The devices and methods generally relate to vibratable sensors for measuring ambient fluid pressure, in particular implantable sensors. The devices and methods are suited to implantation within the body to monitor physiological conditions, such as portal and/or hepatic venous blood pressure, and allow frequent, remote interrogation of venous pressure. The sensor devices are relatively small compared to conventional devices for measuring fluid pressure and can be implanted in the portohepatic 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.
A method for fabricating a multi-cell electroacoustic transducer comprises placing a rail layer onto a base, the rail layer comprising a plurality of apertures arranged in an array, filling cavities in the rail layer with a polymer, and applying a flexural plate to the rail layer. The transducer achieves high transmission sensitivity across a broad bandwidth. The transducer 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.
H10N 30/00 - Dispositifs piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
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
H10N 30/03 - Assemblage de dispositifs incluant des parties piézo-électriques ou électrostrictives
This invention relates to an implantable device for a physiologic sensor, comprising an implantable expandable anchor, a bridge on which the sensor is secured, as well as an optional adapting ring. The invention also relates to a method of monitoring bodily functions using the anchor and sensor. The anchor is compressed and the bridge assumes an elongated shape during delivery to a target lumen. Upon deployment at the target site, the anchor expands and the bridge bows into the interior lumen of the expanded anchor, distancing the sensor from the vessel wall. This invention also relates to a method of manufacturing said device and a method of implanting a sensor.
A61F 2/95 - Instruments spécialement adaptés pour insérer ou retirer les stents ou les endoprothèses déployables couvertes
A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic ; Identification des individus
A61B 5/0215 - Mesure de la pression dans le cœur ou dans les vaisseaux sanguins par des moyens introduits dans le corps
A61F 2/915 - Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par des éléments filiformes; Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par une structure de type filet ou de type à mailles caractérisés par une structure de type filet ou de type à mailles fabriquée à partir de feuilles perforées ou de tubes perforés, p.ex. perforés par découpe au laser ou gravés avec des bandes présentant une structure en méandre, des bandes adjacentes étant reliées l’une à l’autre
A61F 2/82 - Dispositifs maintenant le passage ou évitant l’affaissement de structures tubulaires du corps, p.ex. stents
A61B 5/145 - Mesure des caractéristiques du sang in vivo, p.ex. de la concentration des gaz dans le sang, de la valeur du pH du sang
A61F 2/86 - Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par des éléments filiformes; Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par une structure de type filet ou de type à mailles
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, outillage ou accessoires spécialement adaptés à la chirurgie ou au diagnostic non couverts par l'un des groupes , p.ex. pour le traitement de la luxation ou pour la protection de bords de blessures
A61F 2/00 - Filtres implantables dans les vaisseaux sanguins; Prothèses, c.-à-d. éléments de substitution ou de remplacement pour des parties du corps; Appareils pour les assujettir au corps; Dispositifs maintenant le passage ou évitant l'affaissement de structures corporelles tubulaires, p.ex. stents
4.
Method of detecting portal and/or hepatic pressure and a portal hypertension monitoring system
The devices and methods generally relate to vibratable sensors for measuring ambient fluid pressure, in particular implantable sensors. The devices and methods are suited to implantation within the body to monitor physiological conditions, such as portal and/or hepatic venous blood pressure, and allow frequent, remote interrogation of venous pressure. The sensor devices are relatively small compared to conventional devices for measuring fluid pressure and can be implanted in the portohepatic 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.
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.
H01L 41/08 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
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
H01L 41/25 - Assemblage de dispositifs incluant des parties piézo-électriques ou électrostrictives
This invention relates to an implantable device for a physiologic sensor, comprising an implantable expandable anchor, a bridge on which the sensor is secured, as well as an optional adapting ring. The invention also relates to a method of monitoring bodily functions using the anchor and sensor. The anchor is compressed and the bridge assumes an elongated shape during delivery to a target lumen. Upon deployment at the target site, the anchor expands and the bridge bows into the interior lumen of the expanded anchor, distancing the sensor from the vessel wall. This invention also relates to a method of manufacturing said device and a method of implanting a sensor.
