Bio-chips and nano-biochips

• US 9,320,465 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kline, Eric V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MESSERSMITH, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US13/532,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 600/302
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/085 for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

A biochip and nanochip device, or a system of biochips, providing diagnostic testing, sensing and therapeutic functionality useful in diagnosis and treatment of a variety of physiological maladies.

Claims

1. A biocompatible nanochip for treatment of a medical condition in a subject, the nanochip having a length, width and height dimension of less than 5 μ

m and comprising;

a semiconductor substrate upon which is located;

one or more sensor devices for sensing conditions and providing measurements within said subject,

a programmed control unit and an associated memory block configured for controlling operations on said nanochip in response to received external command or a sensed condition within said subject; and

,

a communications sub-system including one or more communications devices for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a communications receiver device external to said subject;

a power source for powering said communications sub-system and said programmed control unit; and

, an external biocompatible coating or covering for said semiconductor substrate.

2. The nanochip of claim 1, wherein the nanochip is implanted into a fixed position within the subject.

3. The nanochip of claim 1, wherein the microchip is mobile within the subject.

4. The nanochip of claim 2, wherein the nanochip is coordinated to operate in conjunction with one or more additional nanochips implanted into a fixed position within the subject.

5. The nanochip of claim 3, wherein the nanochip is coordinated to operate in conjunction with one or more additional mobile nanochips within the subject.

6. The nanochip of claim 1, wherein the nanochip is powered by inductive or radiofrequency coupling.

7. The nanochip of claim 1, wherein the medical condition is kidney disease, liver dysfunction, pancreatitis, thyroid diseases, insulin resistance, paralysis due to severed or dysfunctional neurological pathways, and brain biochemical imbalances.