Implantable sensor flush sleeve
AssigneeMedtronic MiniMed, Inc.
InventorsBradley J. Enegren, Marianne A. Kolopp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A apparatus and method for cleaning a sensor tip of an implantable sensor includes a flush sleeve directed towards the sensor tip, a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the flush sleeve, where fluid injected into a first end of a flush sleeve surrounding the sensor sprays off the sensor tip through at least one orifice located at the second end of the flush sleeve. The first end of the flush sleeve contains a fluid conduit and a septum, where a needle is used to pierce the septum to inject the fluid into the fluid conduit.
Claims20
An implantable sensor apparatus for taking readings from a patient in vivo, the sensor apparatus comprising:
- an implantable sensor having a distal end with a sensor tip for direct contact with patient fluids;
- a flush sleeve directed towards the sensor tip;
- and
- a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the flush sleeve, wherein a fluid received in the fluid conduit in fluid communication with the flush sleeve is used to spray the sensor tip.
A method of cleaning a sensor tip of an implantable electrode sensor having the sensor tip in direct contact with patient fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
- injecting fluid into a first end of a flush sleeve surrounding the sensor;
- and
- spraying off the sensor tip with the injected fluid through at least one orifice located at a second end of the flush sleeve.
A system for cleaning a sensor tip of an implantable electrode sensor having the sensor tip in direct contact with patient fluid, the system comprising:
- means for injecting fluid into a first end of a flush sleeve surrounding the sensor;
- and
- means for spraying off the sensor tip with the injected fluid through at least one orifice located at a second end of the flush sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.