Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6409674?dq=GPS+inassignee:rockwell
Timestamp: 2014-09-16 07:51:41
Document Index: 168653335

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 4', 'art.\n5', 'art.\n6', 'art.\n7', 'art.\n19', 'art. 20', 'art.\n25', 'art.\n26', 'art. 30', 'art.\n31', 'art.\n32', 'art 110', 'art 110']

Patent US6409674 - Implantable sensor with wireless communication - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsAn implantable sensor device, such as a pressure monitor, is implanted in the left ventricle (LV), in other heart chambers, or elsewhere, from which it wirelessly communicates pressure information to a remote communication device. The sensor device can be implanted using a placement catheter, an endoscope,...http://www.google.com/patents/US6409674?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6409674 - Implantable sensor with wireless communicationAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6409674 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/159,653Publication dateJun 25, 2002Filing dateSep 24, 1998Priority dateSep 24, 1998Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2345389A1, CA2345389C, DE69929448D1, DE69929448T2, EP1115329A2, EP1115329B1, US7425200, US20020138009, US20050159789, WO2000016686A2, WO2000016686A3Publication number09159653, 159653, US 6409674 B1, US 6409674B1, US-B1-6409674, US6409674 B1, US6409674B1InventorsBrian P. Brockway, Perry Alton Mills, Lynn M. ZwiersOriginal AssigneeData Sciences International, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (47), Non-Patent Citations (6), Referenced by (150), Classifications (13), Legal Events (11) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetImplantable sensor with wireless communicationUS 6409674 B1Abstract An implantable sensor device, such as a pressure monitor, is implanted in the left ventricle (LV), in other heart chambers, or elsewhere, from which it wirelessly communicates pressure information to a remote communication device. The sensor device can be implanted using a placement catheter, an endoscope, or a laparoscope. The device can be secured entirely within the LV or heart wall, such as by using a corkscrew, a helical anchor, a harpoon, a threaded member, a hook, a barb, a fastener, a suture, or a mesh or coating for receiving fibrous tissue growth. The implantable sensor device provides less invasive chronic measurements of left ventricular blood pressure or other physical parameters. The wireless communication techniques include radio-telemetry, inductive coupling, passive transponders, and using the body as a conductor (referred to as �intracorporeal conductive communication� or a �personal area network�). Data from the receiver is downloadable into a computer for analysis or display.
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for measuring a blood pressure in a heart chamber in a heart in a living organism, the apparatus comprising:
a housing adapted for being disposed in the heart; a pressure transducer, adapted for being disposed in the heart, the pressure transducer providing a pressure signal based on the blood pressure in the heart chamber; a wireless communication circuit, carried by the housing and coupled to the pressure transducer, the communication circuit wirelessly transmitting pressure information out of the heart based on the pressure signal; at least one stabilizer, coupled to the housing, and adapted for stabilizing the housing within the heart; and a pressure transmission catheter adapted for receiving the pressure in the heart chamber, the pressure transmission catheter being coupled to the pressure transducer via a flowable medium to communicate the pressure in the heart chamber to the pressure transducer. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the pressure transmission catheter includes a biocompatible gel-like tip that is adapted to receive the pressure in the heart chamber.
3. A method of sensing a parameter in a heart chamber in a heart in a living organism, the method comprising:
receiving a physical manifestation of the parameter in the heart chamber at a sensor device disposed within the heart; converting, within the heart, the physical manifestation of the parameter into a sensor signal; and generating a wireless signal based on the sensor signal, the wireless signal generated within the heart. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising translumenally disposing the sensor device in the heart.
5. The method of claim 3, in which communicating information includes radio-telemetering the information from the heart.
6. The method of claim 3, in which communicating information includes inductively coupling the information from the heart.
7. The method of claim 3, in which communicating information includes:
receiving energy at a passive transponder in the heart; powering the passive transponder from the energy received; and transmitting information from the heart using the powered passive transponder. 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
receiving energy; and recharging a battery located in the heart using the energy received. 9. The method of claim 3, in which communicating information includes:
conducting a current through at least a portion of the living organism; and receiving, at a receiver that is outside the heart, a signal that is based on the current. 10. The method of claim 3, in which communicating information includes:
conducting a current through at least a portion of the living organism; and receiving, at a receiver that is external to the living organism, a signal that is based on the current. 11. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving the information at a receiver that is carried by an implantable medical device located within the living organism.
receiving the information at a receiver that is external to the living organism; and storing the information in a memory in the receiver. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transferring the information from the receiver to a computer.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising analyzing the information in the computer.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying to a user an indicator based on the information.
