Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Cardiovascular
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-03-27
Layno, Carl H. (Department: 3762)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Cardiovascular
C600S481000, C606S191000, C128S903000, C623S900000, C623S001210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206835
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to medical implant devices, and more particularly to devices which may be interrogated remotely from outside the body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of medical implant devices have been developed over the years. In many instances, such devices enable humans to live longer, more comfortable lives. Implant devices such as pacemakers, artificial joints, valves, grafts, stents, etc. provide a patient with the opportunity to lead a normal life even in the face of major heart, reconstructive, or other type surgery, for example.
It has been found, however, that the introduction of such implant devices can sometimes lead to complications. For example, the human body may reject the implant device which can ultimately lead to infection or other types of complications. Alternatively, the implant device may malfunction or become inoperative. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to monitor the condition of the implant device. On the other hand, it is highly undesirable to have to perform invasive surgery in order to evaluate the condition of the device.
Still further, it is desirable to be able to monitor conditions related to the use of implant devices. For example, in heart patients it may be helpful to know the amount of blood flowing through a stent or graft in order to evaluate the health of the patient. Again, however, it is undesirable to have to perform invasive surgery in order to evaluate such conditions.
Techniques have been developed which enable the function of an implant device to be monitored remotely from outside the body of the patient. These techniques involve including one or more sensors in the device for sensing the condition of the device. The device further includes a small transceiver for processing the output of the sensors and transmitting a signal based on the output. Such signal typically is a radio frequency signal which is received by a receiver from outside the body of the patient. The receiver then processes the signal in order to monitor the function of the device.
While such conventional techniques may be effective in avoiding the need to perform invasive surgery, there are however several drawbacks associated therewith. For example, the transceiver included in the implant device typically includes complex electrical circuitry such as mixers, amplifiers, microprocessors, etc. for receiving an interrogation signal and for transmitting a response signal based on the output of the sensors. Such complex circuitry has a relatively high cost associated therewith. In addition, the complexity of the circuitry increases the likelihood that the device itself may be defective. This would then require further invasive surgery and could even result in physical harm to the patient.
Still another shortcoming with conventional implant devices with sensors included therein is power concerns. Some type of circuit for providing power to the transceiver is necessary. The circuit may be a built-in power source such as a battery, or a circuit which derives operating power from an external excitation signal. In either case, again the complexity of the circuit and/or the need to replace the battery periodically adds to the cost of the device and increases the opportunity for failure or defects.
In view of the aforementioned shortcomings associated with conventional implant devices, there is a strong need in the art for a medical implant device which can be remotely interrogated but which does not require complex electrical circuitry such as mixers, amplifiers, microprocessors, etc. There is a strong need for a medical implant device which carries out a function within a human or other living animal, and can be remotely interrogated simply and reliably. There is a strong need for such an implant device which permits most or all of the sensor circuitry to be embedded directly within the device. Moreover, there is a strong need for a medical implant device which does not rely on batteries or other complex energy conversion circuits in order to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is responsive to the aforementioned shortcomings with conventional devices, and is directed towards an implant device to be implanted within a living animal and responsive to an interrogation circuit having an exciter/interrogator element which is located outside the living animal. The implant device includes a structure implantable within the living animal and operatively configured to carry out or assist in carrying out a function within the living animal. The implant device further includes an electrically passive sensing circuit integral with the structure for sensing a parameter associated with the function, the sensing circuit including an inductive element wherein the sensing circuit has a frequency dependent variable impedance loading effect on the interrogation circuit in response to an interrogation signal provided by the exciter/interrogator element, the impedance loading effect varying in relation to the sensed parameter.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
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Dickens, Jr. Elmer D.
Spillman Jr. William B.
Weissman Eric M.
Kolkowski Brian M.
Layno Carl H.
Saralino Mark D.
The B. F. Goodrich Company
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