Implantable pressure sensors and methods for making and using them
First Claim
1. A surgical An implant, comprising:
- a sensor for measuring intra-body diagnostic data;
a controller configured for generating that generates an electrical communication signal containing the measured diagnostic data;
one or more acoustic transducers;
circuitry for collectively configuring the one or more acoustic transducers to convert acoustic energy received from a location external to the implant into electrical energy used to support operation of the implant, and to convert the electrical communication signal received generated by the controller into an acoustical acoustic communication signal for transmission transmitted to a location external to the implant; and
an energy storage device configured for storing the electrical energy converted from acoustic energy by the one or more transducers, wherein the energy storage device comprises a first relatively fast-charging capacitor and a second relatively slow-charging capacitor, the first and second capacitors being coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers such that the first capacitor is charged first and the second capacitor is charged only upon substantially substantial charging of the first capacitor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implant includes a pressure sensor, a controller for acquiring pressure data from the sensor, and an acoustic transducer for converting energy between electrical energy and acoustic energy. A capacitor is coupled to the acoustic transducer for storing electrical energy converted by the transducer and/or for providing electrical energy to operate the implant. The acoustic transducer may operate alternatively or simultaneously as an energy exchanger or an acoustic transmitter. During use, the implant is implanted within a patient'"'"'s body, and an external transducer transmits a first acoustic signal into the patient'"'"'s body, to energize the capacitor. The implant then obtains pressure data, and transmits a second acoustic signal to the external transducer, the second acoustic signal including the pressure data.
222 Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A surgical An implant, comprising:
-
a sensor for measuring intra-body diagnostic data; a controller configured for generating that generates an electrical communication signal containing the measured diagnostic data; one or more acoustic transducers; circuitry for collectively configuring the one or more acoustic transducers to convert acoustic energy received from a location external to the implant into electrical energy used to support operation of the implant, and to convert the electrical communication signal received generated by the controller into an acoustical acoustic communication signal for transmission transmitted to a location external to the implant; and an energy storage device configured for storing the electrical energy converted from acoustic energy by the one or more transducers, wherein the energy storage device comprises a first relatively fast-charging capacitor and a second relatively slow-charging capacitor, the first and second capacitors being coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers such that the first capacitor is charged first and the second capacitor is charged only upon substantially substantial charging of the first capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A surgical An implant, comprising:
-
a controller configured for controlling the operation of the implant;
and for generating an electrical communication signal;one or more acoustic transducers; circuitry for collectively configuring the one or more acoustic transducers to convert the electrical communication signal into an acoustical acoustic communication signal for transmission transmitted to a location external to the implant, and to convert acoustic energy received from a location external to the implant into electrical energy used to support operation of the implant; and an energy storage device configured for storing the electrical energy converted from acoustic energy, wherein the energy storage device comprises a first, relatively fast-charging capacitor and a second, relatively slow-charging capacitor, the first and second capacitors being coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers such that the first capacitor is charged first and the second capacitor is charged only upon substantially substantial charging of the first capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
37. An implant, comprising:
-
a sensor; a controller that generates an electrical communication signal containing data measured by the sensor; one or more acoustic transducers; circuitry for collectively configuring the one or more acoustic transducers to convert acoustic energy received from a location external to the implant into electrical energy used to support operation of the implant, and to convert the electrical communication signal generated by the controller into an acoustic communication signal transmitted to a location external to the implant; and an energy storage device configured for storing the electrical energy converted from acoustic energy by the one or more transducers, wherein the energy storage device comprises a first, relatively fast-charging capacitor and a second, relatively slow-charging capacitor, the first and second capacitors coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers such that the first capacitor is charged first and the second capacitor is charged only upon substantial charging of the first capacitor.
-
Specification