A61B 5/02 - Mesure du pouls, du rythme cardiaque, de la pression sanguine ou du débit sanguin; Détermination combinée du pouls, du rythme cardiaque, de la pression sanguine; Evaluation d'un état cardio-vasculaire non prévue ailleurs, p.ex. utilisant la combinaison de techniques prévues dans le présent groupe et des techniques d'électrocardiographie; Sondes cardiaques pour mesurer la pression sanguine
A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic ; Identification des individus
A61B 5/0215 - Mesure de la pression dans le cœur ou dans les vaisseaux sanguins par des moyens introduits dans le corps
A61F 2/82 - Dispositifs maintenant le passage ou évitant l’affaissement de structures tubulaires du corps, p.ex. stents
A61F 2/915 - Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par des éléments filiformes; Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par une structure de type filet ou de type à mailles caractérisés par une structure de type filet ou de type à mailles fabriquée à partir de feuilles perforées ou de tubes perforés, p.ex. perforés par découpe au laser ou gravés avec des bandes présentant une structure en méandre, des bandes adjacentes étant reliées l’une à l’autre
A61B 5/145 - Mesure des caractéristiques du sang in vivo, p.ex. de la concentration des gaz dans le sang, de la valeur du pH du sang
A61F 2/86 - Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par des éléments filiformes; Stents ayant une forme caractérisée par une structure de type filet ou de type à mailles
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, outillage ou accessoires spécialement adaptés à la chirurgie ou au diagnostic non couverts par l'un des groupes , p.ex. pour le traitement de la luxation ou pour la protection de bords de blessures
7.
Method of detecting portal and/or hepatic pressure and a portal hypertension monitoring system
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.
A61B 5/0215 - Mesure de la pression dans le cœur ou dans les vaisseaux sanguins par des moyens introduits dans le corps
A61B 8/12 - Diagnostic utilisant des ondes ultrasonores, sonores ou infrasonores dans des cavités ou des conduits du corps, p.ex. en utilisant des cathéters
A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic ; Identification des individus
A method of protecting a resonating sensor is described. The protected resonating sensor may include at least one passive ultrasonically excitable resonating sensor unit. Each sensor unit has one or more vibratable members having a resonating frequency that varies as a function of a physical variable in a measurement environment. The sensor is protected by forming one or more protective chambers defined between a compliant member and the vibratable member(s). A substantially non-compressible medium is disposed within the protective chamber(s). The compliant member has a first side that may be exposed to a measurement environment and a second side that may be exposed to the substantially non-compressible medium. The substantially non-compressible medium may be a liquid or gel and is in contact with the vibratable member(s). When the medium is a liquid, the chamber is sealed. When the medium is a gel, the chamber may be sealed or non-sealed.
A protected resonating sensor may include at least one resonating sensor unit, each sensor unit has one or more vibratable members. The protected sensor includes at least one body of gel for protecting the vibratable member(s) of the sensor. The gel may be disposed on or attached to the sensor unit(s) covering the vibratable member(s) of the sensor unit(s). The gel may also be disposed in an open housing including one or more sensor units, and may cover vibratable members of different sensor units. The sensor unit may be any resonating sensor unit having a resonance frequency that depends on the value of a physical variable in a measurement environment. The protected sensor may also be attached to or included in or formed as part of any suitable device or sensor anchoring device and may also be implanted or inserted into a body or an organism. Methods are described for constructing the gel-protected sensor. The gel may have modified surface properties and may contain one or more drugs or therapeutic agents or other releasable substances. The gel may be formulated to retard or reduce diffusion of substances from the measurement environment into the gel and their deposition on the vibratable member(s).
G01L 11/00 - 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
A protected resonating sensor may include at least one resonating sensor unit. Each sensor unit has one or more vibratable members. The protected sensor includes a compliant member that forms part of one or more chambers. A first side of the compliant member may be exposed to a medium in a measurement environment. The sensor unit may be any resonating sensor unit having a resonance frequency that depends on the value of a physical variable in a measurement environment. The protected sensor includes a substantially non-compressible medium disposed within the chamber(s). The substantially non-compressible medium may be a liquid or a gel. When the medium is a liquid, the chamber is sealed. When the medium is a gel, the chamber may be sealed or non-sealed. The medium is in contact the vibratable member(s) and with a second side of the compliant member. The medium may have a low vapor pressure. The protected sensor may also be attached to or included in or formed as part of any suitable device or sensor anchoring device and may also be implanted or inserted into a body or an organism. Methods are described for constructing the protected sensor.
Methods and systems for determining the resonance frequency of a resonator, using the Doppler effect. An interrogating sonic beam including a carrier frequency and one or more resonator exciting frequencies is directed at a resonator disposed in a measurement environment. Resonator vibrations are excited by the resonator exciting frequencies. The carrier frequency is modulated by the vibrating part(s) of the resonator. The returning signal is received and analyzed to determine the amplitude of the Doppler shifted sideband frequencies. The resulting data is processed to determine the resonator's resonance frequency. Using calibrated resonating sensors having a resonance frequency that varies as a function of a physical parameter in a measurement environment, the method and systems allow determining the value of the physical variable from the sensor's resonance frequency. The methods and systems may be used, inter alia, to determine intraluminal blood pressure in various parts of a cardiovascular system, the pressure of intra-cranial fluids, the pressure of fluids in various bodily cavities by using implantable calibratable resonating pressure sensors. The methods and systems may also be used for determining the pressure in various industrial measurement environments and enclosures. Methods and systems are provided for detecting the sensor and for centering the interrogating beam on the sensor.
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