Abstract
A sensor system including an implantable sensor and an external transceiver. Aspects of the sensor system may provide improved implantation and antenna orientation of the implanted sensor. The sensor may include a sensor antenna, the transceiver may include a transceiver antenna. In some embodiments, the sensor antenna and/or transceiver antenna may include a first set of coils oriented in a first plane and a second set of coils oriented in a second plane that is different than the first plane. In some embodiments, the sensor may have a geometry that will prevent or reduce movement and/or rotation of the implanted sensor. For instance, in some embodiments, the sensor may be enclosed in silicon that contains antenna coils and/or include wings, a fluid filled sack, a swelling material, an expansion material, and/or arms.
Claims
1. A sensor system, comprising: a transceiver including at least one transceiver antenna; and a sensor including at least one sensor antenna and a body, wherein said body is configured to expand after implantation to immobilize the sensor.
2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the body of the sensor is composed of memory metal configured to transform from a first shape to a second shape.
3. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the first shape includes an approximately circular cross section and the second shape includes an approximately flat cross section.
4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the body includes a substance configured to expand in response to a stimulus.
5. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the stimulus is water.
6. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the substance is acrylic acid.
7. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the stimulus is temperature.
8. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the substance is a liquid at room temperature and a gas at body temperature.
9. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein the substance is 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutane.
10. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a first substance and a second substance that expand when mixed together.
11. The sensor system of claim 10, wherein the sensor includes a removable barrier separating the first and second substances.
12. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the body includes a first wing, a second wing and a removable seal coupled to an end of the first wing and an end of the second wing in a first orientation with an approximately circular cross section, and, upon removal of the removable seal, the first wing and second wing transform to a second orientation with an approximately flat cross section.
13. A sensor comprising: a body including indicator molecules, an antenna outside the body, and a casing surrounding the body and antenna.
14. The sensor of claim 13, wherein the casing has an oblong shape.
15. The sensor of claim 13, wherein the casing has a flat, round shape.
16. The sensor of claim 13, wherein the casing comprises a polymer material.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a sensor system, which includes an implanted sensor and a transceiver, known in the art.
[0021] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a top view, a front view and a perspective view, respectively, of a multiple coil antenna embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a multiple coil antenna for a transceiver embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0023] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a top view, a front view and a perspective view, respectively, of a sensor with an antenna outside the main body embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0024] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate a top view, a front view and a perspective view, respectively, of a sensor with an antenna outside the main body embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0025] FIGS. 6A-6E illustrate top views, front views and perspective views of a sensor with a memory metal frame embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0026] FIGS. 7A-7F illustrate top views, rear views and perspective views of a sensor with a memory metal frame embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0027] FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate top views and perspective views of a sensor with fluid filled sack embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0028] FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate a top view and a perspective view of a sensor having two materials configured to expand when mixed together embodying aspects of the present invention.
[0029] FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate a front view and a perspective view of a sensor having arms coupled together by a removable seal embodying aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a sensor system, which includes an implanted sensor and a transceiver, known in the art. The sensor system 100 includes an implantable sensor 102 and a transceiver 104. The sensor 102 is implanted under the skin 106 (i.e., in the subcutaneous or peritoneal tissues) of a mammal, such as a human, and is configured to detect an analyte. The sensor 102 may detect the analyte with florescent indicator molecules that emit an amount of light when irradiated with excitation light provided by a light source. The sensor 102 and the transceiver 104 each include at least one antenna 110, 112, such as a coil, and the sensor 102 receives power from and communicates with the transceiver 104 through the antennas 110, 112. The transceiver 104 generates a magnetic field 108 that induces a current in the sensor 102, which provides power and manipulation of the magnetic field can communicate information between the transceiver 104 and sensor 102. The transmission of power and information between the transceiver 104 and the sensor 102 is most efficient when the antennas are parallel to each other and the magnetic field 108 passes straight down from the transceiver 104 to the sensor 102. However, in the previous sensor systems, the orientation of the sensor 102 and its antenna 110 in the body may change after implantation and positioning the antenna 112 of the transceiver 104 parallel to the antenna 110 of the sensor 102 can be difficult.
