Electromagnetic sensors for biological tissue applications and methods for their use

A sensor comprising at least two sensor elements each sensor element comprising:

• a substrate;
• a superstrate mounted to said substrate and having a base facing said substrate and an outer surface extending away from said substrate, said outer surface having a transitional periphery interconnecting said base to an outer surface plateau extending over at least a central portion of said superstrate;
• a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said substrate and said superstrate, wherein at least a portion of said transitional periphery of said outer surface of said superstrate has a generally smooth transition from said base to said surface plateau;
• and
• a housing having a bottom and at least one side wall, wherein said at least two sensor elements is supported within said bottom and side wall.

A sensor comprising at least two sensor elements each sensor element comprising:

• a first substrate;
• a second substrate;
• and
• a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said first substrate and said second substrate, wherein said antenna element is structured to emit electromagnetic waves from an edge of the antenna and said at least two sensor elements are angularly oriented relative to and directed toward each other.

A sensor comprising at least two sensor elements each sensor element comprising:

• a substrate;
• a superstrate mounted to said substrate and having a base facing said substrate and an outer surface extending away from said substrate;
• a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said substrate and said superstrate;
• and
• a housing supporting said at least two sensor elements to maintain a predetermined distance between said at least two sensor elements, wherein said housing includes a bottom and at least one side wall such that said at least two sensor elements are support therewithin.

A sensor element for injecting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves into body tissue, said sensor comprising:

• a housing having a bottom and at least one side wall;
• a substrate mounted within said bottom and said at least one side wall;
• and
• a superstrate mounted to said substrate and having a base facing said substrate and an outer surface facing away from said substrate;
• and
• a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said substrate and said superstrate, wherein said housing extends to said outer surface of said superstrate and an electrical shield surrounds said sensor element except for said outer surface of said superstrate.

An injection system comprising:

• (a) an injector to inject a fluid into a vascular structure in a body;
• and
• (b) a sensor element for at least one of transmitting into tissue of the body and receiving therefrom electromagnetic waves for use in ascertaining whether a level of the fluid in the tissue outside the vascular structure has changed, said sensor element comprising:
• (i) a housing having a bottom and at least one side wall;
• (ii) a substrate mounted within said bottom and said at least one side wall;
• (iii) a superstrate mounted to said substrate and having a base facing said substrate and an outer surface extending away from said substrate, said outer surface having a transitional periphery interconnecting said base to an outer surface plateau extending over at least a central portion of said superstrate and enabling said sensor element to be placed in substantial contact with the tissue of the body;
• and
• (iv) a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said substrate and said superstrate, wherein at least a portion of said transitional periphery of said outer surface of said superstrate has a generally smooth transition from said base to said surface plateau.

A system for injecting a fluid into a body, the system comprising:

• (a) a pressurizing chamber in which the fluid is pressurized for injection into a vascular structure of the body;
• and
• (b) a sensor for use in ascertaining whether a level of the fluid in bodily tissue outside the vascular structure has changed, said sensor comprising at least two sensor elements each of which including:
• (i) a substrate;
• (ii) a superstrate mounted to said substrate and having a base facing said substrate and an outer surface extending away from said substrate, said outer surface having a transitional periphery interconnecting said base to an outer surface plateau extending over at least a central portion of said superstrate and enabling said sensor element to be placed in substantial contact with the bodily tissue;
• and
• (iii) a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said substrate and said superstrate, wherein at least a portion of said transitional periphery of said outer surface of said superstrate has a generally smooth transition from said base to said surface plateau.

A system for injecting a fluid into a body, the system comprising:

• (a) a pressurizing chamber in which the fluid is pressurized for injection into a vascular structure of the body;
• and
• (b) a sensor comprising at least two sensor elements oriented angularly relative to and directed toward each other for use in ascertaining whether a level of the fluid in bodily tissue outside the vascular structure has changed, each of said sensor elements including:
• (i) a first substrate;
• (ii) a second substrate;
• and
• (iii) a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said first substrate and said second substrate, wherein said antenna element is structured to emit electromagnetic waves from an edge of said antenna element.

An injection system comprising:

• (a) an injector to inject a fluid into a vascular structure in a body;
• and
• (b) a sensor for use in determining if a level of the fluid in bodily tissue outside the vascular structure has changed, said sensor comprising:
• (i) at least two sensor elements each of which including:
• (A) a substrate;
• (B) a superstrate mounted to said substrate, said superstrate having a base facing said substrate and an outer surface extending away from said substrate that enables said sensor element to be placed in substantial contact with the bodily tissue;
• and
• (C) a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said substrate and said superstrate;
• and
• (ii) a housing supporting said at least two sensor elements to maintain a predetermined distance between said at least two sensor elements, wherein said housing includes a bottom and at least one side wall such that said at least two sensor elements are support therewithin.

An injection system comprising:

• (a) an injector to inject a fluid into a vascular structure of a body;
• and
• (b) a sensor element for at least one of transmitting into tissue of the body and receiving therefrom electromagnetic waves for use in determining if a level of the fluid in the tissue outside the vascular structure has changed, said sensor element comprising:
• (i) a housing having a bottom and at least one side wall;
• (ii) a substrate mounted within said bottom and said at least one side wall;
• and
• (iii) a superstrate mounted to said substrate, said superstrate having a base facing said substrate and an outer surface facing away from said substrate for enabling said sensor element to be placed in substantial contact with the tissue;
• and
• (iv) a generally planar antenna element accommodated by and mounted between said substrate and said superstrate, wherein said housing extends to said outer surface of said superstrate and an electrical shield surrounds said sensor element except for said outer surface of said superstrate.