US6740058B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical tool with integrated pressure and flow sensors
Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
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Filing: 2001-06-08
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Granted: 2004-05-25
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Expires: 2021-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A surgical tool with a rigid body including a needle portion for entering tissue includes a fluid flow channel formed therethrough. A sensor is integrally formed on the tool to detect changing conditions (pressure and/or flow) in the channel. The sensor signal may be used to provide feedback control of pumping of fluid through the channel. The tool may be a micromachined silicon tool with the sensor integrally formed thereon from a silicon nitrate membrane and polysilicon resistors. The tool may be an ultrasonically activated cutting tool, which may be bonded to a package at a node thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Amit Lal
- 👤 Xi Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61F9/00745; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A surgical tool, comprising: (a) a rigid body including a needle shaped portion for passing into tissue and defining a flow channel extending therethrough for passing a flow of fluid through the tool; and (b) a sensor responsive to a condition in the flow channel and integrally attached to the rigid body wherein the sensor includes a membrane on the rigid body in fluid communication with the flow channel and having a membrane thickness which is less than a thickness of the rigid body wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the membrane, and wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the rigid body near the membrane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A surgical tool, comprising: (a) a rigid body including a needle shaped portion for passing into tissue and defining a flow channel extending therethrough for passing a flow of fluid through the tool; and (b) a sensor responsive to a condition in the flow channel and integrally attached to the rigid body wherein the sensor includes a membrane on the rigid body in fluid communication with the flow channel and having a membrane thickness which is less than a thickness of the rigid body wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the membrane, and wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the rigid body near the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical tool of claim 1 wherein the resistors formed on the membrane and on the rigid body are connected together in a circuit configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The surgical tool of claim 2 wherein the sensor includes two resistors formed on the membrane and two resistors formed on the rigid body near the membrane, wherein the resistors formed on the membrane and the rigid body are connected together in a Wheatstone bridge circuit configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
A micromachined silicon tool, comprising: (a) a tool body formed of micromachined silicon and defining a flow channel extending therethrough for passing a flow of fluid through the tool; and (b) a sensor responsive to a condition in the flow channel and integrally attached to the tool body, wherein the sensor includes a membrane formed on the tool body in fluid communication with the flow channel and having a membrane thickness which is less than a thickness of the tool body, wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the membrane, and wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the tool body near the membrane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
A micromachined silicon tool, comprising: (a) a tool body formed of micromachined silicon and defining a flow channel extending therethrough for passing a flow of fluid through the tool; and (b) a sensor responsive to a condition in the flow channel and integrally attached to the tool body, wherein the sensor includes a membrane formed on the tool body in fluid communication with the flow channel and having a membrane thickness which is less than a thickness of the tool body, wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the membrane, and wherein the sensor includes at least one resistor formed on the tool body near the membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The micromachined silicon tool of claim 4 wherein the resistors formed on the membrane and on the tool body are connected together in a circuit configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The micromachined silicon tool of claim 5 wherein the sensor includes two resistors formed on the membrane and two resistors formed on the tool body near the membrane, wherein the resistors formed on the membrane and the rigid body are connected together in a Wheatstone bridge circuit configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A micromachined tool, comprising: (a) a tool body having a flow channel extending therethrough for passing a flow of fluid through the tool; (b) a membrane on the tool body in fluid communication with the flow channel and having a membrane thickness which is less than a thickness of the tool body; and (c) at least one resistor formed on the membrane; and (d) at least one resistor formed on the tool body near the membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A micromachined tool, comprising: (a) a tool body having a flow channel extending therethrough for passing a flow of fluid through the tool; (b) a membrane on the tool body in fluid communication with the flow channel and having a membrane thickness which is less than a thickness of the tool body; and (c) at least one resistor formed on the membrane; and (d) at least one resistor formed on the tool body near the membrane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The micromachined tool of claim 7 wherein the tool body is micromachined from silicon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The micromachined tool of claim 8 wherein the membrane is made of silicon nitride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The micromachined tool of claim 8 wherein the at least one resistor formed on the membrane is a polysilicon piezoresistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The micromachined tool of claim 7 wherein the resistors formed on the membrane and on the tool body are connected together in a circuit configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The micromachined tool of claim 11 wherein two resistors are formed on the membrane and two resistors are formed on the tool body near the membrane and wherein the resistors formed on the membrane and the tool body are connected together in a Wheatstone bridge circuit configuration.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-25 | 2007-11-24 | 2008-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-25 | 2011-11-24 | 2012-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-25 | 2015-11-24 | 2016-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |