Body-Mountable Devices and Methods for Embedding a Structure in a Body-Mountable Device

Abstract

Body-mountable devices and methods for embedding a structure in a body-mountable device are described. A body-mountable device includes a transparent polymer and a structure embedded in the transparent polymer. The transparent polymer defines a posterior side and an anterior side of the body-mountable device. The structure has an outer diameter and an inner diameter and includes a sensor configured to detect an analyte and an antenna. The antenna includes a plurality of conductive loops spaced apart from each other between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.

1 . A body-mountable device comprising:
 a transparent polymer, wherein the transparent polymer defines a posterior side and an anterior side of the body-mountable device; and   a structure embedded in the transparent polymer, wherein the structure has an outer diameter and an inner diameter and includes a sensor configured to detect an analyte and an antenna, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of conductive loops spaced apart from each other between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein the body-mountable device comprises an eye-mountable device. 
     
     
         3 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein the body-mountable device comprises a tooth-mountable device. 
     
     
         4 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein the body-mountable device comprises a skin-mountable device. 
     
     
         5 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive loops are substantially concentric. 
     
     
         6 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive loops comprises at least three conductive loops. 
     
     
         7 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive loops are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         8 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive loops are connected in series. 
     
     
         9 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , wherein each conductive loop in the plurality of conductive loops comprises a respective metal layer disposed between respective polymer layers. 
     
     
         10 . The body-mountable device of  claim 9 , wherein the metal and polymer layers in each conductive loop are spaced apart from the metal and polymer layers in each adjacent conductive loop in the plurality of conductive loops. 
     
     
         11 . The body-mountable device of  claim 10 , wherein the metal and polymer layers of a particular conductive loop in the plurality of conductive loops are spaced apart from the metal and polymer layers of a first adjacent conductive loop in the plurality of conductive loops by a first distance, and wherein the metal and polymer layers of the particular conductive loop are spaced apart from the metal and polymer layers of a second adjacent conductive loop in the plurality of conductive loops by a second distance. 
     
     
         12 . The body-mountable device of  claim 11 , wherein the first distance varies based on a rotational orientation of the particular conductive loop relative to the first adjacent conductive loop. 
     
     
         13 . The body-mountable device of  claim 11 , wherein the second distance varies based on a rotational orientation of the particular conductive loop relative to the second adjacent conductive loop. 
     
     
         14 . The body-mountable device of  claim 10 , wherein the transparent polymer extends between adjacent conductive loops in the plurality of conductive loops. 
     
     
         15 . The body-mountable device of  claim 10 , wherein the polymer layers in each conductive loop comprise paralyene. 
     
     
         16 . The body-mountable device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more spacers configured to maintain substantially uniform spacings between adjacent conductive loops in the plurality of conductive loops. 
     
     
         17 . The body-mountable device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more spacers comprise a polymeric material. 
     
     
         18 . The body-mountable device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more spacers comprise a metal. 
     
     
         19 . The body-mountable device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more spacers comprise one spacer positioned on the structure substantially opposite of the sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The body-mountable device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more spacers are positioned on the structure at a predetermined rotational orientation. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 forming a first polymer layer, such that the first polymer layer has a curvature, wherein the first polymer layer defines a posterior side of a body-mountable device;   positioning a structure on the first polymer layer, wherein the structure has an outer diameter and an inner diameter and includes a sensor configured to detect an analyte and an antenna, and wherein the antenna includes a plurality of conductive loops spaced apart from each other between the outer diameter and the inner diameter;   conforming the structure positioned on the first polymer layer to the curvature of the first polymer layer; and   forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, such that the structure is fully enclosed by the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer, wherein the second polymer layer defines an anterior side of the body-mountable device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the body-mountable device comprises an eye-mountable device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the body-mountable device comprises a tooth-mountable device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the body-mountable device comprises a skin-mountable device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of conductive loops comprises at least three conductive loops. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , the second polymer layer extends between adjacent conductive loops in the plurality of conductive loops.