Miniaturized implantable electrochemical sensor devices

Abstract

An implantable device having a communication system, a sensor, and a monolithic substrate is described. The monolithic substrate has an integrated sensor circuit configured to process input from the sensor into a form conveyable by the communication system.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An implantable device comprising:
 a communication system;   a sensor; and   a monolithic substrate comprising an integrated sensor circuit configured to process input from the sensor into a form conveyable by the communication system, and a power supply configured to receive energy from an external source, wherein:
 the communication system is located on a first face of the monolithic substrate and the sensor is located on a second face of the monolithic substrate, the first face being on an opposite side of the monolithic substrate from the second face, 
 the sensor comprises a functionalized layer integrated into the monolithic substrate, 
 wherein the device is configured to be powered for an interval of time corresponding to a period of time when energy is received by the power supply; and 
 the communication system comprises an RF antenna. 
   
     
     
         16 . The implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein the monolithic substrate has a height less than 200 microns 
     
     
         17 . The implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein the communication system further comprises a modulator and an output driver. 
     
     
         18 . The implantable device of  claim 17 , wherein the modulator comprises a control circuit and a pulse width modulator. 
     
     
         19 . The implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein the power supply comprises a second RF antenna. 
     
     
         20 . The implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein the monolithic substrate is a CMOS die. 
     
     
         21 . The implantable device of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one interconnect electrically connecting the sensor to the communication system, the interconnect going through the monolithic substrate. 
     
     
         22 . The implantable device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one interconnect is cylindrical. 
     
     
         23 . The implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         24 . A system comprising the implantable device according to claim  1  and an external device, the external device comprising:
 a power source; 
 a power transmitter; 
 a processor connected to the power transmitter and the power source, the processor configured to pulse power to the implantable device by activating the power transmitter only for an interval of time; and 
 a detector that receives information from the communication system of the implantable device. 
 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24  further comprising a communication link to transmit information from the implantable device and operably linked to the detector either directly or through the processor. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 24  further comprising a display operably connected to the processor. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 24  wherein the detector comprises a detector array. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 24  wherein the external device is a consumer electronics device. 
     
     
         29 . An implantable device comprising:
 a communication system;   a sensor; and   a monolithic substrate comprising an integrated sensor circuit configured to process input from the sensor into a form conveyable by the communication system, and a power supply configured to receive energy from an external source, wherein:
 the power supply comprises an RF antenna; 
 the communication system is located on a first face of the monolithic substrate and the sensor is located on a second face of the monolithic substrate, the first face being on an opposite side of the monolithic substrate from the second face, 
 the sensor comprises a functional layer integrated into the monolithic substrate, wherein the functional layer comprises an enzyme, wherein the device is configured to be powered for an interval of time corresponding to a period of time when energy is received by the power supply, and 
 the communication system. 
   
     
     
         30 . The implantable device of  claim 29 , wherein the communication system comprises a modulator and an output driver. 
     
     
         31 . The implantable device of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one interconnect electrically connecting the sensor to the communication system, the at least one interconnect going through the monolithic substrate. 
     
     
         32 . The implantable device of  claim 29 , wherein the sensor is a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The implantable device of  claim 15 , wherein the monolithic substrate has a height less than 200 microns.