Abstract:
A medical implant for injecting into the vascular system of animals comprises a device less than 500um in size carrying signal processing for providing an output in response to an input signal. The input may be acoustic, electromagnetic, temperature pH value, or chemical. The output may be acoustic, electromagnetic, or chemical. Large numbers e.g. 10" of the implant devices may be mixed into a saline solution and injected into a blood vessel where they are carried round the vascular system. Alternatively the devices may be mixed with a gas and inhaled. The amount of circulation depends on the device size. For the larger device e.g. above 7um to around 250um, circulation will be short lived. Smaller sized e.g.
Abstract:
@ The present invention utilizes a pair of coils, one beneath the skin and one outside the skin, each connected to a capacitor. The values of the capacitor and coil inductance are selected to provide a stagger tuned link. That is, the values of the components are selected to place the pole of one filter above the operating frequency, and the pole of the other filter below the operating frequency of the link. The poles will move as the coupling coefficient changes, desensitizing the link to the coupling so that the coils can be misaligned in any manner with little effect on the output. A fully active driver or class D amplifier is preferably utilized to effectively drive the link with a square wave signal. This signal can be modulated to convey data information to the implanted receiver coil beneath the skin.
Abstract:
Apparatus suitable for use in a cutaneous method of analysing body substrates comprising: (i) an enzyme implant which is adapted for insertion into the body of a mammal and contains an enzyme which is reactable with the substrate to be measured to produce a detectable change in the skin of the mammal, and (ii) analysing means for analysing said change in the skin as a measure of the amount of substrate in the body A condition of the skin may be used to measure a number of important substances which diffuse through or are present within the skin. The enzyme implant is implanted in the skin I and enzymatic reaction with the substrate to be measured takes place, the by-products being detected as a measure of the amount of substrate. Measurements of oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and carbon dioxide levels may be taken using polarographic electrodes and colorimetric detection may also be used.
Abstract:
A transcutaneously implantable element has at least a portion thereof (2,3) which is to be in contact with the cutaneous tissue of a living body, composed of a ceramic material comprising hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, andfortet- racalcium phosphate, and which comprises (a) an electrically conductive member (4) for electrically connecting the interior and exterior of the living body to each other or (b) a through hole (6) for mechanically connecting the interior and exterior of the living body to each other. The element may be made by sintering a compact of the ceramic material, or by coating the ceramic material onto a substrate, for example, a cylinder (12) which may contain a filter (11). The element can be semi-permanently and safely used in a living body without causing any undesirable bacterial infection, bleeding, and background noise.
Abstract:
The warning device for monitoring discrete moving elements comprises a body (1) in contact with an element to be monitored and, inside said body, sensor means (2) of which the sensitive element is flush with the wall (10) in contact with the element. Means (3) for processing electric signals generated by the sensors are provided in order to obtain condition variables representative of the element to be monitored and transmission-reception means (4, 5) provide for the transmission of information to and/or from a central monitoring station. Application to the management of stalling for domestic animals, to the monitoring of predetermined objects.
Abstract:
An ingestable module for the functional exploration of the digestive tract is configured like an elongate capsule (1) having a small diameter and comprising a displacement measuring means (2) delivering displacement pulses to an electronic emitter circuit (3) for transmission of data to a corresponding outer receiver, and an electric power source (4) for the supply of the circuit (3).
Abstract:
Unit for continuously monitoring and detecting variations in physiological cardiorespiratory variables, such as electrocardiogram signals (ORS-T), heart rate, ventilation/minute (VE), breathing rate, systolic output (SO), cardiac output (CO) and arterial pressure (AP). The said unit comprises a first subcutaneous part (1) having means (6, 9, 12) for detecting first physiological parameters, such as the difference in potential between electrodes, transthoracic impedance and subcutaneous blood pressure, and means for handling first signals, depending on the said physiological parameters, and for transmitting them, by radio-frequency, to a second part (18) outside the body; the latter part having means for receiving the said physiological variables, which are then processed for detecting critical conditions and activating alarm means (35, 36).
Abstract:
A marker channel telemetry system for use with a pacemaker or other medical device for transmitting event identifying codes to a remote receiver to indicate the occurrence of specific events such as sensed and paced events in a duel chamber pacemaker. The system includes marker logic 26 connected to receive signals from pacer logic 22 representing sensed heart activity and the generation of stimulation pulses. The marker logic includes latches to store event information and for forming the marker codes The system also includes a serial telemetry transmitter 28 for transmitting the data to the remote receiver
Abstract:
A heart pacemaker and monitor comprises a first unit 10 (Fig.4) positioned externally of the body and a second unit 12 surgically implanted within the body. The first unit transmits r.f. electromagnetic energy to the second unit to provide the sole energisation for the second unit and also transmits con- t-ol pu!ses for controlling the ar plication of stimulation pulses to the atrium 40 and. or ventricle 42 of the heart via circuits 62 and 64. The second unit 12 also senses atrial and ventricular activity and signals representative thereof are successively sampled and puise-widte modulated by circuit 74 and transmitted to the first unit 10. The first unit 10 is arranged to demodulate and demultiplex these signals for display on a monitor and also controls the timing of the stimulation pulses.