Implantable sensor with wireless communication

• US 20020138009A1
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Data Sciences U K Limited (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Brockway, Brian P., Zwiers, Lynn M., Mills, Perry Alton
• Granted Patent: US 7,425,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing a parameter in a heart chamber in a heart in a living organism, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor, adapted for being disposed in the heart chamber, the sensor providing a sensor signal based on the parameter in the heart chamber; and

a wireless communication circuit, adapted for being disposed in the heart chamber, the communication circuit being coupled to the sensor and transmitting information out of the heart chamber based on the sensor signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the communication circuit is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a radio-telemetry circuit, a first inductance adapted for inductive coupling to a second inductance located outside the organ, a passive transponder, and an intracorporeal conductive communication device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the sensor includes a pressure transducer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing carrying the sensor and the communication circuit; and

at least one stabilizer that is coupled to the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the stabilizer is adapted for securing the housing to a portion of the heart chamber, and the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a mesh that is adapted for receiving a growth of fibrous tissue from the heart chamber, a coating that is adapted for receiving a growth of fibrous tissue from the heart chamber, a corkscrew extending longitudinally from the housing, a helical anchor encompassing at least a portion of the housing, a harpoon, a threaded member, a hook, a barb, a fastener, and a suture.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the stabilizer includes a deformable member that is adapted for stabilizing the housing within the heart chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the deformable member includes a memory metal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing carrying the sensor and the communication circuit; and

a battery carried by the housing.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the battery is rechargeable and further comprising an energy reception circuit coupled to the battery, the energy reception circuit adapted for receiving energy from outside the heart chamber for recharging the battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing carrying the sensor and the communication circuit; and

a signal processing circuit in the housing, the signal processing circuit being coupled to the sensor to receive the sensor signal, the signal processing circuit being coupled to the communication circuit to provide a signal-processed sensor signal to the communication circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the heart chamber is selected from the group consisting essentially of a right atrium, a right ventricle, a left atrium, and a left ventricle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a receiver, external to the heart chamber, that is communicatively coupled to the communication circuit for receiving the information based on the sensor signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the receiver is implanted in the living organism.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the receiver is external to the living organism.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a cardiac rhythm management device, implanted in the living organism and coupled to the receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a computer that is communicatively coupled to the receiver for receiving the pressure information.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a cardiac rhythm management device, communicatively coupled to receive the information from the wireless communication circuit, the cardiac rhythm management device delivering therapy to the heart based on the sensor signal.

18. A cardiac rhythm management device, communicatively coupled to a plurality of the apparatuses of claim 1.

19. A cardiac rhythm management device comprising:

a therapy circuit;

a leadwire coupled to the therapy circuit; and

an apparatus for sensing a parameter in a heart chamber in a heart in a living organism, the apparatus comprising;

a sensor, adapted for being disposed in the heart chamber, the sensor providing a sensor signal based on the parameter in the heart chamber; and

a wireless communication circuit, adapted for being disposed in the heart chamber, the communication circuit being coupled to the sensor and transmitting information out of the heart chamber based on the sensor signal.

20. An apparatus for measuring a pressure in a heart chamber, the apparatus comprising:

a pressure transducer, adapted for being disposed in the heart chamber, the pressure transducer providing a pressure signal based on the pressure in the heart chamber; and

a wireless communication circuit, adapted for being disposed in the heart chamber, the communication circuit being coupled to the pressure transducer and transmitting pressure information out of the heart chamber based on the pressure signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the heart chamber is selected from the group consisting essentially of a right atrium, a right ventricle, a left atrium, and a left ventricle.

22. 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 chamber;

a pressure transducer, adapted for being disposed in the heart chamber, 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 transmitting pressure information out of the heart chamber based on the pressure signal; and

at least one stabilizer, coupled to the housing, and adapted for stabilizing the housing within the heart chamber.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, in which the communication circuit is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a radio-telemetry circuit, a first inductance adapted for inductive coupling to a second inductance located outside the organ, a passive transponder, and an intracorporeal conductive communication device.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising 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.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the pressure transmission catheter includes a biocompatible gel-like tip that is adapted to receive the pressure in the heart chamber.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, in which the pressure transducer includes a semiconductor resistive strain gauge.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, in which the stabilizer is adapted for securing the housing to a portion of the heart chamber, and the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a mesh that is adapted for receiving a growth of fibrous tissue from the heart chamber, a coating that is adapted for receiving a growth of fibrous tissue from the heart chamber, a corkscrew extending longitudinally from the housing, a helical anchor encompassing at least a portion of the housing, a harpoon, a threaded member, a hook, a barb, a fastener, and a suture.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, in which the stabilizer includes a deformable member that is adapted for stabilizing the housing within the heart chamber.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, in which the deformable member includes a memory metal.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a battery that is carried by the housing.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a signal processing circuit in the housing, the signal processing circuit being coupled to the pressure transducer to receive the pressure signal, the signal processing circuit being coupled to the communication circuit to provide a signal-processed pressure signal to the communication circuit.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a receiver, external to the heart chamber, that is communicatively coupled to the communication circuit for receiving the pressure information.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, in which the receiver is implanted in the living organism.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, in which the receiver is external to the living organism.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a cardiac rhythm management device, implanted in the living organism and coupled to the receiver.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a computer that is communicatively coupled to the receiver for receiving the pressure information.

