Patent ID: 8622923

Claim:
A self-calibrating device for measuring intracorporeal pressure, comprising: a pressure sensor ( 1 ) comprising i) a test body ( 11 ), ii) a polarization contact ( 14 ) within the test body, iii) a membrane ( 12 ) constituted by a smaller thickness segment of the test body ( 11 ), the membrane being deformable under a pressure of a human-body medium and from an electrostatic force, and iv) a piezoelectric transducer ( 13 ) integrated into an upper surface of the membrane ( 12 ) and configured for translating a mechanical stress into an electrical signal; an electrostatic actuator ( 2 ) located at a base of the membrane below the sensor ( 1 ), the electrostatic actuator ( 2 ) connected to a voltage source for receiving an applied electrical voltage, the electrostatic actuator ( 2 ) comprising a non-deformable base ( 21 ) with a polarizable surface ( 22 ), the polarizable surface ( 22 ) being in vertical alignment with and below the membrane ( 12 ) to constitute two conductive parallel surfaces generating an electrostatic force when a potential difference is applied to the conductive parallel surfaces; and a cavity ( 4 ) located between a lower surface of the membrane ( 12 ) and an upper surface of the polarizable surface ( 22 ), wherein the electrostatic actuator ( 2 ) self-calibrates the sensor by transforming the applied electrical voltage into an electrostatic force of a known amplitude that creates a responsive deformation on the membrane, the piezoelectric transducer ( 13 ) translating mechanical stress of the responsive deformation into a responsive electrical signal corresponding to the known electrostatic force, and wherein, in use, the human-body medium acting on the membrane ( 12 ) causes a deformation on the membrane ( 12 ) and the piezoelectric transducer ( 13 ) translates mechanical stress of the deformation into an electrical signal.