Implantable acoustic bio-sensing system and method

• US 6,432,050 B1
• Filed: 05/03/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Penner, Avi, Porat, Yariv, Doron, Eyal
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cadugan, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/303,644
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/309, 600/310, 600/323, 600/339, 600/500, 600/502, 600/504, 600/505, 128/899, 128/903, 607/30, 607/31, 607/32, 607/33, 607/60, 607/61
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02158 provided with two or more sensor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/36 the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/72 Devices for measuring pulsing fluid flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/308 Membrane type

Abstract

An implantable biosensor system for monitoring and optionally alleviating a physiological condition in a patient is provided and includes (a) at least one sensor for sensing at least one parameter of a physiological condition and for generating electrical sensor signals representative of the physiological condition; and (b) a first acoustic activatable transducer being directly or indirectly coupled with the at least one sensor, the first acoustic activatable transducer being for converting a received acoustic interrogation signal from outside the patient'"'"'s body into an electrical power for energizing the processor, the first acoustic activatable transducer further being for converting the electrical sensor signals of the at least one sensor into acoustic signals receivable out of the patient'"'"'s body, such that information pertaining to the at least one parameter of the physiological condition can be relayed outside the patient'"'"'s body upon generation of an acoustic interrogation signal.

Claims

1. An implantable biosensor system for monitoring a physiological condition in a patient, the biosensor system comprising:

(a) at least one sensor for sensing at least one parameter of a physiological condition and for generating an electrical sensor signal representative of the physiological condition; and

(b) at least one first acoustic activatable transducer being directly or indirectly coupled with said at least one sensor, said at least one first acoustic activatable transducer being for converting a received acoustic interrogation signal from outside the patient'"'"'s body into an electrical power for energizing said at least one sensor, said at least one first acoustic activatable transducer further being for converting said electrical sensor signal of said at least one sensor into an acoustic signal receivable out of the patient'"'"'s body, such that information pertaining to said at least one parameter of the physiological condition can be relayed outside the patient'"'"'s body upon generation of an acoustic interrogation signal.

2. The biosensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one first acoustic activatable transducer includes:

(i) a cell member having a cavity;

(ii) a substantially flexible piezoelectric layer attached to said cell member, said piezoelectric layer having an external surface and an internal surface, said piezoelectric layer featuring such dimensions so as to enable fluctuations thereof at its resonance frequency upon impinging of said acoustic interrogation signal; and

(iii) a first electrode attached to said external surface and a second electrode attached to said internal surface.

3. The biosensor system of claim 2, wherein said piezoelectric layer is of a material selected from the group consisting of PVDF and piezoceramic.