38. The method of claim 39, further comprising translumenally disposing the sensor device in the heart.

39. The method of claim 37, in which communicating information includes radio-telemetering the information from the heart.

40. The method of claim 37, in which communicating information includes inductively coupling the information from the heart.

41. The method of claim 37, in which communicating information includes:

receiving energy from outside the heart at a passive transponder in the heart;

powering the passive transponder from the energy received from outside the heart; and

transmitting information from the heart using the powered passive transponder.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving energy from outside the heart; and

recharging a battery located in the heart using the energy received from outside the heart.

43. The method of claim 37, 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 chamber, a signal that is based on the current.

44. The method of claim 37, 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.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising receiving the information at a receiver that is carried by an implantable medical device located within the living organism.

46. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving the information at a receiver that is external to the living organism; and

storing the information in a memory in the receiver.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising transferring the information from the receiver to a computer.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising analyzing the information in the computer.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising displaying to a user an indicator based on the information.

50. The method of claim 37, 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.

51. The method of claim 37, further comprising receiving the information at a receiver that is carried by an cardiac rhythm management device located within the living organism.

52. The method of claim 51, 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.

37. 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 chamber;

sensing, within the heart chamber, the physical manifestation of the parameter into a sensor signal; and

wirelessly communicating information, which is based on the sensor signal, from the heart.

53. 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 chamber at a pressure transducer device;

transducing, within the heart chamber, the blood pressure in the heart chamber into a pressure signal; and

wirelessly communicating blood pressure information, which is based on the pressure signal, from the heart.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising translumenally disposing the pressure transducer device in the heart via a placement catheter.

55. The method of claim 53, in which receiving the blood pressure includes communicating the blood pressure from the heart chamber to the pressure transducer via a flowable medium.

56. The method of claim 55, in which receiving the blood pressure includes receiving the blood pressure a distal end of a pressure transmission catheter and transmitting the blood pressure from the heart chamber to the pressure transducer via a flowable medium within the pressure transmission catheter.

57. The method of claim 56, 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.

58. The method of claim 53, in which communicating pressure information includes radio-telemetering the pressure information from the heart.

59. The method of claim 53, in which communicating pressure information includes inductively coupling the pressure information from the heart.

60. The method of claim 53, in which communicating pressure information includes:

receiving energy from outside the heart at a passive transponder;

powering the passive transponder from the received energy from outside the heart; and

transmitting pressure information from the heart using the powered passive transponder.

61. The method of claim 53, 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.

62. The method of claim 53, in 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.

63. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

translumenally disposing a pressure transducer device within the heart; and

stabilizing the pressure transducer device within the heart.

64. The method of claim 63, in which stabilizing the pressure transducer device includes securing the pressure transducer device to the heart.

65. The method of claim 64, in which securing the pressure transducer to the heart includes implanting the pressure transducer substantially within a wall of the heart.

66. The method of claim 53, 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.

67. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

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.

69. The method of claim 68, in which the second electrodes are implanted in the living organism.

70. The method of claim 68, in which the second electrodes are external to the living organism.

68. A method comprising:

inducing a current between first electrodes implanted in a living organism;

modulating the current at the first electrodes with a data signal; and

demodulating, at second electrodes, a signal based on the current.

71. A catheter comprising:

an elongate member having first and second ends, the first end of the elongate member including a cavity adapted for carrying an implantable measurement device that includes a wireless communication circuit, the elongate member also including a lumen extending substantially between the cavity and the second end of the elongate member; and

an engaging member, carried by the cavity and extendable outwardly from the cavity at the first end of the elongate member, the engaging member operatively coupled to a manipulator at the second end of the elongate member, the engaging member adapted for engaging the implantable measurement device.

72. The catheter of claim 71, in which the elongate member is flexible and adapted for translumenal access to a heart chamber.

73. The catheter of claim 72, further comprising a coupling member extending through the lumen between the engaging member and the manipulator

74. The catheter of claim 73, further comprising a tether, adapted to be secured to the implantable measurement device, the tether extending substantially between the cavity and the manipulator.

75. The catheter of claim 71, further comprising a convex cap coupled to the first end of the elongate member.