Medical sensor system for detecting a feature in a body
AssigneeBIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
InventorsSven Bode, Andreas Bunge, Sarah Biela, Hoc Khiem Trieu
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Abstract
The invention relates to a medical sensor system (10) for detecting a feature (12), such as an analyte, in a human or animal body. The system (10) includes at least one sensor (14; 34) having a reservoir (18) with a cap (16) designed as a controllable organic membrane (20), wherein (for example) application of a voltage of a particular magnitude, or application of a voltage for a particular time, effects a change in the permeability of the membrane (20).
Claims20
A method for operating a medical sensor system having:
- A. a reservoir having a reservoir interior sample volume and a reservoir exterior,
- B. a sensor situated within the reservoir interior sample volume, and
- C. a reservoir cap separating the reservoir interior sample volume and the reservoir exterior, wherein the cap is defined by an organic membrane having pores therein, the pores having controllably adjustable pore sizes, the method including the steps of:
- a. applying a stimulus to the cap to change it from a closed state wherein the pores are closed, with the cap thereby separating the sample volume from the exterior of the reservoir, to an intermediate state wherein the pores are open to less than their maximum pore sizes, thereby exposing the sample volume to the exterior of the reservoir;
- b. obtaining a reference reading from the sensor when the cap is in the intermediate state;
- c. applying a stimulus to the cap to change it to a measurement state wherein the pores are open to a desired pore size greater than the pore size at the intermediate state;
- d. obtaining a measurement reading from the sensor when the cap is in the measurement state;
- e. adjusting the measurement reading in dependence on the reference reading.
A method for operating a medical sensor system having a first medical sensor and a second medical sensor in close proximity, each medical sensor including:
- A. a reservoir having a reservoir interior sample volume and a reservoir exterior,
- B. a sensor situated within the reservoir interior sample volume, and
- C. a reservoir cap separating the reservoir interior sample volume and the reservoir exterior, wherein the cap is defined by an organic membrane having pores therein, the pores having controllably adjustable pore sizes,
- the method including the steps of:
- a. applying a stimulus to the cap of the first medical sensor to change it from a closed state wherein the pores are closed, with the cap thereby separating the sample volume from the exterior of the reservoir, to an intermediate state wherein its pores are open to less than their maximum pore sizes, thereby exposing the sample volume to the exterior of the reservoir;
- b. obtaining a reference reading from the sensor of the first medical sensor when the cap of the first medical sensor is in the intermediate state;
- c. applying a stimulus to the cap of the second medical sensor to change it from a closed state wherein the pores are closed, with the cap thereby separating the sample volume from the exterior of the reservoir, to a measurement state wherein its pores are open to a desired pore size greater than the pore size of the first medical sensor at the intermediate state, thereby exposing the sample volume to the exterior of the reservoir;
- d. obtaining a measurement reading from the sensor of the second medical sensor when its cap is in the measurement state;
- e. adjusting the measurement reading in dependence on the reference reading.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.