Measuring properties of an anatomical body

• US 7,530,975 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Hunter, Ian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell; Victoria P
• Application Number:
  US10/657,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20040106893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,073 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/500
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0051 by applying vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/11 with means for preventing cross-contamination when used for multiple patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/204 connected to external reservoirs for multiple refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules

Abstract

A medical device includes a sensor that is configured to measure a property of an outer layer of an anatomical body surface. The sensor includes a source probe configured to stimulate a local surface of the outer layer of an anatomical body surface. The sensor also includes a detector configured to measure a response of the outer layer resulting from the source probe stimulation. A controller coupled to the source probe and the sensor drives the source probe using a tailored stochastic sequence and determines the property of the outer layer using the measured response received from the detector. The sensor can be used with medical devices, such as drug delivery devices including microneedle transport devices and needleless injection devices.

Claims

1. A method for injecting drug into a biological body comprising:

holding a drug to be delivered to the body in a drug injector;

measuring displacement of the skin with applied force;

prior to any injection, adjusting the injection pressure of the drug injector with a servo-controller based on the displacement; and

injecting the drug into the body.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a controller which drives a source probe that stimulates a local surface of the outer layer of the skin, the controller being coupled to a detector, and the controller driving the source probe using a stochastic sequence and determining a property of the outer layer using a measured displacement received from the detector.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the measured property is indicative of compliance.