Implantable biomedical sensor device, suitable in particular for measuring the concentration of glucose

Claim 2

An implantable biomedical sensor device for measuring in vivo a presence and/or concentration of physiological substances in an animate body comprising: a miniaturized electronic responder responsive to an electromagnetic interrogation field for contactlessly exchanging binary coded information with a transmitter/receiver; a closed housing of bio-compatible material having qt least one wall, said responder being disposed in said closed housing; a work electrode having at least a part thereof disposed outside of said housing and comprising a membrane having at least one surface, hollow fibers in said membrane extending transversely to said at least one surface of said membrane and having internal walls and ends thereon, a coating of conductive polymer on said internal walls, and a redox enzyme disposed in said hollow fibers; a processing device in said housing for receiving signals from said work electrode in operation and converting said signals to binary signals; electrical connection means between one of said ends of said hollow fibers and said processing device for conducting said signals from said work electrode to said processing device; a counter-electrode at least a part thereof disposed outside of said housing; and electrical connection means for connecting said counter-electrode and said processing device.

Claim 3

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a reference electrode mounted on said housing and having at least a part thereof disposed outside of said housing.

Claim 4

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said reference electrode is an Ag/AgCl electrode.

Claim 5

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising: a permselective bio-compatible membrane on said reference electrode.

Claim 6

The sensor device as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said responder comprises a potentiostat for generating in operation a stable voltage between said reference electrode and said work electrode.

Claim 7

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a thin conductive layer on one side of said membrane and electrically connected with said electrical connection means connecting said work electrode to said processing device.

Claim 8

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said thin conductive layer is a metal layer.

Claim 9

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said metal layer is a platinum layer.

Claim 10

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said thin conductive layer is a sputter applied metal layer.

Claim 11

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 29 wherein: said work electrode further comprises a projecting electrode core, said membrane being mounted on said electrode core.

Claim 12

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: an outer wall on said housing; a thin conductive layer on said outer wall of said housing; and said membrane being on said thin conductive layer so that said thin conductive layer is interposed between said outer wall of said housing and said membrane.

Claim 13

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a free surface on said membrane; and a coating of a thin layer of bio-compatible material on said free surface of said membrane.

Claim 14

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said bio-compatible material is a synthetic material.

Claim 15

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said bio-compatible material is a sputtered applied metal layer.

Claim 16

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 14 and further comprising: means for connecting said bio-compatible metal layer counter-electrode.

Claim 17

The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a flattened part on said housing, said membrane of said work electrode being disposed on said flattened part.

Claim 18

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a permselective second membrane covering said membrane having said hollow fibers therein.

Claim 19

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 17 wherein: said second membrane comprises a cap enclosing said electrodes and connected to said housing.

Claim 20

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a second work electrode comprising a membrane, hollow fibers in said membrane having internal walls, and a coating of a conductive polymer on said internal walls; and said processing device comprises means for shaping a difference of signals supplied by said work electrodes.

Claim 21

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said conductive polymer is polypyrrole.

Claim 22

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: means in said responder for generating in operation a stable maximum voltage of substantially 0.35 volts across said membrane.

Claim 23

The implantable sensor device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said responder comprises a timer circuit for measuring a signal supplied by said work electrode at a predetermined time after activation of said responder.

Claim 24

The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: means in said responder for generating a predetermined voltage in response to said electromagnetic interrogation field so that said responder is a passive responder.

Claim 25

The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: battery means in said responder for providing a predetermined voltage for operation thereof.

Claim 26

A system comprising: at least one implantable biomedical sensor device as claimed in claim 29; and at least one transmitter/receiver means for generating an electromagnetic interrogation field for activating said at least one sensor device and reading out said sensor device.

Claim 27

The system as claimed in claim 25 and further comprising: an electrically controllable insulin pump operatively connecteable to said transmitter/receiver means so that operation of said pump is controlled by said transmitter/receiver means in response to signals produced by said responder.

Claim 28

A biomedical sensor device for assaying in vitro a presence and/or concentration of physiological substances comprising: a miniaturized electronic responder responsive to an electromagnetic interrogation field for contactlessly exchanging binary coded information with a transmitter/receiver; a closed housing of bio-compatible material having at least one wall, said responder being disposed in said closed housing; a work electrode passing through said at least one wall of said housing and comprising an outer part outside of said housing, a membrane having at least one surface, hollow fibers in said membrane extending transversely to said at least one surface of said membrane and having internal walls and ends thereon, a coating of conductive polymer on said internal walls, and a redox enzyme disposed in said hollow fibers; a processing device in said housing for receiving signals from maid work electrode in operation and converting said signals to binary signals; electrical connection means between one of said ends of said hollow fibers and said processing device for conducting said signals from said work electrode to said processing device; a counter-electrode extending through said at least one wall of said housing and having an outer part outside of said housing; and electrical connection means for connecting said counter-electrode end said processing device.

Claim 29

A biomedical sensor device for assaying in vitro a presence and/or concentration of physiological substances comprising: a miniaturized electronic responder responsive to an electromagnetic interrogation field for contactlessly exchanging binary coded information with a transmitter/receiver; a closed housing of bio-compatible material having at least one wall, said responder being disposed in said closed housing; a work electrode passing through said at least one wall of said housing and comprising an outer part outside of said housing, a membrane having at least one surface, hollow fibers in said membrane extending transversely to said at least one surface of said membrane and having internal walls and ends thereon, a coating of conductive polymer on said internal walls, and a redox enzyme disposed in said hollow fibers; a processing device in said housing for receiving signals from maid work electrode in operation and converting said signals to binary signals; electrical connection means between one of said ends of said hollow fibers and said processing device for conducting said signals from said work electrode to said processing device; a counter-electrode extending through said at least one wall of said housing and having an outer part outside of said housing; and electrical connection means for connecting said counter-electrode end said processing device.

Claim 30

The sensor device as claimed in claim 27 and further comprising: means in said responder for generating a predetermined voltage in response to said electromagnetic interrogation field so that said responder is a passive responder.