# US 8,784,475 B2 · Instrumented implantable stents, vascular grafts and other medical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,475 B2 - Document ID: US8784475B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/536,660 - Filed: 2012-06-28 - Published: 2012-10-25 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-15 - Assignees: IZEX Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: James B. Martinson; John G. Stark; Timothy J. B. Hanson; Steven Backes - Inventors: James B. Martinson; John G. Stark; Timothy J. B. Hanson; Steven Backes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784475B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07) - A61B 5/07: Endoradiosondes - A61B 5/411: {Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance} - A61F 2250/0002: for data transfer - A61F 2250/0068: the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir - A61N 1/30: Apparatus for iontophoresis, {i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body}, or cataphoresis - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Several different smart stent structures are described for placement in vessel of a mammal. The stents can be advantageously used to perform measurements of the conditions in the vessel and transmit the measurements wireless out from the patient. In some embodiments, the stent performs therapy within the vessel and may be controlled with a microprocessor, which may or may not communicate wirelessly. Some implantable devices comprise a drug delivery system based, for example, on either a microelectromechanical structure or a cover that opens upon application of an electrical current. Smart devices can be used, for example, the detect deposits in a vessel, aneurysms in the vessel or other modifications of flow in the vessel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A prosthetic vessel, comprising: a support structure, including a biocompatible material and having a structure suitable for replacement of a portion of a mammalian vessel; a sensor, supported by the support structure, configured to perform a measurement of a physiological parameter; an implantable wireless communication system, in communication with the sensor, configured to transmit information about the measurement of the physiological parameter; a treatment transducer, supported by the support structure, configured to deliver a treatment response; and an implantable microprocessor having an associated memory, in communication with the sensor, the implantable wireless communication systems, and the treatment transducer, the implantable microprocessor configured to control the treatment response based upon information about the measurement of the physiological parameter and a treatment protocol stored in the memory, and reprogram the memory with a new treatment protocol received through the implantable wireless communication system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The prosthetic vessel of claim 1, further comprising: an implantable battery coupled with and configured to power the implantable microprocessor; wherein the implantable wireless communication system comprises an antenna assembled on a chip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The prosthetic vessel of claim 1, further comprising: a second sensor, supported by the structure, configured to perform a second measurement of a physiological parameter, wherein the implantable microprocessor controls the treatment response based upon information about the measurements of one or more physiological parameters obtained by the sensor and the second sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The prosthetic vessel of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a structure including fasteners configured to attach to a mammalian vessel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The prosthetic vessel of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a metal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The prosthetic vessel of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a polymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The prosthetic vessel of claim 2, wherein the implantable wireless communication system, the implantable microprocessor, and the implantable battery are coupled with the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The prosthetic vessel of claim 1, further comprising a drug delivery device with a delivery rate controlled by the implantable microprocessor. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: sensing a measurement of a physiological parameter using a sensor associated with a prosthetic vessel; wirelessly transmitting, from the prosthetic vessel, information about the measurement of the physiological parameter using a wireless communication system; delivering a treatment response based upon information about the measurement of the physiological parameter and a stored treatment protocol using a treatment transducer; controlling the treatment response based upon information about the measurement of the physiological parameter and the treatment protocol stored in a memory of an implantable microprocessor in communication with the sensor, the wireless communication system and the treatment transducer; and reprogramming the stored treatment protocol with a new treatment protocol received through the implantable wireless communication system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising sensing a second measurement of a physiological parameter using a second sensor associated with the prosthetic vessel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein delivering the treatment response includes delivering a treatment response based upon information about the measurements of one or more physiological parameters obtained by the sensor and the second sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising attaching portions of the prosthetic vessel to a mammalian vessel using one or more fasteners. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising supporting the prosthetic vessel using a support structure comprising a biocompatible material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein wirelessly transmitting information includes using an antenna assembled on a chip. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein delivering the treatment response includes delivering a drug at a controlled rate.