METHOD FOR WIRELESSLY MONITORING IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20080221555A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DARE MB Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MicroCHIPS Inc.
• Inventors: Cima, Michael J., Ausiello, Dennis, Langer, Robert S., Santini, John T., Sheppard, Norman F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0097 Micromachined devices; Microelectromechanical systems [MEMS]; Devices obtained by lithographic treatment of silicon; Devices comprising chips intradermal microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; MEMS in general B81B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1042 Alimentary tract A61M2210/0618 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

A method is provided for monitoring the status of a medical device implanted in a patient. The method includes the steps of implanting in a patient a medical device which comprises (i) a substrate in which two or more reservoirs are located, with each covered by a reservoir cap, (ii) a drug or sensor located in the reservoir, (iii) a power source and actuation electronics for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap, and (iv) a telemetry system; and then using said telemetry system to wirelessly transmit to a remote controller data about the condition of the power source and/or data about which reservoirs have been or have yet to be activated to release the drug therefrom or to expose the sensor therein.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the status of a medical device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

implanting in a patient a medical device which comprises (i) a substrate in which two or more reservoirs are located, with each covered by a reservoir cap, (ii) a drug or sensor located in the reservoir, (iii) a power source and actuation electronics for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap, and (iv) a telemetry system; and

using said telemetry system to wirelessly transmit to a remote controller data about the condition of the power source and/or data about which reservoirs have been or have yet to be activated to release the drug therefrom or to expose the sensor therein.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a microprocessor to compare the data transmitted to the remote controller with safety protocols stored in a memory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reservoirs comprise at least one drug for release and the safety protocols prohibit (i) the release of an unsafe quantity of the drug to the patient over a particular time interval, and/or (ii) the unsafe release of two or more incompatible drugs.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the data received by the remote controller is to the patient'"'"'s physician or to a central monitoring system on a real-time basis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted in the form of electromagnetic energy selected from radio frequency signals, microwave signals, infrared signals, ultraviolet signals, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuation electronics comprises components selected from the group consisting of multiplexers, demultiplexers, signal generators, signal oscillators, amplifiers, switches, potentiostats, and combinations thereof.

7. A kit of parts, comprising:

an implantable medical device which comprises (i) a substrate in which at least one reservoir is located and covered by a first reservoir cap, (ii) a drug or sensor located in the reservoir, and (iii) control circuitry and a power source for disintegrating or permeabilizing the reservoir cap, and (iv) an external interface to receive incident light energy; and

a laser for directing laser light to the external interface to actuate disintegration or permeabilization of the reservoir cap to release the drug or expose the sensor.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the laser is an ophthalmic laser.

9. The kit of claim 7, wherein the external interface comprises a photocell, photodiode, or phototransistor.