Patent ID: 6746404
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: A61B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for implanting a medical sensor between tissue within a patient's body, the method comprising the steps of:providing a catheter having a body and a distal end thereof, the catheter including an implantable medical sensor for remotely sensing and measuring a parameter within the patient's body, the medical sensor comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and having a longitudinal axis and a deformable membrane fixed to one end of the housing, the membrane being deformably movable in direct correspondence to a change in a measured parameter within the patient's body; a microchip positioned within the housing and operatively communicating with the membrane for transmitting a signal indicative of the parameter, wherein the signal is a digital signal, the microchip comprising an array of photoelectric cells; an LED for transmitting light at the photoelectric cells; a shutter connected to the membrane and moveable between the photoelectric cells and the LED in response to deforming of the membrane; a first set of anchoring members operatively connected to the distal end of the housing; and a second set of anchoring members operatively connected to the proximal end of the housing; the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members being movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position, the collapsed position being defined as a position whereby the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and the deployed position being defined as a position whereby the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein each anchoring member of the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members comprises a ring member, each ring member having a tissue engaging surface thereon; inserting the distal end of the catheter into tissue; disposing the medical sensor at least partially from the distal end of the catheter and moving the first set of anchoring members from the collapsed position to the deployed position; engaging another side of the tissue with the tissue engaging surface of each ring member of the second set of anchoring members; and remotely sensing and measuring the parameter using the microchip of the medical sensor based on movement of the shutter.