Patent ID: 7744542

Claim:
A system comprising: an implantable medical device; a first sensor module separate from and unattached to the implantable medical device, at least a portion of which is adapted to reside within an airway of a subject's body, wherein the first sensor module comprises: a first detector configured to detect an external air pressure; a communication module, coupled to the first detector, the communication module configured to transmit information about the external air pressure to the implantable medical device; and an energy storage device, coupled to at least one of the first detector and the communication module; and an anchor, attached to the first sensor module, the anchor configured to fixate at least a portion of the first sensor module within the airway; and an absolute physiological pressure sensor module, at least a portion of which is adapted to reside within a circulatory system of the body, wherein the absolute physiological pressure sensor module comprises: an absolute physiological pressure detector configured to detect an absolute pressure; a communication module, coupled to the absolute physiological pressure detector, configured to transmit information about the absolute pressure to the implantable medical device; an energy storage device, coupled to at least one of the absolute physiological pressure detector and communication module; and an anchor configured to fixate at least a portion of the absolute physiological pressure detector within the circulatory system; and wherein the implantable medical device includes a communication module configured to receive information about the external air pressure from the communication module of the first sensor module and information about the absolute pressure from the communication module of the absolute physiological pressure sensor module, the implantable medical device including a processor configured to derive a gauge pressure using the external air pressure and the absolute pressure.