Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9510785B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-11-20 21:07:32
Document Index: 508906147

Matched Legal Cases: ['§111', 'Application No. 05770030', 'application No. 05770030', 'application No. 05770030', 'application No. 05', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 2007']

US9510785B2 - Strain monitoring system and apparatus - Google Patents
US9510785B2
US9510785B2 US14725286 US201514725286A US9510785B2 US 9510785 B2 US9510785 B2 US 9510785B2 US 14725286 US14725286 US 14725286 US 201514725286 A US201514725286 A US 201514725286A US 9510785 B2 US9510785 B2 US 9510785B2
US14725286
US20150265213A1 (en )
Munro Deborah
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/147,299, filed on Jan. 3, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/304,666 filed on Nov. 27, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,936 issued on Jan. 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/620,980 filed on Jan. 8, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,066,650 issued on Nov. 29, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which is a 35 U.S.C. §111(a) continuation of PCT international application serial number PCT/US2005/024340, filed on Jul. 8, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which is a nonprovisional of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/586,593 filed on Jul. 8, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Priority is claimed to each of the foregoing applications.
This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/620,973 filed on Jan. 8, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,695 issued on Dec. 6, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/306,562 filed on Nov. 29, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,529,474 issued on Sep. 10, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/973,355 filed on Aug. 22, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,721,570 issued on May 13, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED IN A COMPUTER PROGRAM APPENDIX
D = 2 * π * f ω ⁢ ⁢ m
Height ⁢ ⁢ of ⁢ ⁢ substrate ⁢ ⁢ 0.003 ⁢ λ < h < 0.05 ⁢ λ ( 2 ) Width ⁢ ⁢ of ⁢ ⁢ antenna ⁢ ⁢ patch ⁢ ⁢ W = C 2 ⁢ f 0 ⁢ ( ɛ ⁢ ⁢ r + 1 2 ) - 1 / 2 ( 3 ) Length ⁢ ⁢ of ⁢ ⁢ antenna ⁢ ⁢ patch ⁢ ⁢ L = C 2 ⁢ f 0 ⁢ ɛ ⁢ ⁢ e - 2 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ L ( 4 ) ɛ ⁢ ⁢ e = ɛ ⁢ ⁢ r + 1 2 + ɛ ⁢ ⁢ r - 1 2 ⁢ ( 1 + 12 ⁢ h W ) - 1 / 2 ( 5 ) Δ ⁢ ⁢ L = 0.412 ⁢ h ⁢ ⁢ ( ɛ ⁢ ⁢ e + 0.3 ) * ( W h + 0.264 ) ( ɛ ⁢ ⁢ e - 0.258 ) ⁢ ( W h + 0.8 ) ( 6 )
% program to calculate the dimensions for a rectangular microstrip
% use assumptions from book: RF MEMS & the Humberto article on TTL
f0= input(‘ frequency of operation= ’); % frequency of operation
h= input(‘height of dielectric substrate= ’); % thickness of the dielectric
ebs_r= input(‘ Dielectric of material= ’); % dielectric constant
l=(c/(2*f0*(sqrt(ebs_e)))−2*deltaL );% length of the patch
Note that in selecting a high dielectric constant, the substrate becomes electrically thick at higher frequencies; namely, Δm/4 at 100 GHz, where Δm is the wavelength inside the substrate. Higher thickness leads to increased surface waves and hence losses. Therefore, in the present invention, artificial methods are preferably used to reduce the effective dielectric constant of the substrate below the antenna. One method to do so is by micromachining the substrate and creating a cavity 38 under the antenna as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The resulting substrate then comprises a composite of air and Si. This configuration can be achieved by, for example, a DRIE etching of the substrate under the antenna patch. Assuming a vertical wall etching, this method improves the antenna bandwidth and the efficiency over conventional substrates by as much as 60% and 28%, respectively. Preferably, the cavity is designed to have a resonant frequency close to that of the antenna patch to reduce losses.
ɛ ⁢ ⁢ r , eff = ɛ cavity L + 2 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ L ⁢ ( L + 2 ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ L ⁢ ⁢ ɛ fringe ɛ cavity ) . ( 7 )
ɛ fringe ɛ cavity = ɛ air + ( ɛ sub - ɛ air ) ⁢ x air ɛ air + ( ɛ sub - ɛ air ) ⁢ x fringe ( 8 ) ɛ cavity = ɛ ⁢ air ⁢ ⁢ ɛ sub ɛ air + ( ɛ sub - ɛ air ) ⁢ x air ( 9 )
C=[∈ o∈r *A*(n−1)]/d=[(∈o∈r *W*l*(n−1)]/d (10)
C 25 μm=[(∈o∈r *w*l*(n−1)]/d=[(8.85×10−12)*(1)*(5×10−6)*(150×10−6−25×10−6*(50)]/(10×10−6)C 25μm=2.60×10−14 F (13)
C ref1 =C ref2 =C ref3 =C T _ No Strain=3.31×1014 F (14)
V sense + = ⁢ C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 * ( 2 ⁢ Vm ) - Vm C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 + C ref ⁢ ⁢ 3 = ⁢ C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 * ( 2 ⁢ Vm ) C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 + C ref ⁢ ⁢ 3 - ( C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 + C ref ⁢ ⁢ 3 ) * Vm C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 + C ref ⁢ ⁢ 3 = ⁢ ( C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 - C ref ⁢ ⁢ 3 ) * Vm C ref ⁢ ⁢ 1 + C ref ⁢ ⁢ 3 ( 15 ) V sense - = ⁢ C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 * ( 2 ⁢ Vm ) - Vm C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 + C T = ⁢ C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 * ( 2 ⁢ Vm ) C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 + C T - ( C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 + C T ) * Vm C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 + C T = ⁢ ( C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 - C T ) * Vm C ref ⁢ ⁢ 2 + C T ( 16 )
V o = a c ⁢ ⁢ m * V sense + + V sense - 2 - a d ⁢ ⁢ m * V sense + - V sense - 2 ( 17 )
In a preferred embodiment, the fabrication of our sensor involves forty-nine steps and nine masks. The inter-digitated fingers are formed using polysilicon and released by wet etching sacrificial phososilicate glass (PSG). This process is shown in FIG. 12 where top plan views are shown on the left and cross-sectional views are shown on the right.