[0031] FIGS. 2A-C and 3 illustrate a multiple coil antenna embodying aspects of the present invention. The multiple coil antenna 200 includes a first set of coils 202 and a second set of coils 204 on a body 206. The first set of coils 202 is oriented in a first plane and the second set of coils 204 is oriented in a second plane that is different than the first plane. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second plane is approximately orthogonal to the first plane. The multiple coil antenna 200 may be used in the sensor 102 and/or the transceiver 104. FIG. 2A illustrates a multiple coil antenna 200 in a sensor 102 and communicating with a transceiver 104. The sensor's design requirements may not allow much room for an antenna 200, and, because there may be a minimal amount of space for the antenna 200, the sets of coils may be stacked in order to generate sufficient power. The wrapping of two independent sets of coils 202 and 204 in the sensor 102 may allow the transceiver 104 to efficiently communicate and power the sensor 102 if the sensor 102 rotates.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, only one set of coils is used at a time, and a controller of the transceiver 104 or sensor 102 may determine which set of coils is most efficiently communicating with the transceiver 104 or sensor 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the multiple coil antenna 200 can include any number of antennas, and in a system with 1-N sets of coils, the sensor 102 or transceiver 104 can activate any of coil 1, coil 2, and coil N. For example, if the multiple coil antenna 200 includes four sets of coils, the antenna 200 may include a first coil in a first plane, a second coil in a second plane approximately 45? relative to the first plane, a third coil in a third plane approximately orthogonal to the first plane and approximately 45? to the second plane, and a fourth coil in a fourth plane approximately orthogonal to the second plane and approximately 45? to the third plane. In an embodiment of the present invention, multiple set of coils may be combined (i.e., activated at the same time) if a combination yields more power.
[0033] FIGS. 4A-C and 5A-C illustrate a sensor with an antenna outside the main body embodying aspects of the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-C, the sensor 102 may include a main body 400, an antenna 402 outside the main body 400 of the sensor 102, and a casing 404 surrounding the main body 400 and the antenna 402. In some embodiments, the casing 404 may have an oblong shape that encloses the sensor body 400 and the antenna coils 402. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A-C, the sensor 102 may include a main body 500, an antenna 502 outside the main body 500 of the sensor 102, and a casing 504 surrounding the main body 500 and the antenna 502. In some embodiments, the casing 504 may have a small, flat, round shape that encloses the sensor body 500 and the antenna coils 502. In some embodiments, the main body 400 (or 500) may include the components for the sensor except for the antenna, such as, for example, a light source, a photodiode and indicator molecules. Placing the antenna 402 (or 502) outside of the main body 400 (or 500) allows for the antenna 402 (or 502) to have a larger cross sectional area (i.e., the area in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the coils and enclosed within the coils), which may be advantageous because the larger the cross sectional area of the antenna 402 (or 502) the more efficiently it transmits data and power. In an embodiment of the present invention, the casing 404 (or 504) may be a polymer such as silicone or any other suitable soft polymer. The shape of the casing 404 (or 504) may limit the ability of the sensor 102 to rotate after implantation while optimizing the antenna size and orientation relative to the transceiver. In some embodiments, the casing 404 (or 504) can be compressed, rolled up, etc. allowing the sensor 102 to be inserted through a small incision (key hole) before being expanded and deployed.
