Miniature pressure sensor assembly for catheter

• US 20080027332A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bradley, Alistair D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,911,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6874 Bladder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end

Abstract

A catheter with a lumen containing a MLCC sensor assembly provides many advantages. The MLCC package can have a reference hole linking to a channel that is buried or on bottom layer of the package to provide venting or a reference input to a pressure sensor. A channel passing completely through the assembly can provide a path for reference air to a second sensor positioned further into the catheter. An ultraminiature assembly is designed to be capable of fitting inside a 6 French catheter with two lumen. One lumen is used for the sensor assembly, wires and reference pressure while a second can be used for other purposes such as a fluid fill lumen in Urology. The MLCC package allows forming connections to standard miniature pressure die using standard automated techniques such as wire bonding. Larger external connections on the MLCC package allow ease of connection to catheter wires or to micro-ribbon cables.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a MLCC package comprising a cavity, at least one internal bond pad, at least one external connection point, and at least one internal interconnect wherein the at least one internal bond pad is positioned within the cavity, wherein the at least one external connection point is on the MLCC package exterior, and wherein the at least one internal interconnect provides an electrical connection between at least one of the at least one internal bond pad and at least one of the at least one external connection point;

a sensor attached within the cavity and electrically connected to the at least one internal bond pad to form an MLCC sensor assembly; and

a catheter comprising at least one lumen wherein at least one of the at least one lumen is a sensor lumen and wherein the MLCC sensor assembly is positioned within the sensor lumen.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a ribbon cable electrically connected to at least one of the at least one external connection point and passing through the sensor lumen.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reference port that supplies a passageway from outside the MLCC package to the cavity and thereby provides a reference input to the pressure sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the MLCC package is a stepped MLCC package comprising at least one step and wherein each of the at least one external connection point is positioned on the at least one step.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a ribbon cable electrically connected to at least one of the at least one external connection point and passing through the sensor lumen.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one additional MLCC sensor assembly positioned within the sensor lumen.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a ribbon cable electrically connected to at least one of the at least one external connection point of the MLCC sensor assembly and passing past he second MLCC sensor assembly and passing through the sensor lumen.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sealant within the cavity and encapsulating the sensor.

9. A system comprising:

a pressure sensor;

a MLCC package comprising a cavity, at least one internal bond pad, at least one external connection point, and at least one internal interconnect wherein the at least one internal bond pad is positioned within the cavity, wherein the at least one external connection point is on the MLCC package exterior, wherein the at least one internal interconnect provides an electrical connection between at least one of the at least one internal bond pad and at least one of the at least one external connection point, and wherein the pressure sensor is attached within the cavity and electrically connected to the at least one internal bond pad;

a sealant within the cavity and encapsulating the pressure sensor to produce an MLCC sensor assembly; and

a catheter comprising at least one lumen wherein at least one of the at least one lumen is a sensor lumen and wherein the MLCC sensor assembly is positioned within the sensor lumen.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a reference port that supplies a passageway from outside the MLCC package to the cavity and thereby provides a reference input to the pressure sensor.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a ribbon cable electrically connected to at least one of the at least one external connection point and passing through the sensor lumen.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the MLCC package is a stepped MLCC package comprising at least one step and wherein each of the at least one external connection point is positioned on the at least one step.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a ribbon cable electrically connected to at least one of the at least one external connection point and passing through the sensor lumen.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one additional MLCC sensor assembly positioned within the sensor lumen.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

at least one additional MLCC sensor assembly positioned within the sensor lumen.

16. a method comprising:

producing a MLCC package comprising a cavity, at least one internal bond pad, at least one external connection point, and at least one internal interconnect wherein the at least one internal bond pad is positioned within the cavity, wherein the at least one external connection point is on the MLCC package exterior, and wherein the at least one internal interconnect provides an electrical connection between at least one of the at least one internal bond pad and at least one of the at least one external connection point;

attaching a sensor within the cavity and electrically connecting the sensor to the at least one internal bond pad;

encapsulating the sensor within the cavity to produce an MLCC sensor assembly; and

positioning the MLCC sensor assembly within a catheter lumen.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a reference port that supplies a passageway from outside the MLCC package to the cavity and thereby provides a reference input to the pressure sensor.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising electrically connecting a ribbon cable to at least one of the at least one external connection point before positioning the MLCC sensor assembly within the catheter

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the MLCC package is a stepped MLCC package comprising at least one step and wherein each of the at least one external connection point is positioned on the at least one step.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising positioning an additional MLCC sensor assemblies within the sensor lumen.