A High-Accuracy Solid/Liquid Composite Packaging Method for Implantable Pressure Sensors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new packaging method for implantable pressure sensors that improves accuracy and stability by using a combination of Parylene-C and silicone oil.

Contribution

The novel solid/liquid composite packaging technique effectively reduces mechanical coupling errors and enhances long-term stability in implantable sensors.

Findings

The sensor accuracy improved to 0.5 mmHg within clinical pressure ranges after using the composite packaging.

The sensor showed a drift of less than 2 mmHg over 30 days in simulated bodily fluids.

Abstract

This study addresses the critical packaging requirements of implantable pressure sensors concerning measurement accuracy and environmental stability. We propose a solid/liquid composite packaging technique based on Parylene-C and silicone oil. Utilizing liquid silicone oil as an intermediate medium, this method effectively decouples solid/solid interface shear forces, thereby mitigating measurement errors caused by mechanical coupling. Furthermore, the superior hydrophobic properties of silicone oil and its defect-filling capability are employed to slow the infiltration rate of water molecules at the interface, ensuring long-term stability. The influence of the solid/liquid composite layer on the mechanical properties of the sensor’s sensitive element was analyzed through finite element simulation. The experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of this approach: after adding a liquid silicone oil layer between the Parylene coating and the sensitive element, the sensor’s accuracy improved to 0.5 mmHg within the pressure range encountered in clinical human applications. In simulated bodily fluids, it demonstrated exceptional long-term stability, with drift values consistently below 2 mmHg over a 30-day period. This research provides a feasible and straightforward solution for the packaging design of high-performance implantable pressure sensors.

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