Hermetically Sealed Electro-Optical Sensor for Implantable Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chronic implantable sensors face challenges in protecting sensitive electronic components while allowing interaction with bodily fluids, particularly in electro-optical designs where components like light sources and detectors need to be both hermetically sealed and sensitive to analyte concentrations.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device with a hermetically sealed housing containing an electro-optical module and an optical window, where the chemical sensing element is exposed to bodily fluids through the optical window, allowing optically detectable responses to be measured by the module inside the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is hermetically sealed to protect electro-optical components, then reliability is improved, but the chemical sensing element cannot interact with bodily fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into hermetically sealed sections (housing containing electro-optical module) and non-sealed sections (optical window with chemical sensing element). This segmentation allows different parts to have different sealing requirements, enabling the electro-optical components to be protected while the sensing element interacts with bodily fluids through the optical window.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical window serves as an intermediary structure that allows optical signals to pass between the hermetically sealed housing and the external environment. The chemical sensing element is positioned at this interface, enabling it to interact with bodily fluids while the electro-optical module remains protected inside the sealed housing.
2Measurement precision
If the chemical sensing element is exposed to bodily fluids, then measurement capability is improved, but sensitive electro-optical components are at risk of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the chemical sensing function (exposed to bodily fluids) from the electro-optical detection function (protected inside housing). The chemical sensing element interacts with analytes in bodily fluids, while the vulnerable light source and detector remain isolated in the hermetically sealed housing, connected only through optical signals passing via the optical window.
3Measurement precision
If blood draws are performed frequently to monitor analyte concentrations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but patient comfort and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device performs self-monitoring of physiological analyte concentrations continuously or frequently without requiring patient action. Once implanted, the device autonomously measures analyte levels through the chemical sensing element, eliminating the need for repeated patient visits and blood draws while maintaining accurate measurement capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration protects sensitive electro-optical components while enabling real-time, frequent monitoring of physiological analyte concentrations without patient inconvenience, addressing design issues of hermeticity and biocompatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a chemical sensing element configured to detect a physiological analyte by exhibiting a change in optical properties
Implementation Method 2
an optical window configured to allow the transmission of light between the electro-optical module and the chemical sensing element
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention are related to electro-optical implantable sensors, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable medical device including a housing defining an interior volume, the housing comprising a housing wall and defining an aperture. The implantable medical device can include an optical sensor assembly coupled to the housing wall. The optical sensor assembly can occlude the aperture in the housing wall. The optical sensor assembly can include an electro-optical module including an optical excitation assembly and an optical detection assembly. The optical sensor assembly can also include a chemical sensing element configured to detect a physiological analyte by exhibiting a change in optical properties. An optical window can be disposed between the electro-optical module and the chemical sensing element. The optical window can be configured to allow the transmission of light between the electro-optical module and the chemical sensing element. Other embodiments are also included herein.