System for manufacturing a swallowable sensor device

• US 9,730,336 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innurvation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innurvation Incorporated
• Inventors: Arneson, Michael R., Davenport, Roger A., Sloan, Michael C., Bandy, William R., Powell, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THIEM D
• Application Number:
  US14/516,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20150033552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 29757, 29705, 29729, 29760, 29787, 29801, 29829, 29830, 29841, 600101, 600160, 600373, 600459, 600476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/144 Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/36 Assembling printed circuits with other printed circuits H05K7/142 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• 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 29/49126 Assembling bases
• 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 29/53022 with means to test work or product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53252 Means to simultaneously fasten three or more parts

Abstract

Methods and systems for manufacturing a swallowable sensor device are disclosed. Such a method includes mechanically coupling a plurality of internal components, wherein the plurality of internal components includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of projections extending radially outward. A cavity is filled with a potting material, and the mechanically coupled components are inserted into the cavity. The cavity may be pre-filled with the potting material, or may be filled after the mechanically coupled components have been inserted therein. A distal end of each projection abuts against a wall of the cavity thereby preventing the potting material from covering each distal end. The cavity is sealed with a cap causing the potting material to harden within the sealed cavity to form a housing of the swallowable sensor device, wherein the distal end of each projection is exposed to an external environment of the swallowable sensor device.

Claims

1. A system for manufacturing a swallowable sensor device, comprising:

means for mechanically coupling a plurality of internal components of the swallowable sensor device, wherein the plurality of internal components includes a printed circuit (PC) board having a plurality of projections extending radially outward;

means for filling a cavity with a potting material;

means for inserting the mechanically coupled components into the cavity, a distal end of each projection abutting against a side wall of the cavity thereby preventing the potting material from covering the distal end of each projection; and

means for sealing the cavity with a cap, wherein the potting material hardens within the sealed cavity to form a housing of the swallowable sensor device such that the distal end of each projection is exposed to an external environment of the swallowable sensor device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for filling the cavity comprises means for filling the cavity with the potting material before inserting the mechanically coupled components therein.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for filling the cavity comprises means for filling the cavity with the potting material after inserting the mechanically coupled components therein.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for mechanically coupling the plurality of internal components comprises a post.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a first end of the post abuts against a base of the cavity and a second end of the post abuts against the cap thereby preventing the potting material from covering the first and second ends of the post.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for providing a voltage between the first and second ends of the post to test operability of the swallowable sensor device.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the post provides an electrical coupling between the plurality of internal components.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the post comprises a transducer configured to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of internal components are annularly-shaped and mechanically coupled by the post along a common central axis.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the projections comprises an electrode, and the system further comprises means for electrically coupling a sensor to the electrode.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the projections comprises a hollow tubing coupled to a container, wherein the container is included inside the housing of the swallowable sensor device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of internal components includes a battery.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of internal components includes a transducer that is configured to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy.