Robust Powering of Implantable Biosensor Platform

• US 20120323092A1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faquir Chand Jain, Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos
• Original Assignee: Faquir Chand Jain, Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos
• Inventors: Jain, Faquir Chand, Papadimitrakopoulos, Fotios
• Granted Patent: US 9,936,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence

Abstract

An implantable device for measuring biological information of a body is provided, wherein the implantable device includes a receiver for receiving electromagnetic energy and converting the electromagnetic energy into electrical energy; a storage capacitor associated with the receiver such that the electrical energy from the receiver is stored in the storage capacitor; a biological sensor; a processing device; and a transmitter, wherein the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are configured to receive electrical energy from the storage capacitor, and wherein the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are configured such that when the receiver is receiving electromagnetic energy, the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are inactive and when the receiver is not receiving electromagnetic energy, the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are inactive.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a biological characteristic of a body using an implantable biosensor device which is located in the body and which is powered by a solar cell/storage capacitor combination, the method comprising:

transmitting light from a light source to the implanted bio sensor device such that the transmitted light is received by the solar cell, wherein the light source is located external to the body and wherein the implanted biosensor device includes,

an internal photodetector receiver,

an optical transmitter,

a bio sensing device,

a signal processing unit, and

mode select logic circuits that are powered by the storage capacitor and that are configured to sense and calibrate the biological characteristic, and

wherein the output of the solar cell is connected to the storage capacitor via a transistor switch which is turned on when the light is received by the solar cell and turned off when the light is not received by the solar cell, wherein the mode select logic circuits have outputs which are selectable via a finite state machine architecture and which are activated via an internal photodetector, wherein the internal photodetector is configured to receive a light wavelength that is different from an external unit and which is configured to generate pulses that can be used to enable selected outputs of the mode select logic unit,

operating the biosensor device to obtain biological characteristic data by sensing the biological characteristic; and

transmitting optically the biological characteristic data to an external photodetector receiver.

2. An implantable device for measuring biological information of a body, the implantable device comprising:

a plurality of solar cells, connected in series and parallel and configured to receive optical energy and convert the optical energy into electrical energy;

a storage capacitor associated with the plurality of solar cells such that the electrical energy is received by and stored in the storage capacitor;

a biological sensor;

a sensor potentiostat interface;

a signal processing device;

a multiplexer unit;

an optical transmitter; and

an electronic driver, wherein the biological sensor and its potentiostat interface, signal processing device and optical transmitter are configured to receive the electrical energy from the storage capacitor, and

wherein the biological sensor and signal processing device are configured such that during a first interval of time when the plurality of solar cells are receiving optical energy, the biological sensor and signal processing device are active and transmitting the biological information via the optical transmitter,

and when the plurality of solar cells are not receiving optical energy, the biological sensor, signal processing device and transmitter are active for a different second interval of time,

the duration of the second interval of time being determined by a discharging time constant of the storage capacitor, wherein the biological information is relatively free from interference from the optical source that powers the solar cells.

3. The implantable device of claim 2, where the mode select is configured to receive code generated by at least one of,

the charging and discharging of the storage capacitor without the use of a first internal photodetector, and

an external transmitter sending the code optically for the finite state machine.

4. An implantable device for measuring biological information of a body, the implantable device comprising:

solar cells configured to receive optical energy and convert the optical energy into electrical energy;

a rechargeable battery associated with the solar cells via a transistor switch,

wherein when the transistor switch is enabled, the solar cells and rechargeable battery are connected such that the electrical energy flows between the solar cells and the rechargeable battery, and when the transistor switch is disabled, the solar cells and rechargeable battery are not connected such that no electrical energy flow between the solar cells and the rechargeable battery;

at least one biological sensor;

a signal processing device; and

mode select circuitry which is configured to operate as a finite-state machine and which is communicated with an external transmitter and an internal photodetector receiver and which is configured to enable the selection of the at least one biological sensor via a mode select unit responsive to electrical energy received from the solar cells; and

wherein the biological sensor, its potentiostat interface, signal processing device and optical transmitter are configured to receive electrical energy from the rechargeable battery, and

wherein the at least one biological sensor, signal processing device and optical transmitter are configured such that when the solar cells are receiving optical energy, the at least one biological sensor, signal processing device and optical transmitter are active and when the solar cells are not receiving optical energy, the at least one biological sensor, its potentiostat interface, signal processing device and optical transmitter are active for a predetermined limited time duration to prevent energy drain from the rechargeable battery.