Implantable apparatus for sensing biologic signals

Abstract

An implantable apparatus for physiological measurement in a host organism has an implantable sample chamber having a measurement port and live cells that are treated to fluoresce in response to light having an excitation wavelength. An optical sensor housing implanted within the host organism has a window to convey excitation light output and receive fluorescent light; a coupling that couples the measurement port of the sample chamber to the window; an optical chamber partitioned into an excitation sub-chamber and a detection sub-chamber, wherein both sub-chambers are in optical communication with the window; an excitation source energizable to direct excitation light through the excitation sub-chamber and to the window; and a detector in the path of fluorescent light received from the live cells. A signal processing apparatus is energizable to acquire and process a detector signal and to transmit a processed signal that is indicative of fluorescent light energy.