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An Universal packaging technique for low-drift implantable pressure sensors

Biomedical Microdevices volume 18, Article number: 32 (2016) Cite this article

Abstract

Monitoring bodily pressures provide valuable diagnostic and prognostic information. In particular, long-term measurement through implantable sensors is highly desirable in situations where percutaneous access can be complicated or dangerous (e.g., intracranial pressure in hydrocephalic patients). In spite of decades of progress in the fabrication of miniature solid-state pressure sensors, sensor drift has so far severely limited their application in implantable systems. In this paper, we report on a universal packaging technique for reducing the sensor drift. The described method isolates the pressure sensor from a major source of drift, i.e., contact with the aqueous surrounding environment, by encasing the sensor in a silicone-filled medical-grade polyurethane balloon. In-vitro soak tests for 100 days using commercial micromachined piezoresistive pressure sensors demonstrate a stable operation with the output remaining within 1.8 cmH2O (1.3 mmHg) of a reference pressure transducer. Under similar test conditions, a non-isolated sensor fluctuates between 10 and 20 cmH2O (7.4–14.7 mmHg) of the reference, without ever settling to a stable operation regime. Implantation in Ossabow pigs demonstrate the robustness of the package and its in-vivo efficacy in reducing the baseline drift.

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Acknowledgment

Authors would like to thank to Dr. SeungHyun Song for valuable discussions. This work was supported in part by a Project Development Team within the ICTSI NIH/NCRR Grant Number RR025761 and NIDDK DiaComp Pilot & Feasibility project, DK076169 (Powell, PI) and NIH grant HL 062552 (Sturek, PI).

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Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, 1205 W. State St, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Albert Kim & Babak Ziaie

  2. Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, 1205 W. State St, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Albert Kim & Babak Ziaie

  3. Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 535 Barnhill Dr. Suite 420, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Charles. R. Powell

Authors
  1. Albert Kim
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  2. Charles. R. Powell
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  3. Babak Ziaie
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Correspondence to Babak Ziaie.

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Kim, A., Powell, C.R. & Ziaie, B. An Universal packaging technique for low-drift implantable pressure sensors. Biomed Microdevices 18, 32 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-016-0058-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-016-0058-y

Keywords

  • Baseline drift
  • Pressure sensor
  • Sensor packaging
  • Implantable sensors