16. The method of claim 3, in which the heart chamber is selected from a group consisting essentially of a right atrium, a right ventricle, a left atrium, and a left ventricle.
17. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving the information at a receiver that is carried by an cardiac rhythm management device located within the living organism.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting therapy delivered to the heart by the cardiac rhythm management device, wherein adjusting therapy is based on the sensor signal wirelessly communicated from the heart.
19. A method of measuring blood pressure in a heart chamber in a heart in a living organism, the method comprising:
receiving the blood pressure in the heart at a pressure transducer device; transducing, within the heart, the blood pressure in the heart chamber into a pressure signal; and generating a wireless signal based on the pressure signal, the wireless signal generated within the heart. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising translumenally disposing the pressure transducer device in the heart via a placement catheter.
21. The method of claim 19, in which receiving the blood pressure includes communicating the blood pressure from the heart to the pressure transducer via a flowable medium.
22. The method of claim 21, in which receiving the blood pressure includes receiving the blood pressure at a distal end of a pressure transmission catheter and transmitting the blood pressure from the heart to the pressure transducer via a flowable medium within the pressure transmission catheter.
23. The method of claim 22, in which transducing the pressure includes:
receiving the blood pressure at the pressure transducer from the flowable medium within the pressure transmission catheter; varying at least one resistance in the pressure transducer based on the received pressure; and providing a resulting electrical signal, which includes pressure information based on the varying resistance of the pressure transducer. 24. The method of claim 19, in which communicating pressure information includes radio-telemetering the pressure information from the heart.
25. The method of claim 19, in which communicating pressure information includes inductively coupling the pressure information from the heart.
26. The method of claim 19, in which communicating pressure information includes:
receiving energy at a passive transponder; powering the passive transponder from the received energy; and transmitting pressure information from the heart using the powered passive transponder. 27. The method of claim 19, in which communicating pressure information includes:
conducting a current through at least a portion of the heart; and receiving, at a receiver that is outside the heart, a signal that is based on the current. 28. The method of claim 19, which communicating pressure information includes:
conducting a current through at least a portion of the heart; and receiving, at a receiver that is external to the living organism, a signal that is based on the current. 29. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
translumenally disposing a pressure transducer device within the heart; and stabilizing the pressure transducer device within the heart. 30. The method of claim 29, in which stabilizing the pressure transducer device includes securing the pressure transducer device to the heart.
31. The method of claim 30, in which securing the pressure transducer to the heart includes implanting the pressure transducer substantially within a wall of the heart.
32. The method of claim 19, in which the heart chamber is selected from a group consisting essentially of a right atrium, a right ventricle, a left atrium, and a left ventricle.
receiving the wirelessly communicated blood pressure information at a cardiac rhythm management device; and adjusting therapy delivered to the heart by the cardiac rhythm management device based on the wirelessly communicated blood pressure information.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an implantable sensor with wireless communication, and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to physiological monitoring of pressure or other parameters in humans and animals using a monitor that is implantable within a heart chamber or elsewhere and is capable of wireless communication of sensor information therefrom.
BACKGROUND The monitoring of fluid pressure within a body organ provides an important tool for medical research and clinical diagnosis. For example, hydrocephalus and head injuries can cause body fluids to build up within the brain. The resulting fluid pressure buildup can result in death or serious brain damage. In another example, urinary dysfunction can cause fluid pressure to build up in the bladder. In a further example, intrapleural pressure measurements can be used to monitor the respiration of infants who have been identified as being at risk for sudden infant death syndrome.
A further technique for measuring left ventricular blood pressure uses a pressure sensing catheter, such as a �Millar catheter,� available from Millar Instruments, Inc., of Houston, Tex. The pressure sensing catheter is passed through the left atrium and through the mitral valve (which separates the left atrium and left ventricle) into the left ventricle. As discussed above, however, high blood pressures exist in the left ventricle, which would likely result in damage to the mitral valve if the catheter were left interposed in the mitral valve for a long period of time. As a result, if a sequence of successive measurements is to be obtained over a long period of time, the patient must undergo recatheterization for each measurement. However, catheterization itself involves risk, discomfort, and expense, making multiple catheterizations of the patient very undesirable.