[0034] FIGS. 6A-E and 7A-F illustrate a sensor with a memory metal frame embodying aspects of the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A-E, the sensor 102 may include a body 600 and an expandable frame 602, 604. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-F, the sensor 102 may include a body 700 and an expandable frame 702. In one non-limiting embodiment, the expendable frame 602, 604 and 702 may be composed of titanium nickel memory metal or other material having similar properties. The expandable frame may comprise wings 602 and 604, a thin end portion 702, or any other sensor shape configuration. The wings 602 and 604 are curled around the sensor body 600 during insertion of the sensor 102 into the patient. After the sensor 102 has been inserted into the patient, the wings 602 and 604 are uncurled to increase the surface area of the sensor 102 and prevent the sensor 102 from moving or rotating within the patient. In an embodiment of the present invention, the wings 602 and 604 may be mechanically uncurled or unfolded by a surgeon after insertion of the sensor 102. The thin end portion 702 may be curled during implantation (e.g., such that its width does not exceed the width of the sensor body 700). In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor body 700 is cylindrical, and the diameter of the curled end portion 702 does exceed the diameter of the circular cross section of the sensor body 700. After the sensor 102 has been inserted into the patient, the end portion 702 may be uncurled into a flat, circular shape that increases the surface area of the sensor 102 and limits or prevents movement and/or rotation of the sensor 102 within the patient. The end portion 702 may be mechanically uncurled or unfolded by the surgeon after implantation of the sensor 102. The end portion 702 may be uncurled into any shape that increases the surface area of the sensor, e.g., a square, a rectangle or an oval. Thus, the size of the sensor can be minimized for implantation and then expanded to an operational size after implantation.
[0035] FIGS. 8A-D illustrate top views and perspective views of a sensor with fluid filled sack embodying aspects of the present invention. The sensor 102 includes a main body 800 and an expandable sack 802 coupled to the main body 800. The sack 802 may be filled with a fluid that can be expanded after implantation. For example, a substance may be a liquid outside of the body at room temperature and a gas inside the body of the patient when the substance is warmed to body temperature. In an embodiment of the present invention, the substance may be, for example, 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutane. When the substance becomes a gas, it expands and causes the sack 802 to enlarge and cover more surface area, which prevents the sensor 102 from moving or rotating. In another embodiment of the present invention, the substance in the sack 802 may be a material that swells a great deal when wet. For example, a substance such as acrylic acid may be used. Liquid may enter the sack 802 through osmotic pressure to allow the substance in the sack 802 to become wet and swell.
[0036] FIGS. 9A-B illustrate a top view and a perspective view of a sensor inside an encapsulation comprised of two materials configured to expand when mixed together. The sensor 102 may include a casing 900 and two materials 902 and 904 on the casing 900 that cause the casing 900 to swell when mixed together. The sensor is inside the casing 900. The materials 902 and 904 may be mounted in or on the casing 900, and, may be allowed to interact when subject to a disturbance (e.g., mechanical compression) to dissolve, burst or otherwise alter a seal or other barrier separating materials 902 and 904. The combined materials 902 and 904 may cause swelling in the casing 900, which may prevent or limit movement and/or rotation of the sensor 102.
[0037] FIGS. 10A-B illustrate a front view and a perspective view of a sensor having arms coupled together by a removable seal embodying aspects of the present invention. In one embodiment, the sensor 102 may include a main body 1000, two arms 1002 and 1004 coupled to the main body 1002 at a first end of each arm, and a seal 1006 coupling the arms 1002 and 1004 to each other at a second end. When the seal 1006 is present, the arms 1002 and 1004 are joined to give the sensor 102 an approximately circular cross section, which helps to reduce the height and width of the sensor 102 during implantation. After implantation, the seal 1006 is altered to release arms 1002 and 1004, and the arms 1002 and 1004 extend outwardly, which immobilizes the sensor 102. In one non-limiting embodiment, the seal 1006 may be broken by applying a lithtripsy burst (e.g., ultrasound). In another embodiment, the seal 1006 may be a resistive material, and application of a high current may dissolve the seal 1006 (e.g., neurovascular coils). In another embodiment, the seal 1006 may be made of an element that dissolves in water (e.g. zinc). A protective coating may be used to prevent moisture from destroying the seal 1006 and prematurely releasing the arms 1002 and 1004. The coating would be removed after implantation or may also dissolve in water, but at a slower rate than the material of which the seal 1006 is composed.
[0038] Embodiments of the present invention have been fully described above with reference to the drawing figures. Although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications, variations and alternative constructions could be made to the described embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, any of the wings for a sensor discussed above may be configured to swell after being uncurled by, for example, including materials that swell when combined together. Further, in embodiments in which the sensor includes wings to immobilize it, the sensor may include more than two wings. For example, the sensor may include four wings that are each approximately orthogonal to the adjacent wings.
