IN VIVO SENSOR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

摘要

Implantable in vivo sensors used to monitor physical, chemical or electrical parameters within a body. The in vivo sensors are integral with an implantable medical device and are responsive to externally or internally applied energy. Upon application of energy, the sensors undergo a phase change in at least part of the material of the device which is then detected external to the body by conventional techniques such as radiography, ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, radio frequency imaging or the like. The in vivo sensors of the present invention may be employed to provide volumetric measurements, flow rate measurements, pressure measurements, electrical measurements, biochemical measurements, temperature, measurements, or measure the degree and type of deposits within the lumen of an endoluminal implant, such as a stent or other type of endoluminal conduit. The in vivo sensors may also be used therapeutically to modulate mechanical and/or physical properties of the endoluminal implant in response to the sensed or monitored parameter.

主权项

1. A method of using a sensor device, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting the sensor device, the sensor device comprising a plurality of structural elements each having a first region being composed of a first material, the first material having a first transition temperature and a first transition coefficient to expand from a first diametric state to a second diametric state, the plurality of structural elements each include a second region being composed of a second material, the second material having a second transition temperature and a second transition coefficient higher than the first transition temperature and the first transition coefficient, wherein the second transition temperature and the second transition coefficient allows for a change in the geometry or conformation of the second region in the second diametric state upon application of at least one of an internal force and an external force to the sensor device, wherein the change in geometry or conformation changes the positioning of the second region relative to the geometry of the first region during the second transition temperature; and a detection mechanism configured to detect the change in the geometry or conformation of the sensor device, and wherein the second material comprises at least one of a shape memory material and a superelastic material; at least one of the geometry and the conformation of the in-vivo sensor device changing due to application of the at least one of the internal force and the external force to the sensor device.