Medical device activation system

• US 20020193874A1
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Crowley, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,626,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.42
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/01 Filters implantable into blood vessels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/912 Method or apparatus for measuring or testing prosthetic

Abstract

A medical device vibratory activation system is disclosed. The system includes an implantable appliance comprising a conductive material and a signal producing mechanism having a portion configured to be located relative to the implantable appliance. The signal-producing mechanism is also configured to generate a signal that interacts with the conductive material in the implantable appliance to induce a motion of the implantable appliance.

Claims

1. A medical device vibratory activation system, comprising:

an implantable appliance comprising a conductive material; and

a signal-producing mechanism having a portion configured to be located relative to the implantable appliance, the signal-producing mechanism also being configured to generate an alternating signal that interacts with the conductive material in the implantable appliance to induce a vibrating motion of the implantable appliance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable appliance is a metallic stent.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable appliance is a metallic filter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable appliance is a stent graft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal-producing mechanism is an extracorporeal transmitter that produces the signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the extracorporeal transmitter includes an amplifier and an oscillator that are configured to provide an alternating current to a coiled loop of wire, thereby enabling creation of the signal in the form of an alternating electromagnetic radiation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the signal-producing mechanism is an extracorporeal coil comprising a plurality of wire loops substantially confined within a container; and

the signal is an electromagnetic field generated in response to a current being applied to the plurality of wire loops.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an adhesive strip attached to the container and adapted to facilitate an attachment of the container to a patient.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a therapeutic agent incorporated with the implantable appliance, the therapeutic agent being operable in response to the signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the therapeutic agent is a drug that is released in response to the signal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein an operation of the therapeutic agent is heat sensitive and the operation depends on a change in temperature induced by the signal.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein an operation of the therapeutic agent is motion sensitive and the operation depends on the motion of the implantable device induced by the signal-producing mechanism.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal-producing mechanism is battery operated.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system further comprises a sweep generator and an ammeter operably coupled to the signal-producing mechanism;

the sweep generator is configured to sweep the signal over a plurality of frequencies and the ammeter is configured to sense a current increase when the sweep generator generates a key frequency that induces a resonant response by the implantable appliance; and

wherein the key frequency is an indication of a condition of the implantable appliance.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal-producing mechanism comprises a current source operably connected to a coil assembly that is configured to be transcutaneously delivered to an internal location proximate the implantable appliance after it has been implanted.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one connection line connects the current source to the coil assembly.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the coil assembly is coupled to an intra-vascular device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the coil assembly is coupled to a catheter.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the coil assembly is coupled to a guide wire.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensing mechanism disposable relative to the implantable appliance and configured to extracorporeally sense at least one characteristic of the implantable appliance.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the sensing mechanism comprises an extracorporeal sensor operably attached to a receiver;

the extracorporeal sensor is adapted to sense the motion of the implantable appliance as it is induced by the signal-producing mechanism; and

the receiver is adapted to provide an indication of the motion of the implantable appliance as it is sensed by the extracorporeal sensor.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the implantable appliance includes a non-linear junction adapted to enhance the ability of the extracorporeal sensor to sense the motion of the implantable appliance.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the non-linear junction is a diode component connected to the implantable appliance.

25. The method of claim 24 and further comprising:

determining a condition of the implanted medical appliance based on the key frequency identified.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein identifying the key frequency comprises monitoring an ammeter that is operably connected to the signal-producing mechanism and noting as the key frequency that which corresponds to a current increase, as indicated by the ammeter.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein determining a condition of the implanted medical appliance comprises determining an amount of undesirable material built up on the implanted appliance by analyzing mechanical and electrical resonance characteristics of the appliance at the key frequency.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein identifying the key frequency comprises:

externally positioning an extracorporeal sensor proximate the implanted appliance;

utilizing a monitor attached to the extracorporeal sensor to monitor the motion of the implanted appliance;

identifying a particular motion that is consistent with the resonant response by the implanted appliance; and

identifying as the key frequency that which corresponds to the resonant response.

30. The medical device of claim 29, further comprising an oscillator and an ammeter operably connected to the extracorporeal signal-producing mechanism and configured to indicate an amount and a duration of a build-up of undesirable material on the implanted conductive appliance.

31. The medical device of claim 29, further comprising an extracorporeal sensor electromagnetically coupled to the implanted conductive appliance and configured to sense the motion reaction of the implanted conductive appliance and provide a corresponding signal to a receiver.

32. The medical device of claim 29, further comprising a therapeutic agent coupled to the implanted conductive appliance and actuatable in response to the motion reaction induced by the extracorporeal signal-producing mechanism.

33. The medical device of claim 29, further comprising a therapeutic agent coupled to the implanted conductive appliance and actuatable in response to a heating of the implanted conductive appliance that occurs subsequent the motion reaction.

24. A method of diagnosing a condition of an implanted medical appliance, comprising:

implanting a medical appliance that is substantially composed of a conductive material;

positioning a portion of a signal-producing mechanism in a location proximate the implanted medical appliance;

inducing a motion of the implanted medical appliance by utilizing the signal-producing mechanism to generate a signal capable of motion-producing interaction with the conductive material;

sweeping the signal over a plurality of frequencies, wherein at least one of the frequencies is a key frequency that induces a resonant response by the implanted appliance; and

identifying the key frequency.

29. A medical device comprising:

an implanted conductive appliance; and

an extracorporeal signal-producing mechanism that includes a plurality of wire loops substantially confined within a container, the extracorporeal signal-producing mechanism being electromagnetically coupled to the implanted conductive appliance and configured to induce a motion reaction by the implanted conductive appliance.