US6488704B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable particle measuring apparatus
Assignee: Biomed Solutions LLC
•
Filing: 2001-05-07
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Granted: 2002-12-03
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Expires: 2021-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An implantable stent which contains a tube, several optical emitters located on the inner surface of the tube, and several optical photodetectors located on the inner surface of the tube. The optical emitters radiate energy with a wavelength of from about 30 nanometers to about 30 millimeters, and the optical photodectors receive energy with a wavelength of from about 30 nanometers to about 30 millimeters.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick R. Connelly
- 👤 Thomas H. Foster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/145; A61B5/14503; A61B5/0071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An implantable stent which comprises: (a) a tube comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, and (b) a multiplicity of optical radiation emitting means adapted to emit radiation with a wavelength from about 30 nanometers to about 30 millimeters, and a multiplicity of optical radiation detecting means adapted to detect radiation with a wavelength of from about 30 nanometers to about 30 millimeters, wherein said optical radiation emitting means and said optical radiation detecting means are disposed on the inside surface of said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
An implantable stent which comprises: (a) a tube comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, and (b) a multiplicity of optical radiation emitting means adapted to emit radiation with a wavelength from about 30 nanometers to about 30 millimeters, and a multiplicity of optical radiation detecting means adapted to detect radiation with a wavelength of from about 30 nanometers to about 30 millimeters, wherein said optical radiation emitting means and said optical radiation detecting means are disposed on the inside surface of said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein said implantable stent is comprised of a flexible casing with an inner surface and an outer surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 2 , wherein said flexible casing is comprised of fluoropolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 2 , wherein said casing is optically impermeable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 4 , wherein a layer of anticoagulant material is disposed on said inner surface of said flexible casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 5 , wherein said anticoagulant material is heparin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 5 , wherein a layer of porous material is disposed and top of said layer of anticoagulant material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 7 , wherein said layer of porous material has an average pore size of from about 0.5 to about 10 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 8 , wherein said layer of porous material is comprised of polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein said implantable stent comprises telemetry means for transmitting a signal to a receiver located external to said implantable stent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 10 , wherein said implantable stent comprises telemetry means for receiving a signal from a transmitter located external to said implantable stent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 11 , wherein said signal transmitted by said implantable stent is a radio frequency signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 12 , wherein said signal received by said implantable stent is a radio frequency signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein said implantable stent is comprised of a waveguide array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 14 , wherein said waveguide array is comprised of a flexible optical waveguide device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 15 , wherein said waveguide array is comprised of means for transmitting optical energy in a specified configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 16 , wherein said implantable stent is comprised of a waveguide interface for receiving said optical energy transmitted in said specified configuration by said waveguide array.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 17 , wherein said waveguide array is comprised of means for filtering specified optical frequencies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 14 , wherein said implantable stent is comprised of means for receiving optical energy from said waveguide array.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 19 , further comprising means for processing said optical energy received from waveguide array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 20 , further comprising means for processing said radiation emitted by said optical radiation emitting means adapted with a wavelength from about 30 nanometers to about 30 millimeters.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 21 , wherein said implantable stent comprises telemetry means for transmitting a signal to a receiver located external to said implantable stent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 22 , wherein said implantable stent comprises telemetry means for receiving a signal from a transmitter located external to said implantable stent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 23 , wherein said implantable stent is comprised of a controller operatively connected to said means for transmitting a signal to said receiver, and operatively connected to said means for receiving a signal from said transmitter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein a transparent seal is disposed over each of said optical radiation emitting means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 25 , wherein a transparent seal over each of said optical radiation emitting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein said implantable stent is comprised of a multiplicity of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and photodetectors arranged in a monolithic configuration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 27 , wherein said monolithic configuration further comprises a multiplicity of optical drivers operatively connected to said vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 27 , wherein said vertical cavity surface emitting lasers each comprise a multiplicity of distributed Bragg reflector layers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 29 , wherein each of said photodetectors comprises a multiplicity of distributed Bragg reflector layers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 30 , wherein each of said vertical cavity surface emitting lasers is comprised of an emission layer disposed between a first distributed Bragg reflector layer and a second distributed Bragg reflector layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 31 , wherein said emission layer is comprised of a multiplicity of quantum well structures.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 32 , wherein each of said photodetectors is comprised of an absorption layer disposed between a first distributed Bragg reflector layer and a second distributed Bragg reflector layer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 27 , wherein each of said vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and photodetectors is disposed on a separate semiconductor substrate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 34 , wherein said semiconductor substrate comprises gallium arsenide.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 34 , wherein said semiconductor substrate comprises silicon.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein said implantable stent is comprised of an arithmetic unit.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 37 , wherein said arithmetic unit is comprised of means for receiving signals from said optical radiation detecting means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 38 , wherein said arithmetic unit is comprised of means for calculating the concentration of components in an analyte disposed within said implantable stent.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 39 , wherein said means for calculating the concentration of components in said analyte calculates concentrations of said components in said analyte based upon optimum optical path lengths for different wavelengths and values of transmitted light.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 1 , wherein said implantable stent further comprises a power supply.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 41 , wherein said power supply comprises a battery.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implantable stent as recited in claim 42 , wherein said battery is a lithium-iodine battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-02 | 2006-06-03 | 2006-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-02 | 2010-06-03 | 2010-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-02 | 2014-06-03 | 2014-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |