Apparatus for rejection diagnostics after organ transplants

• US 5,970,986 A
• Filed: 09/15/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biotronik Mess-Und Therapiegeraete GmbH & Company Ingenieurbuero Berlin (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Biotronik Mess-Und Therapiegeraete GmbH & Company Ingenieurbuero Berlin (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Schaldach, Max, Bolz, Armin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US08/929,787
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 128/897-898, 600/345, 600/300, 600/547, 600/508, 600/519, 600/518, 600/500-503, 600/521, 600/510
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant

Abstract

An apparatus for rejection diagnostics after organ transplantations is provided with

an extracorporal base station with a high frequency transmitter and receiver unit, and

a telemetric rejection sensor implantable in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising

a high frequency receiver unit for receiving high frequency signals from the base station,

a rectifier and decoder unit for converting the high frequency signals received into a supply voltage and control records for the rejection sensor,

an energy storage for storing the supply voltage,

a control unit for controlling the measuring processes within the apparatus,

a sensor arrangement controlled by the control unit and to be brought into contact with the organ to be monitored and having measuring electrodes for measuring rejection-specific variables,

an encoder unit for converting the measured variables into corresponding data signals, as well as

a high frequency emitter unit for transmitting the data signals produced by the encoder unit to the extracorporal base station.

Claims

1. A transponder device for rejection diagnostics of a transplant, after organ transplantations, said transponder device comprising

an extracorporal base station (1) with a high frequency transmitter (2) which emits high frequency signals and a receiver unit (3), and

a telemetric rejection sensor (6) implantable in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising

a high frequency receiver unit (9'"'"') for receiving the high frequency signals from the extracorporeal base station,

a rectifier and decoder unit (18) for converting the high frequency signals received into a supply voltage and control records for the rejection sensor (6),

an energy storage (19) for storing the supply voltage,

a control unit (20) for controlling measuring processes within the rejection sensor,

a sensor arrangement (12) controlled by the control unit (20) and adapted to be in contact with a transplant to be monitored and having a measuring electrode configuration for measuring rejection-specific measured variables,

an encoder unit (29) for converting the measured variables furnished by the sensor arrangement (12) into corresponding data signals, as well as

a high frequency emitter unit (31) for transmitting the data signals produced by the encoder unit (29) to the extracorporal base station (1).

2. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage (19) is a supply capacitor conductively engaged to the rectifier and the decoder unit (18).

3. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the high frequency receiver unit (9'"'"') is designed for receipt of amplitude or frequency modulated high frequency signals from the extracorporeal base station.

4. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement (12) is a multiplex system.

5. The transponder device according to claim 4, wherein a D/A (22) and A/D multiplexer (23) and a multiplexer control logic are inserted between the sensor arrangement (12) and the control unit (20).

6. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring electrode configuration comprises four measuring electrodes (13, 14, 15, 16) and which, by control through the control unit (20), are each variably interconnectable for varying measuring purposes.

7. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein, by means of the sensor arrangement (12), transplant specific electrochemical variables, tissue impedance of the transplant, electric responses of the transplant to stimulus and/or a stimulus conduction velocity of the transplant are measurable as variables relevant to rejection.

8. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the components of the telemetric rejection sensor (6) are encapsulated in a molded housing (17) of silicone material, in which the measuring electrode configuration (13, 14, 15, 16) appear on a surface (11) of the molded housing (17).

9. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the components of the telemetric rejection sensor (6) inclusive of the measuring electrodes (13, 14, 15, 16) are integrated on an IC component.

10. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the telemetric rejection sensor (6) is embodied as an encapsulated component to be adapted to be implanted under a patient'"'"'s skin.

11. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the four measuring electrodes are embodied as a separate unit to be applied to the transplant to be monitored.

12. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the high frequency receiver (9'"'"') and emitter unit (31) are separate and work at varying frequencies.

13. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the telemetric rejection sensor (6) comprises fixing elements (7) for being fixed on a surface (11) of the transplant to be monitored.

14. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the extracorporal base station is divided into a data receiving and transmitting device allocated to a patient.

15. The transponder device according to claim 1, wherein the extracorporal base station is divided into a central data collection and evaluation system.