The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

University of Michigan

Aaron J Fleischman

Shuvo Roy

Edward C Benzel

Kenneth G Goldman

William H Fissell

Lisa Ferrara

James R Talman

H David Humes

Hilel Lewis

Brian L Sauer

William H Fissell, Iv

Maciej Zborowski

Jeff Chalmers

Kenneth Ouriel

Geoffrey R Lockwood

High-resolution intravascular ultrasound (H-IVUS) operates under a large acoustic bandwidth, provides high resolution while maintaining good depth penetration, and exhibits other favorable characteristics like focused imaging. A H-IVUS transducer assembly can be manufactured at a low cost using conventional methods commonly utilized in the microelectronics industry. The H-IVUS transducer assembly can include a printed circuit having one or more electrical signal conditioners. One or more convertors made of a polymer and configured to convert electrical energy to acoustic energy and acoustic energy to electrical energy can be formed in place away from the printed circuit. After construction, the one or more formed in place convertors are interfaced to the printed circuit with at least a conductive material.

High resolution intravascular ultrasound (H-IVUS)

The present invention relates to ultrafiltration. In particular, the present invention provides nanoporous membranes having pores for generating in vitro and in vivo ultrafiltrate, devices and bioartificial organs utilizing such nanoporous membranes, and related methods (e.g., diagnostic methods, research methods, drug screening). The present invention further provides nanoporous membranes configured to avoid protein fouling with, for example, a polyethylene glycol surface coating.

Ultrafiltration membrane, device, bioartificial organ, and related methods

Ultrafiltration membrane device, bioartificial organ, and related methods

Methods and systems are provided for determining a characteristic of an in vivo sensor. A transmit field, operative to induce a response signal in an associated in vivo sensor, is generated at a transmitting component having an associated orientation. The response signal is received at a receiving component, having an associated orientation. The coupling between the transmitting component and the receiving component is measured. The associated orientation of at least one of the transmitting component and the receiving component is rotated as to reduce the measured coupling.

Method and apparatus for determining a characteristic of an in vivo sensor

Systems and methods are provided for determining a characteristic of an associated in vivo sensor within a living body. A transmit coil produces an excitation signal, having a first orientation, to excite the in vivo sensor to produce a response signal. A receive coil produces a current in response to the response signal. The receive coil is oriented to interact with signals having a second orientation that is substantially orthogonal to first orientation. The probe further comprises at least one eddy current compensation coil that produces a compensation field. A component of the compensation field along the second orientation has a magnitude at the receive coil substantially equal and opposite to a magnitude of a similarly oriented component of a magnetic field associated with eddy currents induced within the body.

Method and apparatus for eddy current compensation in a radio frequency probe

The present invention relates to ultrafiltration. In particular, the present invention provides a compact ultrafiltration device and methods for generating an ultrafiltrate, both of which can be used for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to filtering blood, diagnostic applications, and as a bioreactor.

Ultrafiltration membrane, device, bioartificial organ, and methods

An apparatus () that utilizes microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology to provide an in vivo assessment of loads on adjacent bones (and) comprises a body () for insertion between the adjacent bones. At least one sensor () is associated with the body (). The sensor () generates an output signal in response to and indicative of a load being applied to the body () through the adjacent bones (and). A telemetric device () is operatively coupled with the sensor (). The telemetric device () is operable to receive the output signal from the sensor () and to transmit an EMF signal dependent upon the output signal. According to various aspects of the invention, the sensor comprises a pressure sensor (), a load cell (), and/or at least one strain gauge ().

Apparatus and method for assessing loads on adjacent bones

Systems and methods for in vivo sensing are provided. An excitation signal is produced, having a first frequency component and a second frequency component. The first frequency component is swept through a plurality of excitation frequencies within a frequency range of interest. A response signal is received from an in vivo sensor. The response signal includes a mix component having a frequency equal to one of a sum of a first excitation frequency associated with the first frequency component and a second excitation frequency associated with the second frequency component and a difference between the first and second excitation frequencies. The mix component is evaluated to determine a resonant frequency of the in vivo sensor.

Method and apparatus for in vivo sensing

A microneedle array module is disclosed comprising a multiplicity of microneedles affixed to and protruding outwardly from a front surface of a substrate to form the array, each microneedle of the array having a hollow section which extends through its center to an opening in the tip thereof. A method of fabricating the microneedle array module is also disclosed comprising the steps of: providing etch resistant mask layers to one and another opposite surfaces of a substrate to predetermined thicknesses; patterning the etch resistant mask layer of the one surface for outer dimensions of the microneedles of the array; patterning the etch resistant mask layer of the other surface for inner dimensions of the microneedles of the array; etching unmasked portions of the substrate from one and the other surfaces to first and second predetermined depths, respectively; and removing the mask layers from the one and the other surfaces. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of: providing an etch resistant mask layer to the other surface of the substrate to a predetermined thickness; patterning the etch resistant mask layer of the other surface to define a reservoir region in the substrate; and etching away the unmasked reservoir region of the substrate to form a reservoir well in the other surface of the substrate. A layer of material may be provided to the other surface to enclose the reservoir well and a passageway is provided through the layer to the well region.

Microneedle array module and method of fabricating the same

An apparatus () for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) comprises a contact lens () including an inner surface () contoured to a surface portion () of an eye () and a sensor () disposed in the contact lens. The sensor () comprises a contact surface () for making contact with the surface portion () of the eye (). The contact surface () includes an outer non-compliant region () and an inner compliant region () fabricated as an impedance element that varies in impedance as the inner compliant region changes shape. The sensor () further comprises a region of conductive material () electrically coupled to the impedance element of the compliant region () and responsive to an external signal for energizing the impedance element so that the IOP may be determined.

Intraocular pressure measurement system including a sensor mounted in a contact lens

An apparatus () for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) comprises an applanation tonometer () having a distal end that is movable toward the eye and a disposable module () positioned at the distal end. The module () includes a sensor carrier () and a sensor () connected to the sensor carrier. The sensor () comprises a contact surface () for making contact with a surface portion of the eye (). The contact surface () includes an outer non-compliant region () and an inner compliant region () fabricated as an impedance element that varies in impedance as the inner compliant region changes shape. The sensor () further comprises a region of conductive material () electrically coupled to the impedance element of the compliant region () and responsive to an external signal for energizing the impedance element so that the IOP may be determined.

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University Heights, OH, United States of America

Aaron J Fleischman