Abstract: Implantable wireless sensor assemblies and methods for monitoring physiological parameters within living bodies. Such sensor assembly includes a sensing device with a housing having an internal cavity, a transducer and electrical circuitry within the cavity, and an antenna that is within the cavity or outside the housing. The sensor assembly further includes a housing portion in which the transducer, the electrical circuitry, and the antenna are not located, and anchoring elements for securing the sensing device within a living body. The housing portion is separately formed and directly attached to a distal end of the housing, or is integrally formed as a discrete region of the housing at the distal end thereof. The anchor elements surround a coupling feature of the housing portion but does not surround the transducer or the antenna of the sensing device.

Abstract: Procedures, implantable wireless sensing devices, and sensor assemblies suitable for monitoring physiological parameters within living bodies. Such sensor assembly includes a sensing device and an anchor for securing the sensing device within a living body. The sensing device comprises a housing having at least one internal cavity and a transducer and electrical circuitry within the at least one internal cavity. The sensing device further comprises an antenna that is within the at least one internal cavity or outside the housing. The housing has at least one additional housing portion in which the transducer, the electrical circuitry, and the antenna are not located. The anchor has a metal portion that surrounds the at least one additional housing portion so as not to surround the transducer, the electrical circuitry, or the antenna.

Abstract: Minimally-invasive surgical procedures for monitoring physiological parameters within internal organs of living bodies, and anchors therefor. Such an anchor may have a tubular portion defining a distal end of the anchor, a disk-shaped portion having a proximal surface at a proximal end of the anchor, and an internal passage within the tubular and disk-shaped portions for receiving a sensing device. The internal passage has a proximal portion and an oppositely-disposed distal portion that defines a distal opening in the tubular portion that is configured to retain the sensing device within the internal passage, in combination with one or more features at the proximal end of the anchor. One or more features are defined on the disk-shaped portion for securing the anchor to the wall of the internal organ.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a cardiac monitoring system includes multiple sensors configured for implantation in a cardiovascular system of a user. Each sensor includes a sensing unit configured to be disposed in sensory communication with the location for measuring a biological parameter in the at least one heart chamber. The sensing unit is also configured to generate a sensory signal associated with the biological parameter. Each sensor also includes a wireless transceiver configured to receive the sensory signal from the sensing unit. The wireless transceiver is further configured to wirelessly transmit the sensory signal to an external processing device disposed outside a body of the user. The external processing device monitors, based on the sensory signal received from at least two sensors from the plurality of sensors, cardiac health associated with at least one of an implanted device or a surgery.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a base structure and a tube. The tube has a first tube portion, a second tube portion substantially parallel to the first tube portion, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion. The tube is configured to have a material pass from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. The apparatus further includes a drive element in contact with the tube. The drive element is configured to vibrate the tube such that the first tube portion conducts vibrational movements out of phase with vibrational movements of the second tube portion. The apparatus also includes a sensing element, at least a portion of which is in contact with the tube. The sensing element is configured to sense deflections of the first tube portion and the second tube portion such that at least one property of the material is determined.

Abstract: A system for monitoring blood pressure and other physiologic parameters is provided. The system is designed such that it can be delivered to the patient with ease and minimal invasion. The system contains at least one self contained implantable sensing device consisting of a sensor, an electrical circuit for signal conditioning and magnetic telemetry, a biocompatible outer surface and seal, an anchoring method, and an external readout device. The implant is small in size so that it may be delivered to the desired location and implanted using a catheter, although direct surgical implantation is also possible. The circuit, sensor, and antenna for telemetry are packaged together and sealed hermetically to the biologic environment. The larger readout unit remains outside the body but proximal to the implant for minimizing communication distance.

Abstract: A delivery system and method for placing a medical implant, such as for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating cardiovascular diseases. The delivery system includes a hollow catheter, an anchor coupled to the catheter, and an implant secured within the anchor. The anchor has a base portion with first and second longitudinal ends and a cage therebetween. The anchor further has flexible arms, flexible legs, features for securing the medical implant within the cage of the base portion, and a coupler portion connected to and spaced apart from the second longitudinal end of the base portion. Surfaces of the arms and legs are adapted to clamp the anchor to a wall. The system further includes a pusher wire adapted to cause the anchor to acquire a stowed configuration in which the legs axially extend from the base portion, permitting the anchor to be retrieved after its deployment.

Abstract: A minimally-invasive surgical procedure for monitoring a physiological parameter within an internal organ of a living body. The procedure entails making a first incision in the body to enable access to the organ. An endoscopic instrument is then inserted through the first incision and a second incision is made therewith through an external wall of the organ and into the internal cavity thereof. A sensing unit is placed in the second incision such that the second incision is occluded by the unit and a proximal end of the unit is outside the organ. The unit includes a sensing device having a sensing element adapted to sense the physiological parameter within the organ, and an anchor to which the sensing device is secured. The first incision is closed, after which a readout device outside the body telemetrically communicates with the sensing device to obtain a reading of the physiological parameter.

Abstract: A micromachined tube (microtube) suitable for microfluidic devices. The microtube is formed by isotropically etching a surface of a first substrate to define therein a channel having an arcuate cross-sectional profile, and forming a substrate structure by bonding the first substrate to a second substrate so that the second substrate overlies and encloses the channel to define a passage having a cross-sectional profile of which at least half is arcuate. The substrate structure is thinned to define the microtube and walls thereof that surround the passage.

Abstract: A delivery system and method for placing a medical implant, such as for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating cardiovascular diseases. The delivery system includes a hollow catheter, an anchor coupled to the catheter, and an implant secured within the anchor. The anchor has a base portion with first and second longitudinal ends and a cage therebetween. The anchor further has flexible arms, flexible legs, features for securing the medical implant within the cage of the base portion, and a coupler portion connected to and spaced apart from the second longitudinal end of the base portion. Surfaces of the arms and legs are adapted to clamp the anchor to a wall. The system further includes a pusher wire adapted to cause the anchor to acquire a stowed configuration in which the legs axially extend from the base portion, permitting the anchor to be retrieved after its deployment.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a charge-based physiological parameter within an internal organ of a living body, and a sensor adapted to be implanted in the living body and an organ therein. The sensor includes sensing elements adapted to sense the charge-based physiological parameter within the organ, and the sensing elements include at least first and second sensing elements that are electrically conductive, aligned, spaced apart and exposed at the exterior of the sensor. The sensor further includes a device for passing an alternating current from the first to the second sensing elements through an ionic solution contacting the sensing elements. The sensor also includes a device for generating a signal corresponding to the impedance of the ionic solution based on the alternating current.

Abstract: A delivery system and method for placing a medical implant, such as for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating cardiovascular diseases. The delivery system includes a hollow catheter, an anchor coupled to the catheter, and an implant secured within the anchor. The anchor has a base portion with first and second longitudinal ends and a cage therebetween. The anchor further has flexible arms, flexible legs, features for securing the medical implant within the cage of the base portion, and a coupler portion connected to and spaced apart from the second longitudinal end of the base portion. Surfaces of the arms and legs are adapted to clamp the anchor to a wall. The system further includes a pusher wire adapted to cause the anchor to acquire a stowed configuration in which the legs axially extend from the base portion, permitting the anchor to be retrieved after its deployment.

Abstract: An anchor for a medical implant, methods of manufacturing the anchor, and procedures for placing a medical implant, such as for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating cardiovascular diseases. The anchor has a base portion with first and second longitudinal ends and a cage therebetween. The anchor further has flexible arms, flexible legs, features for securing the medical implant within the cage of the base portion, and a coupler portion connected to and spaced apart from the second longitudinal end of the base portion. The anchor is adapted to have a deployed configuration in which the arms and legs radially project away from the base portion, the arms axially project toward the second longitudinal end of the base portion, and the legs axially project toward the first longitudinal end of the base portion. Convex surfaces of the arms and legs are adapted to clamp the anchor to a wall.

