Patent ID: 8613705

Claim:
A method of controlling a rate of fluid removal from a patient for volume overload therapy, the method comprising: measuring a first inferior vena caval pressure value of the patient using a pressure sensor chronically implanted at least partially within a central venous system of the patient; chronically measuring a plurality of second inferior vena caval pressure values of the patient at periodic intervals using the pressure sensor; remotely transmitting the first and second inferior vena caval pressure values to an external fluid or volume overload therapy device; comparing, using a processor, differences in the first inferior vena caval pressure value to the second inferior vena caval pressure values; correlating the differences between the first inferior vena caval pressure value and any one or a plurality of the second inferior vena caval pressure values to the hydration state of the patient; and adjusting a rate of fluid removal from the patient using the external fluid or volume overload therapy device based on the correlation of the differences between the first inferior vena caval pressure value and the any one or a plurality of the second inferior vena caval pressure values to the hydration state of the patient.