SUMMARY The present system provides, among other things, a less invasive implantable sensor device capable of wirelessly communicating sensor information. The sensor is implantable in a heart chamber, in other body organs and body cavities, and elsewhere within a living organism. One example includes a blood pressure monitoring device that is suitable for use over an extended period of time in the left ventricle for wirelessly communicating blood pressure information therefrom. This provides less invasive chronic pressure measurements in the left ventricle. As a result, the risk of obtaining such important measurements is reduced. This enables a physician to more accurately diagnose and treat serious heart conditions. It also enables a biomedical researcher to monitor sensor signals in animal research studies.
In one example, the wirelessly communicated left ventricular blood pressure information is used to control the delivery of therapy by a cardiac rhythm management device. In another example, the present system advantageously allows a physician to obtain a sequence of left ventricular blood pressure measurements over a long period of time. By contrast, using a pressure sensing catheter for obtaining such measurements over a long period of time risks damaging heart valves because of the high blood pressures that exist in the left ventricle. Because the present system allows long term monitoring, it can be used, for example, in assessing circadian variations in physiological data over a period of time. Such information is potentially valuable in diagnosing and treating patients. See, e.g., Brian P. Brockway, Perry A. Mills, and Sylvia H. Azar, �A New Method For Continuous Chronic Measurement and Recording of Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Activity in the Rat via Radio-Telemetry,� Clinical and Experimental Hypertension�Theory and Practice, A13(5), pp. 885-895 (1991), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating generally one embodiment of the present system using wireless communication, such as intracorporeal conductive communication, between an implanted sensor device and an implanted remote receiver that is carried by an implanted medical device such as by cardiac rhythm management system.
System Overview FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, one embodiment of portions of a sensor system, such as pressure monitor system 100, and one environment in which system 100 is used. In FIG. 1, system 100 includes a sensor device, such as an implantable pressure monitor device 105. Device 105 is introduced into a living. organism, such as in a heart chamber or other organ or body cavity. Miniature implantable device 105 is capable of measuring internal body pressure, such as in humans or animals. Aspects of one embodiment of device 105 and its operation are described in Brockway et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,191 entitled �Device For Chronic Measurement of Internal Body Pressure,� which is assigned to the assignee of the present application, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Implantable Pressure Monitor FIG. 3A is a schematic/block diagram illustrating generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, one embodiment of device 105. In this embodiment, device 105 includes a housing 300 carrying a sensor, such as pressure transducer 305, and a communication circuit 310. Housing 300 is adapted for implantation in a living organism such as a human or animal. In one example, housing 300 is implanted within a body cavity or an organ, such as within a heart chamber (e.g., left ventricle 135) of heart 110.
FIG. 3B illustrates generally one embodiment of a harpoon stabilizer 312B, providing an approximately straight outward extension from housing 300, and including a barb or hook at its distal tip. FIG. 3C illustrates generally one embodiment of a mesh stabilizer 312C, extending outward from or integrally formed with housing 300. Mesh stabilizer 312C also promotes the ingrowth of adjacent fibrous tissue to assist in securing device 105 at a particular location. FIG. 3D illustrates generally one embodiment of a flexible or expanding deformable stabilizer 312D. In one embodiment, stabilizer 312D is made of a flexible, spring-like, or deformable material or a �memory metal.� As illustrated in FIG. 3D, stabilizer 312D maintains a compact shape during implantation, but deforms or expands in profile after device 105 is implanted into the heart chamber or other body cavity. As a result of this deformation or expansion, stabilizer 312D tends to hold device 105 within the body cavity in which it is implanted. The above-discussed stabilizers 312 can also be used in combination with each other, such as illustrated in FIG. 3C.
Communication Techniques Communication circuit 310 wirelessly transmits pressure information from device 105 to remote receiver 140 (or other receiver, transceiver, transponder, or communication device) by radio telemetry or any other wireless data communication technique. In one embodiment, communication circuit 310 includes or is coupled to an antenna for wireless communication. However, the antenna need not be located within communication circuit 310. In another embodiment, communication circuit 310 also includes signal processing circuits, such as amplification and filtering circuits that process the electrical pressure signal received from pressure transducer 305, or analog-to-digital conversion circuits, or a microprocessor or other circuit for performing data analysis or data compression. In a further embodiment, communication circuit 310 also includes a memory device for storing the pressure information, other data, or operating parameters of device 105. In yet another embodiment, communication circuit 310 includes a real-time clock for time-stamping the pressure information.
