Implantable strain sensor for medical diagnostics
AssigneePacesetter, Inc.
InventorsRodolfo Rodriguez, Annapurna Karicherla
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments include strain sensor devices for detecting movement, morphological changes or other physical parameters within a patient's body tissue. Some embodiments are directed specifically to measuring parameters within a patient's heart and may also be configured to communicate with an implantable stimulation device and associated external programming device.
Claims27
A piezoelectric strain sensor for use within a patient's body, comprising:
- a first resilient shear layer;
- a second resilient shear layer disposed apart from and substantially parallel to the first resilient shear layer;
- a piezoelectric element disposed between the first resilient shear layer and the second resilient shear layer with the first resilient shear layer and second resilient shear layer configured to apply shear strain onto the piezoelectric element upon bending of the first resilient shear layer and second resilient shear layer;
- and
- a compliant filler material disposed between the first resilient shear layer and second resilient shear layer.
A piezoelectric strain sensor for use within a patient's body, comprising:
- a first resilient shear layer;
- a second resilient shear layer disposed apart from and substantially parallel to the first resilient shear layer;
- a first piezoelectric element disposed transversely away from a longitudinal center line of the first resilient shear layer and a longitudinal center line of the second resilient shear layer and having a first side secured to the first resilient shear layer, a second side opposite the first side and secured to the second resilient shear layer, a thickness dimension between the first side and the second side, a major transverse dimension that is substantially greater than the thickness dimension, a polarization direction extending from the second side to the first side of the first piezoelectric element in an orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the second side of the first piezoelectric element;
- a second piezoelectric element disposed transversely on an opposite side of the longitudinal center line of the first resilient shear layer from the first piezoelectric element and having a first side secured to the first resilient shear layer, a second side opposite the first side and secured to the second resilient shear layer, a thickness dimension between the first side and the second side, a major transverse dimension that is substantially greater than the thickness dimension, a polarization direction extending from the first side to the second side of the second piezoelectric element in an orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the first side of the second piezoelectric element;
- and
- a compliant filler material disposed between the first resilient shear layer and second resilient shear layer.
An implantable piezoelectric strain sensor comprising a hermetic seal coating having a dielectric layer and a thin noble metal layer disposed outside of the dielectric layer.
A tissue stimulation system comprising:
- an implantable stimulation device;
- and
- a strain sensor in communication with the implantable stimulation device, the strain sensor including:
- a first resilient shear layer;
- a second resilient shear layer disposed apart from and substantially parallel to the first resilient shear layer;
- a piezoelectric element disposed between the first resilient shear layer and the second resilient shear layer with the first resilient shear layer and second resilient shear layer configured to apply shear strain onto the piezoelectric element upon bending of the first resilient shear layer and second resilient shear layer;
- and
- a compliant filler material disposed between the first resilient shear layer and second resilient shear layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.