At step 278, gold is sputtered on the surfaces to create contacts (10 μm).
In use for detecting the progress of spinal fusion, a handheld receiver unit would be brought into proximity of the sensor and an initial strain level would be recorded. Then, once a week during routine office visits, the handheld sensor would again be brought into proximity of the sensor to get additional strain level recordings. As shown in FIG. 17, over time, the level of strain should decrease and eventually plateau at a lower level. This should occur within eight to twelve weeks following surgery, at which time the fusion can be proclaimed solid and the patient's external bracing can be removed.
Swelling of the hydrogel, polymer or other material would induce a strain in the inter-digitated capacitor sensor that would be transmitted by its corresponding transponder. This strain would correspond to a specific concentration of specific marker within the blood and bodily fluids, such as glucose, electrolytes, sodium, hydration level, pH, toxic chemicals, or heavy metals (lead, mercury, chromium, etc). Thus, the strain can inform the user of a high or low level of a specific marker of interest. This would be of extreme interest to diabetics, endurance athletes, and military personnel in the field.
f L h W ∈
1 100 GHz 2.29 *10E−4  1*10E−3 9.49*10E−4 4
1. A strain sensor apparatus configured for implantation into a biological host for detecting strain, the strain sensor apparatus comprising:
a plurality of free-standing, inter-digitated fingers arranged to form an area variation inter-digitated capacitor having a capacitance, the plurality of fingers configured to be coupled to a surface in a configuration to allow movement with bending of the surface, wherein the inter-digitated capacitor is configured to change its capacitance as a result of a change in area defined between fingers of the plurality of fingers due to lateral movement of the plurality of fingers;
an antenna coupled to the transmitter, each of the inter-digitated capacitor, the transmitter, and the antenna being configured for implantation in a biological host.
2. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein lateral movement of the plurality of fingers and the change in capacitance are linearly related.
3. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inter-digitated capacitor has a sensitivity of 10−14 F.
4. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inter-digitated capacitor is disposed in a housing.
5. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter includes:
a radio frequency power amplifier.
6. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the voltage controlled oscillator is a ring oscillator.
7. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter has an operating frequency of 100 GHz.
8. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is at least one of a frequency modulation transmitter or a radio frequency transmitter.
9. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a microstrip antenna.
10. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the microstrip antenna includes:
a low-loss dielectric substrate positioned on the ground plane; and
a metallic patch positioned on the dielectric substrate.
11. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply configured for inductive coupling to a power source, the power supply being coupled to the plurality of fingers and the transmitter, wherein the power supply is configured for implantation in a biological host.
12. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the power supply includes:
a rectifier coupled to the inductive coil; and
13. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first base having a first set of fingers of the plurality of fingers extending therefrom; and
a second base laterally spaced from and in parallel alignment with the first base, the second base having a second set of fingers of the plurality of fingers extending therefrom.
14. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a distance between a tip of each finger of the first set of fingers and the first base is 50 micrometers.
15. The strain sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of each finger of the plurality of fingers is 200 micrometers or less.
US14725286 2004-07-08 2015-05-29 Strain monitoring system and apparatus Active US9510785B2 (en)
US58659304 true 2004-07-08 2004-07-08
PCT/US2005/024340 WO2006010037A3 (en) 2004-07-08 2005-07-08 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US11620973 US8070695B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2007-01-08 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US11620980 US8066650B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2007-01-08 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US13304666 US8622936B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2011-11-27 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US13306562 US8529474B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2011-11-29 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US13973355 US8721570B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2013-08-22 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US14147299 US9060743B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2014-01-03 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US14725286 US9510785B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2015-05-29 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US15357054 US20170079555A1 (en) 2004-07-08 2016-11-21 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US14147299 Continuation US9060743B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2014-01-03 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US15357054 Continuation US20170079555A1 (en) 2004-07-08 2016-11-21 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US20150265213A1 true US20150265213A1 (en) 2015-09-24
US9510785B2 true US9510785B2 (en) 2016-12-06
US11620980 Active 2028-11-29 US8066650B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2007-01-08 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US11620973 Active 2028-12-05 US8070695B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2007-01-08 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US13304666 Active US8622936B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2011-11-27 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US13306562 Active US8529474B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2011-11-29 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US13973355 Active US8721570B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2013-08-22 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US14147299 Active US9060743B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2014-01-03 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US14725286 Active US9510785B2 (en) 2004-07-08 2015-05-29 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
US15357054 Pending US20170079555A1 (en) 2004-07-08 2016-11-21 Strain monitoring system and apparatus
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Owner name: MUNRO, DEBORAH, OREGON
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, EUNICE;RAMAHI, AMJAD;SIGNING DATES FROM 20140420 TO20140530;REEL/FRAME:036389/0888