Thermocouple device

• US 9,786,829 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micropen Technologies Corporation (Heico Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Micropen Technologies Corporation (Heico Corporation)
• Inventors: Grande, William J., Shaw-Klein, Lori J., Min, Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, Bethany L
• Application Number:
  US13/051,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20110277803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 136200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/028 using microstructures, e.g. made of silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/17 characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a thermocouple device comprising a flexible non-planar substrate, a first printed thermocouple element comprising a first metal containing ink composition applied to the flexible non-planar substrate, and a second printed thermocouple element in electrical contact with the first printed thermocouple element making a thermocouple junction. The second printed thermocouple element comprises a second metal containing ink composition with a Seebeck coefficient sufficiently different from the first metal containing ink composition for the first and second printed thermocouple elements to together produce a thermocouple effect. The present application further relates to medical devices comprising the thermocouple and methods of making such devices.

Claims

1. A thermocouple device comprising:

a medical device comprising a polymer substrate formed of poly(vinyl chloride) comprising a substantially tubular portion;

a first thermocouple element printed directly on the substantially tubular portion with no substrate between the first thermocouple element and the substantially tubular portion, the first thermocouple element comprising a first metal containing ink composition comprising a polymeric binder and metallic particles; and

a second printed thermocouple element in electrical contact with the first printed thermocouple element making a thermocouple junction, the second printed thermocouple element comprising a second metal containing ink composition comprising a polymeric binder and metallic particles with a Seebeck coefficient sufficiently different from the first metal containing ink composition for the first and second printed thermocouple elements to together produce a thermocouple effect, wherein the polymeric binders of the first and second ink compositions independently comprise poly(vinyl chloride) and are entangled with the substrate.

2. The thermocouple device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially tubular portion has an irregular surface.

3. The thermocouple device according to claim 1 further comprising:

electrical connectors electrically coupled to the first and second printed thermocouple elements.

4. The thermocouple device according to claim 3 further comprising:

a voltage reader operably coupled to the electrical connectors to measure the voltage between the first and second printed thermocouple elements.

5. The thermocouple device according to claim 3 further comprising:

a voltage source operably coupled to the electrical connectors to apply current to the first and second printed thermocouple elements.

6. The thermocouple device according to claim 1 further comprising:

an overcoat layer covering the first and second printed thermocouple elements.

7. The thermocouple device according to claim 6, wherein the overcoat layer is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, polyacrylate, silicone or natural rubber, polyester, polyethylene napthalate, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl fluoride ethyl-vinyl acetate, ethylene acrylic acid, acetyl polymer, poly(vinyl chloride), silicone, polyurethane, polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyether-amide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyhydroxyalkanoate, poly(p-xylylene), liquid crystal polymer, polymethylmethacrylate, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyvalerate, polyvinyl chloride, polyphosphazene, poly(ε

-caprolactone) and mixtures or copolymers thereof.

8. The thermocouple device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second metal containing ink compositions independently comprise a metal powder selected from the group consisting of copper, palladium, chromel, alumel, rhenium, nickel-chromium-silicon, constantan, cadmium, aluminum, platinum, rhodium, iridium, molybdenum, tantalum, beryllium, zinc, tin, chromium, nickel, nickel-chromium, nickel-aluminum, nickel-silicon, iron, tungsten, lead, silver, gold, magnesium, silicon or alloys thereof.

9. The thermocouple device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printed thermocouple elements collectively have a thickness of 0.1 to 500 microns.

10. The thermocouple device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second printed thermocouple elements collectively have a thickness of 12 to 80 microns.

11. The thermocouple device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of thermocouple junctions formed by a combination of a plurality of printed thermocouple elements.

12. The thermocouple device according to claim 3 further comprising:

a voltage reader operably coupled to the electrical connectors to measure the voltage between the first and/or second printed thermocouple elements and

a radio frequency module operably coupled to the electrical connectors of the first and/or second printed thermocouple elements to generate radio frequency waves or to detect radio frequency waves.

13. The thermocouple device according to claim 12, wherein the radio frequency module can be a radio frequency generator, radio frequency detector, or a combination thereof.

14. The thermocouple device according to claim 12 further comprising:

a switching module which selectively couples the electrical connectors of the first and/or second printed thermocouple elements to the voltage reader or the radio frequency module.

15. The thermocouple device according to claim 12, wherein the electrical connectors of the first and/or second printed thermocouple elements are permanently connected to the voltage reader and the radio frequency module.

20. A system comprising:

the thermocouple device according to claim 1 and

another device, wherein the thermocouple device is operably connected to the another device to control or monitor the another device'"'"'s function.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of endotracheal tubes, endobronchial tubes, cannulae, catheters, balloons, stents, airways, sensors, stimulators, implants, cochlear implants, and orthopedic implants or prostheses.

22. The thermocouple device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially tubular portion is flexible.

23. The thermocouple device according to claim 1, wherein the medical device is a catheter.

16. A heated thermocouple device comprising:

a medical device comprising a polymer substrate formed of poly(vinyl chloride) comprising a substantially tubular portion;

a first thermocouple element printed directly on the substantially tubular portion with no substrate between the first thermocouple element and the substantially tubular portion, the first thermocouple element comprising a first metal containing ink composition comprising a polymeric binder comprising poly(vinyl chloride) and metallic particles;

a second printed thermocouple element applied to the substantially tubular portion and comprising a second metal containing ink composition comprising a polymeric binder comprising poly(vinyl chloride) and metallic particles with a Seebeck coefficient sufficiently different from the first metal containing ink composition for the first and second printed thermocouple elements to together produce a thermocouple effect; and

a heater element applied to the substantially tubular device and comprising a third metal containing ink composition comprising a polymeric binder and metallic particles, wherein said heater element is electrically connected to the first and second printed thermocouple elements, wherein the polymeric binders of the first and second ink compositions are entangled with the substrate.

17. The heated thermocouple device according to claim 16 further comprising:

electrical connectors coupled to the first and second printed thermocouple elements.

18. The heated thermocouple device according to claim 17 further comprising:

a voltage reader operably coupled to the electrical connectors to measure the voltage between the first and second printed thermocouple elements and

a voltage source operably coupled to the electrical connectors to apply current to the first and second printed thermocouple elements.

19. The heated thermocouple device according to claim 18 further comprising:

a switching module which selectively couples the electrical connectors of the first and second printed thermocouple elements to the voltage reader or the voltage source.