THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED IMPLANTABLE

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PRODUCE A MICRO-MINIATURE, FULLY IMPLANTABLE DISPLACEMENT SENSOR, CAPABLE OF CHRONIC IMPLANTATION IN VIVO. THE DEVICE WILL INCORPORATE SEVERAL NEW FEATURES THAT ENHANCE THE GENERAL USEFULNESS OF THE SENSOR. THE DEVICE IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF DETECTION OF THE PROXIMITY OF A MAGNET BY A HALL-EFFECT SENSOR. PHASEI OF THE STUDY IS DESIGNED TO (1) TEST AND IMPROVE THE COATINGS OF THE SENSOR IN A SALINE ENVIRONMENT, (2) MINIATURIZE THE DEVICE THROUGH CHANGES IN DESIGN OF THE HALL GENERATOR AND ITS LEAD WIRES, AND (3) ENHANCE PERFORMANCE BY USING IMPROVED MAGNETIC TECHNOLOGY. PHASE IIOF THE STUDY WILL INVOLVE A MULTICENTER TESTING OF THIS NEW SENSOR AGAINST OPTICAL METHODS, IN CHRONIC ANIMAL IMPLANTATION IN VIVO, AND EVENTUALLY IN HUMANS IN VIVO. IT IS EXPECTED THAT NUMEROUS RESEARCH GROUPS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE COMMERCIAL AVAILABILITY OF THIS DEVICE. THE DATA OBTAINED FROM RESEARCH USING THESE DEVICES WILL BE EXTREMELY USEFUL IN THE UNDERSTANDING AND TREATMENT OF LIGAMENT AND TENDON INJURIES.