Patent ID: 8858459

Claim:
A method for internally monitoring pressure of a patient, the method comprising: transmitting an external light source through tissue of the patient to a passive microsensor device operable to optically encode internal pressure changes within the patient without an internal power supply, an external power supply, an internal current, an external current, an internal impedance, or an external impedance, wherein in response to receiving said transmitted light, said passive microsensor device emits light representative of said internal pressure at a near infrared region (NIR) wavelength, wherein said passive microsensor device comprises a housing sealed to prevent fluid communication with a surrounding environment, said housing comprising: a microlens; a deflectable membrane responsive to a change in pressure of said surrounding environment within the patient: an array structure disposed within said housing between said microlens and said deflectable membrane that emits said light representative of said internal pressure at said near infrared region (NIR) wavelength without an internal power supply, an external power supply, an internal current, an external current, an internal impedance, or an external impedance, wherein said array structure comprises a first layer including a first nanoparticle that emits a first wavelength of light responsive to an external light source and a second layer including a second nanoparticle that emits a second wavelength of light responsive to said external light source; wherein said first wavelength of light and said second wavelength of light are distinct from one another; wherein either said array structure or said microlens translates with said deflectable membrane in response to said change in pressure of said surrounding environment; and detecting said emitted light with a spectrometer.