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US 6,712,778 B1Granted
Implantable mechanical force sensor
AssigneeThe UAB Research Foundation
InventorsRobert Lee Jeffcoat, Lance C. Ramp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device is provided for measuring the mechanical impedance of its surroundings. The device includes a force generator, a force sensor (32), an accelerometer unit (34), an electronic unit capable of calculating the impedance of the basis of outputs received from a device component and suitable power and control signal sources.
Claims24
A dynamic implanted sensing device, said device comprising:
- an implanted force generator producing a known force time profile;
- an implanted accelerometer unit;
- an electronic unit calculating a dynamic force measurement from an output received from a device component selected from the group consisting of:
- said force generator and said accelerometer;
- and
- a power source and a control signal source.
3 more elements
A dynamic implanted sensing device, said device comprising:
- an implanted force generator producing a known force time profile;
- an implanted accelerometer unit;
- an electronic unit calculating a dynamic force measurement from an output received from a device component selected from the group consisting of:
- said force generator and said accelerometer;
- and
- a power source and a control signal source;
- wherein the output of said device is employed to infer the state of a non-biological adjacent structure.
4 more elements
A process for force measurement comprising the steps of:
- producing a force independent of a preload bias at a device-sampling structure boundary;
- sensing acceleration by measuring the relative displacement of a secondary mass elastically mounted to said device;
- and
- calculating impedance therefrom.
1 more element
A dynamic implanted sensing device, said device comprising:
- a plurality of implanted force sensors;
- an implanted force generator producing a known force time profile, wherein the known force time profile is determined with a force sensor;
- a plurality of implanted accelerometer units configured to provide a force measurement in two axes;
- an electronic unit calculating a dynamic force measurement from an output received from a device component selected from the group consisting of:
- said force generator and said accelerometer;
- and
- a power source and a control signal source.
4 more elements
A dynamic implanted sensing device, said device comprising:
- a force generator producing a known force time profile;
- an accelerometer unit;
- an electronic unit calculating a dynamic force measurement from an output received from a device component selected from the group consisting of:
- said force generator and said accelerometer;
- and
- a power source and a control signal source, wherein the device is implanted within biological tissue.
3 more elements
An implant comprising:
- an implant housing having a cavity therein;
- a closure adapted to selectively engage the cavity of said implant housing;
- and
- a dynamic sensing device comprising a force generator producing a known force time profile;
- an accelerometer unit;
- an electronic unit calculating a dynamic force measurement from an output received from a device component selected from the group consisting of:
- said force generator and said accelerometer;
- and a power source and a control signal source, said dynamic sensing device adapted to insert within the cavity, wherein leads extend from said dynamic sensing device through said closure.
5 more elements
An implant comprising:
- an implant housing having a cavity therein;
- a closure adapted to selectively engage the cavity of said implant housing;
- and
- a dynamic sensing device comprising a force generator producing a known force time profile;
- an accelerometer unit;
- an electronic unit calculating a dynamic force measurement from an output received from a device component selected from the group consisting of:
- said force generator and said accelerometer;
- and a power source and a control signal source, said dynamic sensing device adapted to insert within the cavity, wherein said dynamic sensing device calculates two axes impedance measurements.
5 more elements
An implant comprising:
- an implant housing having a cavity therein;
- a closure adapted to selectively engage the cavity of said implant housing;
- and
- a dynamic sensing device comprising a force generator producing a known force time profile;
- an accelerometer unit;
- an electronic unit calculating a dynamic force measurement from an output received from a device component selected from the group consisting of:
- said force generator and said accelerometer;
- and a power source and a control signal source, said dynamic sensing device adapted to insert within the cavity, wherein a force is generated within said device independent of a preload bias.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.