Diagnostic apparatus (24) includes a sealed case (40), including a biocompatible material and configured for implantation within a body of a human subject (22). At least one antenna (42) is configured to be implanted in the body in proximity to a target tissue (28) and to receive radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves propagated through the target tissue and to output a signal in response to the received waves. Processing circuitry (44,46), which is contained within the case, us coupled to receive and process the signal from the antenna so as to derive and output an indication of a characteristic of the target tissue.

An intra-body communication system for monitoring physiological changes in a patient is provided. The system can include a first device implanted into a patient's body; a second device spaced apart from the first device; and a receiver for detecting and/or decoding the signals to monitor physiological changes in the patient. The first device and second device are capable of engaging in a two-way communication through transmission of one or more signals through at least a portion of the patient's body between the first device and the second device. In one embodiment, the signal may be an optical signal.

Various implementations include apparatuses and methods for subcutaneous sensing. Certain implementations include an apparatus having: a biocompatible housing defining a longitudinal axis; a subcutaneous sensor; a circuit board; a controller; and an ultrasound transmitter disposed within the biocompatible housing and including a tubular piezoelectric transducer extending longitudinally along the longitudinal axis.

Data is communicated from an implanted section to an external location. The implanted section includes a transducer such as a piezoelectric element with an ultrasound reflecting surface that moves in response to an applied driving signal. A sensor generates an output signal that depends on a sensed parameter, and a control circuit drives the transducer based on the sensor's output. The transducer's response to the driving signal is repeatable such that the value of the output signal can be determined by measuring the variations in the velocity of the surface using externally applied Doppler ultrasound, and computing the value of the sensor's output from the measured variations in velocity.

The subject invention pertains to a novel system capable of long-term monitoring the concentration of a typical analyte in body fluid. The invention includes an untethered battery-free concentration monitor and an external data recorder to continuously measure the concentration of certain analytes and send out signals corresponding to the measured analytes concentration in real-time.

The invention relates to a method for managing a wireless link between a first device and a second device. The method includes the steps of polling an activity of a first wireless interface of the first device during a first predetermined lapse of time, suspending the wireless link and polling an activity of a first body-coupled communication interface of the first device during a second predetermined lapse of time when no activity is detected on the first wireless interface of the first device during the first predetermined lapse of time, and resuming the wireless link when at least one polling packet comprising a resume request is detected by the first body-coupled communication interface of the first device during the second predetermined lapse of time.

An intra-body communication system for monitoring physiological changes in a patient is provided. The system can include a first device implanted into a patient's body; a second device spaced apart from the first device; and a receiver for detecting and/or decoding the signals to monitor physiological changes in the patient. The first device and second device are capable of engaging in a two-way communication through transmission of one or more signals through at least a portion of the patient's body between the first device and the second device. In one embodiment, the signal may be an optical signal.

A wide band through-body communication system communicates data through the body ultrasonically. A MEMS device such as a CMUT transducer is configured to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic data signals within a broad band of operating frequencies. The transducer transmits the ultrasonic data signals through the body to a similarly configured ultrasonic receiver, and/or receives ultrasonic data signals which have been conveyed through the body from a similarly configured ultrasonic transmitter for decoding and processing. In a preferred implementation a CMUT transducer is operated in a collapsed mode.

Medical system and method for operation of an active implantable medical device (IMD) and an extracorporeal device attached to a patient's skin, comprising: determining data regarding a bodily parameter of the patient by the IMD, processing the determined data and detecting a condition from a plurality of predefined conditions based on the determined data, periodically sending an intra-body communication signal representing the detected condition by the IMD to the extracorporeal device, receiving the intra-body communication signal by the extracorporeal device, providing a predefined notification signal by the extracorporeal device to the patient to motivate the patient to perform a predefined action based on the received intra-body communication signal, sending a termination signal by the extracorporeal device to the IMD, and receiving the termination signal by the IMD and subsequently terminating sending the intra-body communication signal which was initiated by the previously detected condition.

The present invention is directed to a system for recognition of biological alteration in human tissues using electromagnetic waves in the microwave range, the device comprising: a transmitter device (100) comprising at least one transmitting antenna (101), a transmitter (102), and a power supply (103); a receiving device (200) comprising at least one receiving antenna (201), a receiver (202), a pre-processing module (204), and a power supply (203); a microprocessor (301; 104) and a display (302; 105); wherein the transmitter device (100) and the receiving device (200) are configured to operate at a frequency comprised between 2.0 GHz and 3.0 GHz.

In a preferred embodiment, the operating frequency is comprised between 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz, and the device is suitable for the detection of a cancer in the human body, for example for the screening of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer.

The device according to the invention is capable of high sensitivity and accuracy of results and can detect not only the presence, but also the position of a cancer.