Pressure/temperature/flow monitor device for vascular implantation

• US 20020072656A1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tricardia Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Tricardia Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Vantassel, Robert A., Schwartz, Robert S., Holmes, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,645,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00592 Elastic or resilient implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00606 Implements H-shaped in cross-section, i.e. with occluders on both sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00623 Introducing or retrieving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00

Abstract

A medical monitoring apparatus designed to be implanted in the vascular system is capable of sensing and transmitting via a telemetry link to an external monitor both pressure and temperature information. An internally or externally powered microcircuit component is supported on a stent-like structure and adapted to be placed in the vascular system. Placement in the ventricular septum permits measurement of pressure and temperature in the left ventricle without introducing thrombus generating materials in the left ventricle.

Claims

1. Medical monitoring apparatus comprising:

(a) support means adapted to be chronically implanted at a predetermined location in the vascular system of a living animal;

(b) means affixed to the support means for sensing at least one measurable parameter; and

(c) means on the support means for telemetrically transmitting signals representative of the sensed parameter percutaneously to a signal receiver.

2. Medical monitoring apparatus comprising:

(a) a tubular stent adapted for chronic implantation at a predetermined location in the vascular system of a living animal;

(b) electronic circuit means affixed to said tubular stent for measuring at least one measurable parameter; and

(c) means in the electronic circuit means for telemetrically transmitting signals representative of the sensed parameter percutaneously to a signal receiver exterior of the living animal.

3. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the measurable parameter is selected from a group consisting of blood temperature, blood flow and blood pressure.

4. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the tubular stent has first and second ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the first end adapted for placement in a left cardiac chamber with the second end extending through a portion of the cardiac septum into a right cardiac chamber.

5. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 4 and further including an occluder disposed in the lumen.

6. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the left cardiac chamber is a left atrial chamber and the right cardiac chamber is a right atrial chamber.

7. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the left cardiac chamber is a left ventricular chamber and the right cardiac chamber is a right ventricular chamber.

8. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means for sensing intravascular pressure and the means for telemetrically transmitting signals comprises means for transmitting signals representative of the sensed intravascular pressure.

9. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means for sensing intravascular temperature -and the means for telemetrically transmitting signals comprises means for transmitting signals representative of intravascular temperature.

10. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means for sensing pressure in one of the left atrial chamber and the myocardium.

11. The medical monitoring apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means for sensing pressure in one of the left ventricular chamber and the myocardium.

12. The medical monitoring apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means for sensing temperature in one of the left atrial chamber and myocardium.

13. The medical monitoring apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means for sensing temperature in one of the left ventricular chamber and myocardium.

14. The medical monitoring apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tubular stent comprises an antenna connected to the electronic circuit means for transmitting said signals.

15. The medical monitoring apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tubular stent is self-expandable.

16. The medical monitoring apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tubular stent is balloon expandable.