IMPLANTATION AND ANTENNA ORIENTATION OF AN IMPLANTABLE SENSOR
A sensor system including an implantable sensor and an external transceiver. Aspects of the sensor system may provide improved implantation and antenna orientation of the implanted sensor. The sensor may include a sensor antenna, the transceiver may include a transceiver antenna. In some embodiments, the sensor antenna and/or transceiver antenna may include a first set of coils oriented in a first plane and a second set of coils oriented in a second plane that is different than the first plane. In some embodiments, the sensor may have a geometry that will prevent or reduce movement and/or rotation of the implanted sensor. For instance, in some embodiments, the sensor may be enclosed in silicon that contains antenna coils and/or include wings, a fluid filled sack, a swelling material, an expansion material, and/or arms.
1 . A sensor system, comprising:
a transceiver including at least one transceiver antenna; and
a sensor including at least one sensor antenna and a body, wherein said body is configured to expand after implantation to immobilize the sensor.
2 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the body of the sensor is composed of memory metal configured to transform from a first shape to a second shape.
3 . The sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the first shape includes an approximately circular cross section and the second shape includes an approximately flat cross section.
4 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a substance configured to expand in response to a stimulus.
5 . The sensor system of claim 4 , wherein the stimulus is water.
6 . The sensor system of claim 4 , wherein the substance is acrylic acid.
7 . The sensor system of claim 4 , wherein the stimulus is temperature.
8 . The sensor system of claim 4 , wherein the substance is a liquid at room temperature and a gas at body temperature.
9 . The sensor system of claim 4 , wherein the substance is 1,1,1,4,4,4 hexafluorobutane.
10 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a first substance and a second substance that expand when mixed together.
11 . The sensor system of claim 10 , wherein the sensor includes a removable barrier separating the first and second substances.
12 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first wing, a second wing and a removable seal coupled to an end of the first wing and an end of the second wing in a first orientation with an approximately circular cross section, and, upon removal of the removable seal, the first wing and second wing transform to a second orientation with an approximately flat cross section.
13 . A sensor comprising:
a body including indicator molecules,
an antenna outside the body, and
a casing surrounding the body and antenna.
14 . The sensor of claim 13 , wherein the casing has an oblong shape.
15 . The sensor of claim 13 , wherein the casing has a flat, round shape.
16 . The sensor of claim 13 , wherein the casing comprises a polymer material.