Abrégé

The present invention relates to a transducer device having a planar array of electroacoustic cells, each including a piezoelectric bilayer unit. The transducer device achieves high transmission sensitivity across a broad bandwidth. The transducer device may be designed to have a broad or a focused directivity pattern, or may be multi-frequency, depending on the particular application and has a range of applications. For example, the transducer device may be used with an implanted passive ultrasonically excitable resonating sensor, to excite the sensor and/or to interrogate the sensor, for example in conjunction with Doppler-based analysis of the resonance frequency of the sensor, and/or to locate an implanted sensor. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the device.

Classes IPC  ?

• B06B 1/06 - Procédés ou appareils pour produire des vibrations mécaniques de fréquence infrasonore, sonore ou ultrasonore utilisant l'énergie électrique fonctionnant par effet piézo-électrique ou par électrostriction

Abrégé

The devices and methods generally relate to vibratable sensors for measuring ambient fluid pressure, in particular implantable sensors. The devices and methods are particularly well-suited to implantation within the body of a living animal or human to monitor physiological conditions, such as portal and/or hepatic venous blood pressure, and allow frequent, remote interrogation of venous pressure using the resonance frequency of an implanted sensor. The sensor devices are relatively small compared to conventional devices for measuring fluid pressure and can be implanted in the porto- hepatic venous system, whereas conventional devices are too large. The small size of the device is accomplished by using a thick sensor membrane, compared to conventional devices, and by limiting the size of additional elements of the device relative to the size of the sensor membrane. The thicker sensor member also obviates the need for multiple sensor arrays and maintains the accuracy and robustness of the sensor device. A data capture, processing, and display system provides a pressure measurement reading, and is particularly well-suited for detecting portal hypertension in patients with liver disorders.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61B 5/0215 - Mesure de la pression dans le cœur ou dans les vaisseaux sanguins par des moyens introduits dans le corps
• A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic ; Identification des individus

Abrégé

The devices and methods generally relate to vibratable sensors for measuring ambient fluid pressure, in particular implantable sensors. The devices and methods are particularly well-suited to implantation within the body of a living animal or human to monitor physiological conditions, such as portal and/or hepatic venous blood pressure, and allow frequent, remote interrogation of venous pressure using the resonance frequency of an implanted sensor. The sensor devices are relatively small compared to conventional devices for measuring fluid pressure and can be implanted in the porto-hepatic venous system, whereas conventional devices are too large. The small size of the device is accomplished by using a thick sensor membrane, compared to conventional devices, and by limiting the size of additional elements of the device relative to the size of the sensor membrane. The thicker sensor member also obviates the need for multiple sensor arrays and maintains the accuracy and robustness of the sensor device. A data capture, processing, and display system provides a pressure measurement reading, and is particularly well-suited for detecting portal hypertension in patients with liver disorders.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01L 11/06 - Mesure de la pression permanente, ou quasi permanente d'un fluide ou d'un matériau solide fluent par des moyens non prévus dans les groupes ou par des moyens acoustiques des moyens ultrasonores
• A61B 8/04 - Mesure de la pression sanguine
• G01L 13/00 - Dispositifs ou appareils pour la mesure des différences entre plusieurs valeurs de la pression des fluides

Abrégé

Methods and systems for determining the resonance frequency of a resonator by Doppler effect. An interrogating sonic beam including a carrier and one or more resonator exciting frequencies is used to excite a resonator (20). The carrier frequency is modulated by the resonator~s vibrations. The received signal is analyzed (38) to determine the amplitude of the Doppler shifted sideband frequencies, and the data processed to determine resonance frequency and/or to center the sonic beam on the sensor. Calibration of the sensor~s resonance as a function of a physical parameter in the measurement environment allows the determination of the parameter value. The methods and system may be used to determine cardiovascular or intra-cranial pressure or pressure in other body cavities or in an industrial environment.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61B 8/00 - Diagnostic utilisant des ondes ultrasonores, sonores ou infrasonores