensors including effectors for applying signals to surrounding tissues. The sensors/effectors are arranged on a flexible and stretchable substrate with incorporated active components that allow the effective size, configuration, number and pattern of sensors/effectors to be dynamically changed, as needed, through a wired or wireless means of communication. Active processing allows many channels to be combined either through analog or digital means such that the number of wires exiting the array can be substantially reduced compared to the number of sensors/effectors on the array.

Claims

1. An implantable multi-purpose sensor array, comprising:

a flexible substrate adapted for implantation in the tissue of the patient;

an array of sensors arranged on said substrate; and

switches incorporated into said flexible substrate, said switches arranged between adjacent sensors so as to selectively connect respective adjacent sensors to each other so as to enable the effective size, configuration and number of sensors to be dynamically changed.

2. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said sensors comprise electrodes, optical sensors, chemical sensors, force sensors, and/or temperature sensors.

3. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said switches comprise analog or digital switches arranged between adjacent sensors, said switches being responsive to logic for selectively opening or closing to selectively connect the respective adjacent sensors to each other.

4. A sensor array as in claim 3, wherein a plurality of sensors are connected by said switches to form a macrosensor.

5. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said switches are flexible and/or stretchable.

6. A sensor array as in claim 1, further comprising an amplifier and an analog to digital converter incorporated into said flexible substrate for amplifying and digitizing signals detected by said sensors.

7. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said switches are responsive to configuration and control signals provided by wire or wirelessly to said array of sensors.

8. A sensor array as in claim 7, further comprising a processor that provides said configuration and control signals to said array of sensors, wherein the processor is incorporated into the flexible substrate.

9. A sensor array as in claim 8, wherein said processor includes an algorithm that tracks the position of respective sensors and identifies migration of said sensors within tissue.

10. A sensor array as in claim 1, further comprising a buffer amplifier at each sensor and a set of multiplexing switches arranged in rows and columns, wherein the buffer amplifier is incorporated into said flexible substrate.

11. A sensor array as in claim 10, further comprising an output amplifier that receives and amplifies the outputs of all sensors, wherein the output amplifier is incorporated into said flexible substrate.

12. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors comprises at least 100×

100 sensors in an area no greater than 36 cm².

13. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said switches are arranged to enable sampling from a large number of sensors simultaneously.

14. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are formed into a hollow or solid cylindrical shape to be implanted into a deep brain structure, wrapped around a nerve bundle or auditory nerve, a blood vessel, a peripheral or cranial nerve, or provided outside or inside a viscus or in or around the heart or eye.

15. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are configured for disposal in a chamber in which biological material removed from the body is placed to record from or monitor activity from the biological materials after removal from the body.

16. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are formed into a device suitable for cardiac implantation or for recording from peripheral or cranial nerves, a spinal cord, a heart, a viscus or other biological target in a patient.

17. A sensor array as in claim 16, wherein said device comprises a stent that is deployable within a patient'"'"'s body.

18. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors receive power from at least one source outside of a patient'"'"'s body.

19. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein said array of sensors are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration.

20. An implantable multi-purpose effector array for applying stimulation to adjacent tissue of a patient, comprising:

a flexible substrate adapted for implantation in the tissue of the patient;

an array of electrodes arranged on said substrate, said electrodes comprising effectors or optical emitters that apply stimulation signals to the adjacent tissue of the patient when implanted in the tissue of the patient; and

switches incorporated into said flexible substrate, said switches arranged between adjacent electrodes so as to selectively connect respective adjacent electrodes to each other so as to enable the effective size, configuration and number of electrodes to be dynamically changed.

21. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said switches comprise analog or digital switches arranged between adjacent electrodes, said switches being responsive to logic for selectively opening or closing to selectively connect the respective adjacent electrodes to each other.

22. An effector array as in claim 21, wherein a plurality of electrodes are connected by said switches to form a macroelectrode.

23. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said switches are flexible and/or stretchable.

24. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said switches are responsive to configuration and control signals provided by wire or wirelessly to said array of electrodes.

25. An effector array as in claim 24, further comprising a processor that provides said configuration and control signals to said array of electrodes, wherein said processor is incorporated into said flexible substrate.

26. An effector array as in claim 25, wherein said processor includes an algorithm that tracks the position of respective electrodes and identifies migration of said electrodes within tissue.

27. An effector array as in claim 20, further comprising a buffer amplifier at each electrode and a set of multiplexing switches arranged in rows and columns, wherein said buffer amplifier is incorporated into said flexible substrate.

28. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes comprises at least 100×

100 electrodes in an area no greater than 36 cm².

29. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes are formed into a hollow or solid cylindrical shape to be implanted into a deep brain structure, wrapped around a nerve bundle or auditory nerve, a blood vessel, a peripheral or cranial nerve, or provided outside or inside a viscus or in or around the heart or eye.

30. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes are formed into a device suitable for cardiac implantation or for implantation on or near peripheral or cranial nerves, a spinal cord, a viscus or other biological target in a patient and for applying stimulation thereto.

31. An effector array as in claim 30, wherein said device comprises a stent that is deployable within a patient'"'"'s body.

32. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes receive power from at least one source outside of a patient'"'"'s body.

33. An effector array as in claim 20, wherein said array of electrodes are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration.