Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining a pressure associated with a lumen of a body. A wireless sensor is positioned in the lumen of the body. The sensor comprises an LC resonant circuit having a resonant frequency configured to vary in response to changes in pressure in the lumen. One or more sensor calibration parameters are stored at an external base unit. The external based unit generates and transmits an energizing signal. A ring down response is received from the wireless sensor. The system and method determine the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit from the ring down response and calculate the pressure in the lumen from the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit utilizing the one or more sensor calibration parameters associated with the LC resonant circuit.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining a pressure associated with a lumen of a body. A wireless sensor is positioned in the lumen of the body. The sensor comprises an LC resonant circuit having a resonant frequency configured to vary in response to changes in pressure in the lumen. One or more sensor calibration parameters are stored at an external base unit. The external based unit generates and transmits an energizing signal. A ring down response is received from the wireless sensor. The system and method determine the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit from the ring down response and calculate the pressure in the lumen from the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit utilizing the one or more sensor calibration parameters associated with the LC resonant circuit.

Abstract: An implantable wireless sensor is provided for determining a pressure of a lumen in a body. The sensor comprises a sensor body comprising a plurality of substrates, at least a portion of the substrates comprising a first dielectric material. An LC resonant circuit is contained with the sensor body. A capacitance of the LC resonant circuit is configured to vary in response to changes in pressure in the lumen. A first anchoring element is coupled to a proximal end of the sensor body and a second anchoring element is coupled to a distal end of the sensor body. The first and second anchoring elements are configured to lodge the sensor body within the lumen. A second dielectric material, different than the first dielectric material, is provided over at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of substrates.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining a pressure associated with a lumen of a body. A wireless sensor is positioned in the lumen of the body. The sensor comprises an LC resonant circuit having a resonant frequency configured to vary in response to changes in pressure in the lumen. One or more sensor calibration parameters are stored at an external base unit. The external based unit generates and transmits an energizing signal. A ring down response is received from the wireless sensor. The system and method determine the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit from the ring down response and calculate the pressure in the lumen from the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit utilizing the one or more sensor calibration parameters associated with the LC resonant circuit.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to deploy an implant assembly in a vessel. The implant assembly comprises a pressure sensor having a body, and first and second anchoring members coupled to the body of the pressure sensor. A delivery apparatus comprises a shaft having proximal and distal ends, the shaft including a main lumen and a secondary lumen, the main lumen extending along at least a portion of the shaft. The secondary lumen extends along at least a portion of the length of the shaft, the secondary lumen joined with first and second ports provided in a sidewall of the shaft. A tether wire is configured to be slidably positioned within the secondary lumen, the tether wire having a distal portion configured to secure the implant assembly against the sidewall.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to deploy an implant assembly in a vessel. The implant assembly comprises a pressure sensor having a body, and first and second anchoring members coupled to the body of the pressure sensor. A delivery apparatus comprises a shaft having proximal and distal ends, the shaft including a main lumen and a secondary lumen, the main lumen extending along at least a portion of the shaft. The secondary lumen extends along at least a portion of the length of the shaft, the secondary lumen joined with first and second ports provided in a sidewall of the shaft. A tether wire is configured to be slidably positioned within the secondary lumen, the tether wire having a distal portion configured to secure the implant assembly against the sidewall.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining a pressure associated with a lumen of a patient. A wireless sensor is positioned in the lumen of the patient. The sensor has a body with a pressure sensitive surface, including a sealed cavity that holds an inductive-capacitive (LC) resonant circuit. A capacitance of the LC resonant circuit is configured to vary in response to changes in pressure in the lumen. The LC resonant circuit has a charge time related to a quality factor (Q) of the LC resonant circuit. The LC resonant circuit is energized with an energizing signal during a measurement cycle. The energizing signal has a duty cycle with an on-time that is set, in part, based on the charge time. A ring down response is received from the wireless sensor. The ring down response is utilized to calculate the pressure associated with the lumen of the patient.

Abstract: An implantable wireless sensor is provided that comprises a plurality of substrates joined together to form a body with a hermetically sealed cavity therein. A capacitor (C) is provided within the cavity. A first capacitor plate is formed on an internal surface of the first substrate. An inductor (L) is provided within the cavity and coupled to form an LC resonant circuit. At least a portion of the first substrate comprises a deflectable region mechanically coupled to the first capacitor plate. The deflectable region is configured to deflect in response to changes in pressure in the artery altering a spacing between the capacitor plates and altering a resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit. First and second anchoring elements are coupled to the body and include flexible wire loops configured to extend outward from the body to lodge within a lumen of the artery.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining a pressure associated with a lumen of a patient. A wireless sensor is positioned in the lumen of the patient. The sensor has a body with a pressure sensitive surface, including a sealed cavity that holds an inductive-capacitive (LC) resonant circuit. A capacitance of the LC resonant circuit is configured to vary in response to changes in pressure in the lumen. The LC resonant circuit has a charge time related to a quality factor (Q) of the LC resonant circuit. The LC resonant circuit is energized with an energizing signal during a measurement cycle. The energizing signal has a duty cycle with an on-time that is set, in part, based on the charge time. A ring down response is received from the wireless sensor. The ring down response is utilized to calculate the pressure associated with the lumen of the patient.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to deploy an implant assembly in a vessel. The implant assembly comprises a pressure sensor having a body, and first and second anchoring members coupled to the body of the pressure sensor. A delivery apparatus comprises a shaft having proximal and distal ends, the shaft including a main lumen and a secondary lumen, the main lumen extending along at least a portion of the shaft. The secondary lumen extends along at least a portion of the length of the shaft, the secondary lumen joined with first and second ports provided in a sidewall of the shaft. A tether wire is configured to be slidably positioned within the secondary lumen, the tether wire having a distal portion configured to secure the implant assembly against the sidewall.

Abstract: An implantable wireless sensor is provided that comprises a plurality of substrates joined together to form a body with a hermetically sealed cavity therein. A capacitor (C) is provided within the cavity. A first capacitor plate is formed on an internal surface of the first substrate. An inductor (L) is provided within the cavity and coupled to form an LC resonant circuit. At least a portion of the first substrate comprises a deflectable region mechanically coupled to the first capacitor plate. The deflectable region is configured to deflect in response to changes in pressure in the artery altering a spacing between the capacitor plates and altering a resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit. First and second anchoring elements are coupled to the body and include flexible wire loops configured to extend outward from the body to lodge within a lumen of the artery.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided that comprises an upper wafer formed from a dielectric material, the upper wafer having channels. The upper wafer includes a first capacitor plate and a second capacitor plate formed on a lower surface of the upper wafer. An inductor is contained within the channels in the upper wafer in fixed relation to the first and second capacitor plates. A lower wafer is formed from the dielectric material. A third capacitor plate is formed on an inner surface of the lower wafer. The upper and lower wafers are fused together to form a monolithic housing such that the first and second capacitor plates are arranged in parallel, spaced-apart relation from the third capacitor plate. The lower wafer comprising a pressure sensitive deflective region underlying the third capacitor plate. The deflective region deflects in response to changes in ambient pressure in the medium.

Abstract: Transferring electronic probe assemblies to space transformers. In accordance with a first method embodiment, a plurality of probes is formed in a sacrificial material on a sacrificial substrate via microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processes. The tips of the plurality of probes are formed adjacent to the sacrificial substrate and the remaining structure of the plurality of probes extends outward from the sacrificial substrate. The sacrificial material comprising the plurality of probes is attached to a space transformer. The space transformer includes a plurality of contacts on one surface for contacting the plurality of probes at a probe pitch and a corresponding second plurality of contacts on another surface at a second pitch, larger than the probe pitch, wherein each of the second plurality of contacts is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of probes. The sacrificial substrate is removed, and the sacrificial material is removed, leaving the plurality of probes intact.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrically testing a semiconductor device comprises a probe card comprising a probe, wherein the probe comprises a probe tip. Further, the probe tip comprises a foot with an arbitrarily sized cross-section and an apex with an arbitrarily sized cross-section, wherein the cross-section of the foot is wider than the cross-section of the apex.

Abstract: A pressure sensor comprises an upper wafer formed from a dielectric material, the upper wafer having one or more channels. The upper wafer includes a first capacitor plate and a second capacitor plate formed on a lower surface of the upper wafer. According to one embodiment the sensor further comprises an inductor formed from one or more windings of a conductive material, the inductor being contained within the one or more channels in the upper wafer in fixed relation to the first and second capacitor plates, the inductor comprising first and second inductor leads, the first lead being electrically coupled to the first capacitor plate and the second lead electrically coupled to the second capacitor plate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor for in vivo applications includes the steps of providing two wafers of an electrically insulating material. A recess is formed in the first wafer, and a capacitor plate is formed in the recess of the first wafer. A second capacitor plate is formed in a corresponding region of the second wafer, and the two wafers are affixed to one another such that the first and second capacitor plates are arranged in parallel, spaced-apart relation.

Abstract: The method for forming a semiconductor probe tip comprises depositing a first copper layer onto exposed electrically conductive areas of a wafer. The first copper layer surrounds a non-conductive polymer structure on the wafer. The non-conductive polymer structure is removed to form a primary cavity in the first copper layer. The wafer and the primary cavity are coated with a polymer layer. Regions of the polymer layer are removed to form a secondary cavity within and alongside the primary cavity. A metal layer is deposited on exposed electrically conductive areas of the wafer and within bounds of the secondary cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrically testing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a probe card comprising a probe, wherein the probe comprises a probe tip. Further, the probe tip comprises a foot with an arbitrarily sized cross-section and an apex with an arbitrarily sized cross-section, wherein the cross-section of the foot is wider than the cross-section of the apex.

Abstract: Wireless sensors configured to sense, record and transmit data are provided herein. In one aspect, the wireless sensor has a power harvesting unit; a transducing A-to-D converter unit, a microcontroller unit, and a transmitting coil. The power harvesting unit is configured to receive an external energizing magnetic field generated by an external interrogator and store the energy generated thereby. The transducing A-to-D converter unit has a passive electrical transducer configured to respond to variations in a physical property and a converter configured to measure a characteristic value of the passive electrical transducer and provide a digital signal that is indicative of the measured characteristic value. The microcontroller unit is electrically coupled to the power harvesting unit and the transducing A-to-D converter unit and is configured to receive the digital signal from the transducing A-to-D converter unit.

Abstract: A method for testing a semiconductor device. The method comprises moving a probe in a vertical direction towards an electrical structure on a semiconductor device to position the probe alongside the electrical structure. A tip of the probe is positioned lower than an elevation of an outermost periphery of the electrical structure. The method also includes moving the probe in a lateral direction towards the electrical structure to contact the electrical structure. The probe tip mechanically and electrically engages the electrical structure.