Systems and methods for encapsulating electronics in a mountable device

• US 9,161,712 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2013
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Etzkorn, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): WESTON, TIFFANY C
• Application Number:
  US13/850,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20140296672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 600/319, 600/347, 600/345, 600/365, 35115901-15973, 351/159.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/101 for examining the tear film
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6813 Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part A61B5/6802 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/186 manufactured by mounting on or connecting to patterned circuits before or during embedding
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/048 using a lift-off resist pattern or a release layer pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4682 Manufacture of core-less build-up multilayer circuits on a temporary carrier or on a metal foil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49146 : with encapsulating, e.g., potting, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base

Abstract

A mountable device includes a bio-compatible structure embedded in a polymer that defines at least one mounting surface. The bio-compatible structure has a first side defined by a first layer of bio-compatible material, a second side defined by a second layer of bio-compatible material, an electronic component, and a conductive pattern that defines sensor electrodes. A portion of the second layer of bio-compatible material is removed by etching to create at least one opening in the second side in which the sensor electrodes are exposed. The etching further removes a portion of the first layer of bio-compatible material so as to create at least one opening in the first side that is connected to the at least opening in the second side. With this arrangement of openings, analytes can reach the sensor electrodes from either the first side or the second side of the bio-compatible structure.

Claims

1. A mountable device, comprising:

a polymer, wherein the polymer defines at least one mounting surface of the mountable device; and

a bio-compatible structure embedded in the polymer, wherein the bio-compatible structure has a first side and a second side opposite the first side and comprises an electronic component and sensor electrodes electrically connected to the electronic component, wherein the sensor electrodes include a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion in which the second portion is between the first and third portions, wherein a bio-compatible material fully encapsulates the bio-compatible structure except for the sensor electrodes, wherein the bio-compatible structure has at least one opening in the second side over the sensor electrodes and at least a first opening and a second opening in the first side, and wherein the first opening in the first side is connected to the at least one opening in the second side directly between the first portion and the second portion of the sensor electrodes and the second opening in the first side is connected to the at least one opening in the second side directly between the second portion and the third portion of the sensor electrodes.

2. The mountable device of claim 1, wherein the bio-compatible structure further comprises an antenna electrically connected to the electronic component.

3. The mountable device of claim 1, wherein the bio-compatible structure further comprises a reagent layer in the at least one opening in the second side.

4. The mountable device of claim 3, wherein the reagent layer extends into the first and second openings in the first side.

6. The mountable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting surface comprises a concave surface shaped for mounting to a corneal surface.

5. The mountable device of 3, wherein the reagent layer comprises glucose oxidase.