Implantable Occlusion System With Indirect Force-Based Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occlusion systems face challenges in reliably measuring pressure in inflatable sleeves within the body while minimizing bulkiness, energy consumption, and ensuring biocompatibility, with existing sensors posing integration, bulkiness, and accuracy issues.
Innovation Solution
An implantable occlusion system with a fluidic circuit containing an inflatable occlusive sleeve, a variable volume reservoir, and a sensor integrated in a sealed casing to measure traction and compression forces, allowing indirect pressure determination using a processing unit to calculate fluid pressure based on these forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is implanted directly on the occlusive sleeve, then pressure measurement is achieved, but integration complexity, bulkiness, and biocompatibility problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary force sensor that measures forces on the movable portion of the reservoir rather than directly measuring pressure on the occlusive sleeve. This force sensor acts as a mediator that indirectly provides pressure information through fluid coupling, avoiding the complexity of direct pressure sensor integration while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical pressure sensor with a force sensing system that measures forces on the reservoir's movable portion. This substitution uses force measurements combined with fluid coupling principles to derive pressure information, avoiding the integration problems of direct pressure sensors
2Measurement precision
If a flexible membrane pressure sensor is used, then pressure measurement is possible, but manufacturing complexity and sealing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor on the reservoir's movable portion serves as an intermediary that avoids the need for complex flexible membrane manufacturing. By measuring forces on a rigid or easier-to-manufacture movable portion and using fluid coupling to infer pressure, the system eliminates delicate membrane sealing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensing function from the occlusive sleeve assembly and places it on the reservoir's movable portion. This separation allows the sensor to be manufactured independently with simpler sealing requirements, as it only needs to seal within the reservoir assembly rather than integrating with the sleeve
3Measurement precision
If multiple system portions are assembled with a sealed flexible membrane sensor, then pressure measurement is achieved, but assembly complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the force sensor integration into the reservoir assembly itself, specifically on the movable portion. This consolidation reduces the number of separate assembly steps and eliminates the need for complex sealing between multiple portions, as the sensor becomes an integral part of the reservoir structure
4Measurement precision
If fibrosis surrounds implant elements, then the membrane stiffness changes, but measurement accuracy drifts over time
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor on the reservoir's movable portion acts as an intermediary that is isolated from direct contact with body tissues. By measuring forces transmitted through the sealed fluid coupling rather than directly sensing pressure at the tissue interface, the system avoids the stiffness changes caused by fibrosis, maintaining long-term measurement stability
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
The system provides reliable pressure measurement without external sensors, ensuring biocompatibility and minimizing bulkiness and energy consumption, while maintaining accurate pressure control.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor laid out in the casing, mechanically connected to the actuator and/or to the movable portion of the reservoir, laid out so as to measure a traction and/or compression force in the direction of displacement of the movable portion of the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
a device for measuring the fluid pressure in the fluidic circuit comprising a processing unit configured for determining said fluid pressure from a calculation taking into account at least the force measured by said sensor
Implementation Method 3
an actuator mechanically coupled with the movable portion of the reservoir so as to linearly displace said movable portion relatively to the fixed portion for adjusting the volume of the reservoir
Implementation Method 4
The occlusion of the anatomic conduit is ensured by an inflatable sleeve filled with fluid which exerts a more or less strong pressure on the portion to be occluded depending on the volume of the fluid in the inflatable sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
An occlusion system implantable in a human or animal body, including a fluidic circuit which includes an inflatable occlusive sleeve, a reservoir with variable volume filled with a fluid. The reservoir includes a fixed portion and a movable portion, an actuator mechanically coupled with the movable portion of the reservoir to linearly displace the movable portion relative to the fixed portion for adjusting the volume of the reservoir. The actuator and the reservoir are laid out in a sealed casing containing a gas. A sensor mechanically bound to the actuator and/or to the movable portion, measures a traction and/or compressive force of the movable portion of the reservoir. Also included is a device for measuring the fluid pressure in the fluidic circuit.