ISSYS Granted Dialysis and Urology Application Patent

YPSILANTI -- Integrated Sensing Systems Inc. announced last week that it had been granted United States Patent No. 7,879,241) for using its microfluidic sensing technology as a "Method of Treating a Bodily Fluid."

"This patent describes a new set of applications for its resonant microtube sensing technology such as mass flow, specific gravity and density measurements," said the company's executive vice president, Doug Sparks. "This patent enables the accurate measurement of flow rate and fluid parameters of blood, dialysate and urine."

Hematocrit (red blood cell) and urea concentration can be monitored using the specific gravity measurement. The control of dialysate concentration can also be monitored and controlled by using a density measurement which is critical in hemodialysis. It can also be used to prevent accidents involving sterilization fluids in the dialysis process. Leaks and air bubbles can also be detected in the IV lines used in this treatment, improving patient safety.

This patent is complemented by the other patents owned by ISSYS in the area of flow sensors and MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) devices.

Nader Najafi, ISSYS president and CEO, said that "commercialization of ISSYS industrial products over the last 10 years has allowed us to evolve our manufacturing infrastructure to be more conducive to medical applications. We are looking forward to the commercialization of the medical products covered by this patent, as well as other medical applications such as smart pumps and IV bags with enhanced drug delivery error monitoring capabilities and our wireless, batteryless implanted pressure sensors for cardiac applications."

More at www.mems-issys.com.