Implantable optical pressure sensor for sensing urinary sphincter pressure

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US007933653B2

(12) United States Patent

Gerber et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,933,653 B2 Apr. 26, 2011

(54) IMPLANTABLE OPTICAL PRESSURE SENSOR FOR SENSING URINARY SPHINCTER PRESSURE

(75) Inventors: Martin T. Gerber, Maple Grove, MN (US); Keith A. Miesel, St. Paul, MN (US); Steven J. Shumaker, Woodbury, MN (US)

(73) Assignee: Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 19 days.

(21) Appl.No.: 12/576,881

(22) Filed: Oct. 9, 2009

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2010/0030297 Al Feb. 4, 2010

Related U.S. Application Data

(62) Division of application No. 11/117,064, filed on Apr. 28, 2005, now Pat. No. 7,610,093.

(51) Int. CI.

A61N1/00 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 607/41; 607/62; 600/587

(58) Field of Classification Search 600/587,

600/593; 607/40-41, 62, 143; 73/700-756 See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,789,667 A 2/1974 Porter et al.
4,846,191 A 7/1989 Brockway et al.

The disclosure describes an optical fiber pressure sensor to measure sphincter pressure which may be incorporated into a therapeutic sphincter control system. The system senses sphincter pressure and sends the information to a stimulator that is capable of stimulation therapy to control sphincter contractility, thus reducing unwanted urinary incontinence. Measuring sphincter pressure is accomplished through the use of an optical fiber connected to flexible tube section placed through the sphincter, where properties of the emitted light are changed proportional to the pressure on the tube section. The light is returned to a light detector to measure light properties and create an electrical signal representative of the pressure on the tube section. The signal may then be sent by wireless telemetry to an implanted stimulator or external programmer.

21 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

Page 2

6,393,323 Bl 5/2002 Sawanetal.
6,650,943 Bl 11/2003 Whitehurst et al.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

U.S.Appl. No. 11/116,952: Responsive Amendment dated Oct. 14, 2008 (11 pages).

U.S. Appl. No. 11/117,054: Office Action dated Mar. 19, 2008 (7 pages).

U.S. Appl. No. 11/117,054: Office Action dated Sep. 25, 2008 (9 pages).

U.S. Appl. No. 11/117,054: Responsive Amendment dated Jun. 19, 2008 (16 pages).

U.S. Appl. No. 11/117,054: Responsive Amendment dated Nov. 25, 2008 (9 pages).

U.S. Appl. No. 11/117,054: Responsive Amendment dated Oct. 14, 2008 (9 pages).

Coosemans et al., Datalogger for Bladder Pressure Monitoring with Wireless Power and Data Transmission, Kafholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department ESAT-MICAS, Belgium, 1 pg. (Oct. 17, 2003). Siwapornsafhain et al., "A Telemetry and Sensor Platform for Ambulatory Urodynamics," Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 5 pgs (2002). Van Waalwijk van doom, "Standardisation of Ambulatory Urodynamic Monitoring," Report of the Standardisation Sub-committee of the ICS Ambulatory Urodynamic studies, 21 pgs. (2000). Wireless Physiological Pressure Transducer, MEMSCAP Sensor Solutions, 2 pgs (May 2003).