BIODEGRADABLE FIBERS FOR SENSING

• US 20110242532A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McKenna, Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/14 with bonds between thermoplastic yarns or filaments produced by welding
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/4742 comprising optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02033 Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material G02B1/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3624 Fibre head, e.g. fibre probe termination optical details of light guide terminations G02B6/241; reshaping of light guides G02B6/2552; optical details of coupling light into or out of fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

Biodegradable waveguides and their uses with devices, such as medical devices, are described. In one embodiment, an optically transmissive fibrous structure comprising biodegradable fiber waveguides may be disposed on a surface of a bandage. The bandage in combination with the optically transmissive fibrous structure may allow for simultaneously monitoring and covering an injured area of a patient. In one embodiment, the fiber waveguides may be provided as multi-channel/multi-core biodegradable fiber waveguides for transmitting light to and from a patient tissue. In some implementations, the bandage may include hydrogel-based biodegradable fiber waveguides that may deliver therapeutics to an injured patient area.

Claims

1. A light conducting structure, comprising:

a biodegradable optically transmissive structure comprising one or more fibers; and

an opaque backing material disposed opposite a substrate-contacting surface of the biodegradable optically transmissive structure.

2. The light conducting structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more fibers forming the biodegradable optically transmissive structure do not comprise silica or glass.

3. The light conducting structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more fibers forming the biodegradable optically transmissive structure comprise any one or a combination of poly(lactic acids), synthetic and natural silks, cellulose and its derivatives, chitin and chitosan derivatives, alignates, sugars, and poly(hydroxyalkanoates).

4. The light conducting structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more fibers forming the biodegradable optically transmissive structure comprise a hydrogel.

5. The light conducting structure of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable optically transmissive structure comprises a first and a second optically transmissive fibrous structure, wherein the first optically transmissive fibrous structure transmits light toward the substrate-contacting surface and the second optically transmissive structure transmits light from the substrate-contacting surface.

6. The light conducting structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more fibers are capable of emitting or receiving light along their respective lengths.

7. The light conducting structure of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable optically transmissive structure is provided as a mesh.

8. The light conducting structure of claim 1 further comprising a bandage material on which the opaque backing material is disposed on or in.

9. The light conducting structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more fibers are multi-channel/multi-core optical fibers.

10. A spectrophotometric system, comprising:

a physiological monitor capable of measuring one or more physiological parameters; and

a physiological sensor capable of communicating with the monitor, the physiological comprising;

a light emitting region comprising one or more biodegradable fibers capable of emitting light along their respective lengths;

a light receiving region comprising one or more biodegradable fibers capable of receiving light along their respective lengths; and

an opaque barrier positioned between the light emitting region and the light receiving region.

11. The spectrophotometric system of claim 10, wherein the biodegradable fibers capable of emitting light and the biodegradable fibers capable of receiving light comprise multi-channel/multi-core optical microfibers.

12. The spectrophotometric system of claim 10, wherein the biodegradable fibers capable of emitting light and the biodegradable fibers capable of receiving light comprise hydrogel waveguides.

13. The spectrophotometric system of claim 10, wherein the one or more biodegradable fibers capable of emitting light along their respective lengths comprise the one or more biodegradable fibers capable of receiving light along their respective lengths.

14. The spectrophotometric system of claim 10, wherein the physiological monitor comprises a pulse oximetry monitor or a multi-parameter monitor.

15. A method for manufacturing a sensor, comprising:

positioning one or more biodegradable optically transmissive structures within a sensor body;

applying an opaque backing layer on one side of the biodegradable optically transmissive structure.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising forming the biodegradable optically transmissive structure by interweaving or aligning the one or more fibers.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising forming the one or more fibers by micromachining a bulk hydrogel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the bulk hydrogel comprises any one or a combination of antibiotics, pain relievers, growth factors, healing agents, antivirals, or other therapeutic compounds.

19. The method of claim 15, comprising forming the one or more fibers by drawing one or more biodegradable fibers with diameter greater than about 1 millimeter.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more fibers comprise a plurality of concentric forming a multi-channel/multi-core optical fiber.