In one embodiment, communication circuit 310 wirelessly communicates pressure information from device 105 to external remote receiver 140 using an intracorporeal conductive communication device (also referred to as �near-field intrabody communication� or a �personal area network�). In this document, wireless communication refers to any communication technique that does not use a wire or optical fiber. Wireless communication includes either or both of unidirectional and/or bidirectional communication. The unidirectional or bidirectional communication is carried out between any combination of implanted and/or external communication devices. In various embodiments, certain ones of the communication devices are carried by implanted sensor devices (such as an implanted pressure monitor), implanted medical devices (such as an implanted cardiac rhythm management device), and external communication devices for communication therebetween. Wireless communication includes, but is not limited to: radio telemetry, reactive coupling, and intracorporeal conductive communication. In this document, intracorporeal conductive communication refers to any communication technique that uses a living organism (e.g., the body of a human or animal) as a conductor for communicating data. In one embodiment, wireless communication is used to program operating parameters in implanted device 105.
In one example of an intracorporeal conductive communication device, communication circuit 310 is electrically coupled to electrodes located on housing 300 and insulated from each other. Communication circuit 310 capacitively couples a very low (e.g., less than a stimulation threshold of heart 110) displacement current that is conducted through the body to remote receiver 140. The current is modulated with a data signal. The data signal includes the pressure information or other data to be wirelessly communicated from the implanted medical device 105. In this embodiment, the resulting current is detected at remote receiver 140 by electrodes that contact the body of patient 115 during the wireless communication from device 105. The detected current is demodulated to obtain the pressure information or other data. The use of intracorporeal conductive communication techniques is described in Coppersmith et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,827 entitled �System and Method for Near-Field Human-Body Coupling For Encrypted Communication With Identification Cards,� and in T. G. Zimmerman, �Personal Area Networks: Near-field intrabody communication,� IBM Systems Journal, Vol. 35, No. 3 & 4, 1996, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Implantation and Use FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, one embodiment of a placement catheter 600 for implantably disposing device 105 in a heart chamber, such as left ventricle 135. Catheter 600 includes an at least partially flexible elongate member having a proximal end 600A that is manipulated by the user. Catheter 600 also includes a distal end 600B of the elongate member that is inserted in the patient 115. In one embodiment, the distal end 600B of catheter 600 includes a cavity 605 carrying at least a portion of device 105. Cavity 605 is circumferentially encompassed by a sheath 607 that, in one embodiment, is open at distal end 600B of catheter 600.
Conclusion The present system includes, among other things, a sensor device such as a pressure monitor. The sensor device is implantable in a heart chamber or elsewhere, and it wirelessly communicates sensor information therefrom. In one embodiment, an implantable pressure monitor provides less invasive chronic measurements of pressure, such as, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, measurements of left ventricular blood pressure. The implantable pressure monitor reduces the risk of obtaining such important measurements, enabling a physician to more accurately diagnose and treat serious heart conditions.
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ClassificationA61B5/68D3D, A61B5/00B9, A61B5/00B7B, A61B5/0215Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionFeb 3, 2014SULPSurcharge for late paymentYear of fee payment: 11Feb 3, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Jan 31, 2014REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedFeb 7, 2013ASAssignmentOwner name: PACESETTER, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.;REEL/FRAME:029776/0198Effective date: 20121117Jun 18, 2010ASAssignmentFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:PARTNERS FOR GROWTH II, L.P.;REEL/FRAME:24555/467Effective date: 20100510Owner name: TRANSOMA MEDICAL, INC.,MINNESOTAFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:PARTNERS FOR GROWTH II, L.P.;REEL/FRAME:024555/0467Mar 23, 2010ASAssignmentOwner name: DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.,MINNESOTAFree format text: FORECLOSURE;ASSIGNOR:TRANSOMA MEDICAL, INC.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100324;REEL/FRAME:24120/696Effective date: 20091228Free format text: 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