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US 2013/0281793 A1Published application
Breach detection in solid structures
AssigneeSensurtec, Inc.
InventorRichard D.Y. Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implantable device includes at least one solid structure having an external surface and a volume beneath the surface. One or more of a first conductor or set of conductors is disposed externally and/or internally on or within the structure and an array of elongate electrically conductive elements are disposed radially outwardly within the volume. A breach is detected when a conductive fluid intrudes into the volume through the surface.
Claims26
An implantable device comprising:
- a solid structure having a surface over a volume, said surface being subject to a breach;
- a first electrical conductor located internally or externally of the solid structure;
- an electrically conductive array including one or more elongate conductive elements positioned in the volume of the structure and isolated from said first electrical conductor, wherein said conductive elongate elements project in a direction from an interior of the volume toward a region on the surface;
- and
- wireless signaling circuitry coupled between the first electrical conductor and the electrically conductive array so that an electrically conductive fluid intruding into a partial or total breach through said surface into the volume electrically bridges the conductor and array to enable the circuitry to emit a detectable wireless signal warning of the breach.
2 more elements
A method for signaling breach of a surface of a solid structure of a device implanted in a body, said method comprising:
- coupling an array of one or more elongate conductive elements disposed in a volume of the solid structure to an electrical conductor located internally or externally on the device, wherein said elongate conductive elements project in a direction from an interior of the volume of the structure toward the surface of the structure of the device wherein the elongate elements are electrically isolated from the internal/external conductive element;
- and
- emitting an externally detectable wireless signal when the said surface has been at least partially breached, wherein said breach allows intrusion of an electrically conductive fluid within the volume of said device to bridge the internal/external electrical conductor and one or more of the elongate conductive elements to close a circuit to enable or cause emission of said signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.