Implantable bio-pressure transponder

A system to measure internal body pressure and wirelessly transmit information corresponding to the measured internal body pressure to be displayed at a location external to a patient, the system comprising:

• an implantable subcutaneous device comprising:
• a pressure sensor configured to sense an inlet pressure of a particular region of a body of a patient via an inlet pressure port, and to sense a reference pressure of a reference chamber via a reference pressure port, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to selectively sense the inlet pressure and the reference pressure so as to compare the reference pressure to the inlet pressure to generate a calibrated inlet pressure signal,
• an encoder configured to receive the calibrated inlet pressure signal and encode the calibrated inlet pressure signal to produce a sensor information signal, the encoder further comprising a sweep generator unit, an oscillator, and a signal delay unit, the sweep generator unit outputs a ramp signal to be compared to the calibrated inlet pressure signal, and the signal delay unit is connected to the sweep generator and the oscillator to delay starting of the oscillator and the sweep generator for a sufficient amount of time to facilitate settling of the pressure sensor,
• an internal transceiver configured to receive the sensor information signal from the encoder and transmit the sensor information signal to an ex vivo location, and
• a biocompatible housing configured to enclose the pressure sensor, encoder, and transceiver;
• an ex vivo transceiver to receive the sensor information signal transmitted from the internal transceiver of the subcutaneous device;
• a demodulator to decode the sensor information signal received by the ex vivo transceiver;
• and
• a display unit to display information corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor.

An implantable pressure sensor system for the measurement of fluid pressures within a body, the system comprising:

• a pressure sensor configured to produce a calibrated inlet pressure signal proportionate to a sensed inlet pressure, the pressure sensor being configured to sense the inlet pressure via an inlet pressure port, and to sense a reference pressure of a reference chamber via a reference pressure port, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to selectively sense the inlet pressure and the reference pressure so as to compare the reference pressure to the inlet pressure to generate the calibrated inlet pressure signal;
• encoding circuitry configured to receive the calibrated inlet pressure signal from the pressure sensor and to modulate a communications alternating current frequency to produce a sensor information signal;
• a sweep generator unit, an oscillator, and a signal delay unit, the sweep generator unit outputs a ramp signal to be compared to the calibrated inlet pressure signal, and the signal delay unit is connected to the sweep generator and the oscillator to delay starting of the oscillator and the sweep generator for a sufficient amount of time to facilitate settling of the pressure sensor;
• and
• a telemetry unit configured to receive electromagnetic transcutaneous powering and to transmit the sensor information signal to a receiver unit external to the body;
• wherein the pressure sensor, encoding circuitry, sweep generator unit, oscillator, signal delay unit, and telemetry unit are configured to be implanted in a subcutaneous manner in the body.