University of Southern California

California Institute of Technology

Doheny Eye Institute

Huntington Medical Research Institutes

Ellis Fan-chuin Meng

Yu-Chong Tai

Mark Salman Humayun

Po-Jui Chen

Damien Craig Rodger

Ronalee Lo

Po-Ying Li

Jason Shih

Brian Jongmin Kim

Rajat N Agrawal

Kenrick Kuwahara

Ronalee Lo Mann

Lawrence Yu

Christian A Gutierrez

Wolfgang Fink

Choonsup Lee

Charles I Grosjean

Xuan-Qi Wang

Thomas George

Shuyun Wu

Eui-Hyeok Yang

Victor Pikov

Saloomeh Saati

Yoshi Hishinuma

Alexander Baldwin

A multi-sensor system may include a catheter that has lumen, is flexible, is made of a polymer, and has a circular cross section that has an outer diameter of no more than 0.5 cm; and one or more sensors that sense multiple characteristics of material flowing within the lumen, including at least two of the following: flow rate, pressure, and composition of the material. A multi-sensor system may include a catheter that has lumen, is flexible, is made of a polymer, and has a circular cross section that has an outer diameter of no more than 0.5 cm; and one or more sensors that sense multiple characteristics of material flowing within the lumen, including at least two of the following: flow rate, pressure, and composition of the material.

Multi-sensor platform for diagnosing catheter status

A sensor for measuring electrochemical impedance includes a primary circuit that includes a primary electrically conducting coil and a secondary circuit that includes a secondary electrically conducting coil. The primary electrically conducting coil is inductively coupled to the secondary circuit. During operation, the secondary electrically conductive couple has contact electrodes that contact a medium for which the impedance is to be measured. An alternating current source energizes the primary electrically conducting coil during impedance measurements.

Method for contactless electrochemical impedance measurement

A new class of peripheral nerve interfaces that combines microfluidics with microelectronics. A peripheral nerve interface that allows intraneural targeting through the combined use and sequential application of lysing agents and neurotrophic factors.

Cuff electrode with lysing agent

A self-monitoring catheter system may detect an obstruction during use of a catheter. The system may include a catheter with an interior lumen that has one or more ports into the lumen; a first and a second electrode; and an impedance measurement instrument that measures changes in the impedance between the first and the second electrodes after the first electrode is exposed to fluid within the catheter lumen, thereby signaling an obstruction during use of the catheter.

Method and sensor for detecting catheter obstruction

In various embodiments, a needle is employed in refilling drug-delivery devices.

Implantable drug-delivery devices, and apparatus and methods for refilling the devices

Electrochemical impedance may be used for accurate and real-time tracking and control of fluid delivery from fluid-filled chambers, such as from drug delivery devices. At least two measurement electrodes may be placed within the chamber in contact with the fluid to be sensed. Application of a small alternating current using these electrodes through the fluid/drug may allow measurement of electrochemical impedance. Volumetric changes of the compressible chamber due to movement of at least one surface within the compressible chamber (such as an actuating bellows or flexible diaphragm), may induce changes in the measured electrochemical impedance. Measuring these changes may allow for tracking of ejected liquid volumes from the compressible chamber. By taking the time-derivative of this signal, the rate of volume change can be tracked and therefore the rate of ejected fluid (flow rate) can be deduced.

Tracking and controlling fluid delivery from chamber

An implanted parylene tube shunt relieves intra-ocular pressure. The device is implanted with an open end in the anterior chamber of the eye, allowing excess fluid to be drained through the tube out of the eye. In one embodiment, only a first end of the tube implanted into the anterior chamber of the eye is open. Intra-ocular pressure (IOP) is then monitored, for example utilizing an implanted sensor. When IOP exceeds a critical valve, a practitioner intervenes, puncturing with a laser a thinned region of the tube lying outside the eye, thereby initiating drainage of fluid and relieving pressure. In accordance with alternative embodiments, the both ends of the tube are open, and the tube includes a one-way valve configured to permit drainage where IOP exceeds the critical value. The tube may include projecting barbs to anchor the tube in the eye without the need for sutures.

Implantable intraocular pressure drain

An implantable fluid delivery system may include a fluid reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid, dispense that fluid under the control of an actuator, and be implanted within the body of a living host. The actuator may include a bellows configured to expand in a direction when inflated. The bellows may have folds with surfaces which run substantially perpendicular to the direction of expansion in a collapsed state and which define a stacked set of convolutions. Each convolution may have a collapsed height of no more than 1 mm and a width perpendicular to the direction of expansion of no more than 8 mm. Electrodes may be configured to come in electrical contact with an electrolyte within the bellows and to cause electricity to run through the electrolyte, thereby causing the electrolyte to break down into a gas and, in turn, to cause the bellows to expand.

MEMS electrochemical bellows actuator

Provided is a micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) device for use with an elongate structure. The MEMS device includes a generally planar substrate, a device wall layer formed upon the substrate, a septum cavity formed in the device wall layer, a channel formed in the device wall layer in fluid communication with the septum cavity, and a septum element disposed in the septum cavity. The septum element is formed of a viscoelastic material. The septum element defines a septum entry surface and a septum exit surface with the septum exit surface being exposed to the channel and disposed between the septum entry surface and the channel. The septum element is without any openings formed through the septum element extending between the septum entry and exit surfaces. Methods of manufacturing and interacting with the MEMS device are also provided.

Interconnect for MEMS device including a viscoelastic septum

A pressure transducer for measuring pressure may include an all-polymer chamber that has no dimension greater than 1 mm. There may be fluid within the chamber, a gaseous bubble trapped within the fluid, and electrodes in contact with the fluid. The electrodes may enable a measurement of changes in the impedance of the fluid caused by changes in the volume of the gaseous bubble caused by changes in the pressure to be measured. The pressure transducer may be made by depositing the chamber, placing the fluid within the chamber, and generating the gaseous bubble within the fluid with electrolysis.

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure transducer

A drug delivery device may include a drug reservoir configured to contain and controllably deliver a fluidic drug. A tube may be configured to deliver the fluid from the drug reservoir through a lumen in the tube to another location. A valve wholly within the lumen of the tube may regulate the flow of the fluid through the tube without substantially diverting the direction in which the fluid flows through the tube. The valve may contain only a single member which moves during operation of the valve. The valve may be configured to regulate the flow of fluid in a bandpass manner by allowing fluid to flow through the valve only when the pressure of the fluid is above a minimum and below a maximum. The valve may be held in place within the tube solely by frictional force between the valve and a wall of the tube.

Drug delivery device with in-plane bandpass regulation check valve in heat-shrink packaging

Embodiments of an implantable device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient include a reservoir configured to contain a liquid comprising the therapeutic agent, and a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cannula is shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into a patient's eyeball.

MEMS device and method for delivery of therapeutic agents

An implanted parylene tube shunt relieves intra-ocular pressure. The device is implanted with an open end in the anterior chamber of the eye, allowing excess fluid to be drained through the tube out of the eye. In one embodiment, only a first end of the tube implanted into the anterior chamber of the eye is open. Intra-ocular pressure (IOP) is then monitored, for example utilizing an implanted sensor. When IOP exceeds a critical value, a practitioner intervenes, puncturing with a laser a thinned region of the tube lying outside the eye, thereby initiating drainage of fluid and relieving pressure. In accordance with alternative embodiments, the both ends of the tube are open, and the tube includes a one-way valve configured to permit drainage where IOP exceeds the critical value. The tube may include projecting barbs to anchor the tube in the eye without the need for sutures.

Growing community of inventors

Alhambra, CA, United States of America

Ellis Fan-chuin Meng