Abstract: Fluidic systems and methods of determining properties of fluids flowing therein. The fluidic systems and methods make use of a micromachined device that determines at least one property of the fluid within the system. The micromachined device includes a base structure on a substrate and a tube structure extending from the base structure and spaced apart from a surface of the substrate. The tube structure has at least one pair of geometrically parallel tube portions substantially lying in a plane, and at least one continuous internal passage defined at least in part within the parallel tube portions. A drive element induces vibrational movement of the tube structure in the plane of the tube structure and induces resonant vibrational movements in the tube portions in the plane of the tube structure. A sensing element senses deflections of each tube portion in the plane of the tube structure.

Abstract: A micromachined tube (microtube) suitable for microfluidic devices. The microtube is formed by isotropically etching a surface of a first substrate to define therein a channel having an arcuate cross-sectional profile, and forming a substrate structure by bonding the first substrate to a second substrate so that the second substrate overlies and encloses the channel to define a passage having a cross-sectional profile of which at least half is arcuate. The substrate structure is thinned to define the microtube and walls thereof that surround the passage.

Abstract: A process for producing a micromachined tube (microtube) suitable for microfluidic devices. The process entails isotropically etching a surface of a first substrate to define therein a channel having an arcuate cross-sectional profile, and forming a substrate structure by bonding the first substrate to a second substrate so that the second substrate overlies and encloses the channel to define a passage having a cross-sectional profile of which at least half is arcuate. The substrate structure can optionally then be thinned to define a microtube and walls thereof that surround the passage.

Abstract: A delivery method and system for noninvasively monitoring cardiac physiologic parameters used to evaluate patients with cardiovascular conditions. The system includes an implantable sensing device configured for chronic implantation in a cavity of the cardiovascular system, such as the heart, pulmonary artery (PA), etc. The method involves introducing the sensing device through a cardiovascular cavity that is upstream in the vasculature from the cavity where implantation is intended and has a larger diameter than the intended cavity, and thereafter blood flow through the cardiovascular system delivers the device to the intended cavity. The device is sized and configured so as to secure itself within the intended cavity when the device moves through the cavity to a point where the diameter narrows sufficiently to secure the device and so as to be oriented once secured to sense a pressure either within, upstream (wedge), or downstream (distal) of the cavity.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a cardiac monitoring system includes multiple sensors configured for implantation in a cardiovascular system of a user. Each sensor includes a sensing unit configured to be disposed in sensory communication with the location for measuring a biological parameter in the at least one heart chamber. The sensing unit is also configured to generate a sensory signal associated with the biological parameter. Each sensor also includes a wireless transceiver configured to receive the sensory signal from the sensing unit. The wireless transceiver is further configured to wirelessly transmit the sensory signal to an external processing device disposed outside a body of the user. The external processing device monitors, based on the sensory signal received from at least two sensors from the plurality of sensors, cardiac health associated with at least one of an implanted device or a surgery.

Abstract: An implantable system and method for deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatments. The implantable system is sufficiently small and self-contained to enable implantation of the entire system within the brain, or optionally within the brain and the surrounding tissue. The system comprises an implantable inductor on which a voltage is induced when subjected to an electromagnetic field, and an implantable device comprising a housing, stimulating elements at an exterior surface of the housing, and electronics within the housing and electrically connected to the implantable inductor. The electronics produces a brain-stimulating current from the voltage induced on the implantable inductor and then delivers the brain-stimulating current to the stimulating elements. Deep brain stimulation is performed by subjecting the inductor to an electromagnetic field to induce a voltage on the inductor that powers the electronics to produce and deliver the brain-stimulating current to the stimulating elements.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and sensing method that utilize a resonating tube configured to have sufficient sensitivity to be capable of sensing the volume of a gas present as bubbles in a liquid or the flow rate and/or density of a gas or gas mixture flowing through the tube. The tube has a freestanding tube portion supported above a surface of a substrate so as to be capable of vibrating in a plane normal to the surface of the substrate. As a gas-containing fluid flows through an internal passage of the tube, a drive signal vibrates the freestanding tube portion at a resonant frequency thereof. Coriolis-induced deflections of the freestanding tube portion are sensed relative to the substrate to produce an output corresponding to the sensed deflections, and the drive signal and/or the output are assessed to determine the volume, density and/or flow rate of the gas of the gas-containing fluid.