Apparatus for minimally invasive calibration of implanted pressure transducers

• US 20040019285A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Whiting, James, Eigler, Neal, Mann, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing

Abstract

This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for the calibration of implanted pressure transducers. It is an object of several embodiments of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods for the calibration of one or more implanted pressure transducers implanted in the body of medical patients. Various embodiments of the present invention are particularly advantageous because they offer a calibration system that is less invasive than the systems currently available.

Claims

1. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

one or more first sensors for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location at least partially within a medical patient;

one or more second sensors for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to a medical patent; and

a perturbation, wherein said perturbation is operable to calibrate said one or more first sensors based upon said first and second measured pressures.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said perturbation is operable to calibrate said one or more first sensors based upon an absolute pressure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said perturbation is operable to calibrate said one or more first sensors based upon a reference pressure.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said reference pressure is the second measured pressure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said perturbation is operable to calibrate said one or more first sensors based upon a gauge pressure.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said gauge pressure is the second measured pressure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more second sensors comprises an obstructed mouthpiece.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said obstructed mouthpiece comprises a manometer.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying the second measured pressure.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a signal conditioning apparatus.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit of a digital computer.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a comparator operable to compare the first and second measured pressures during the perturbation.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a calibrator operable to adjust said at least one calibration parameter.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a calibrator operable to calibrate said one or more first sensors.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one calibration parameter.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an instruction module operable to provide a patient instruction.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is to perform a calibration procedure.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is to recalibrate said one or more second sensors.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is to contact a physician.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is provided when said first measured pressure falls outside of a previously determined range.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is provided when said second measured pressure falls outside of a previously determined range.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is provided when a difference between said first measured pressure and said second measured pressure falls outside a previously determined range.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is provided when a temperature falls outside of a previously determined range.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is provided when a date falls outside of a previously determined range.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is to initiate said perturbation.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein said patient instruction is to control said perturbation.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic therapy delivery device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said automatic therapy delivery device comprises an automatic drug delivery device.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said automatic therapy delivery device comprises a cardiac defibrillator.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein said automatic therapy delivery device comprises a pacemaker.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein said automatic therapy delivery device comprises an oral drug management system.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein said automatic therapy delivery device comprises a therapy level.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said therapy level depends at least in part on said first and second measured pressures.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein said automatic therapy delivery device comprises a therapy type.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said therapy level depends at least in part on said first and second measured pressures.

36. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of the first measured pressure to a receiver.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said transmitter comprises a radio frequency inductive coupling.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein said transmitter generates a radio frequency signal.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein said transmitter generates a digital signal.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein said transmitter generates an analog signal.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein said receiver comprises a hand-held digital communication device.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein said receiver comprises a computer.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein said receiver comprises a telephone.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein said receiver comprises a personal digital assistant.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein said receiver comprises a monitor.

46. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

one or more first sensors for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location at least partially within a medical patient;

one or more second sensors for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to the medical patent; and

a comparator to compare said first and second measured pressures.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said comparator is a digital computer.

48. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

one or more first sensors for generating a first signal indicative of a first pressure at a first location at least partially within a medical patient;

one or more second sensors for generating a second signal indicative of a second pressure at a second location with respect to the medical patent; and

at least one perturbation, wherein said at least one perturbation is operable to calibrate said one or more first sensors based upon said first and second measured pressures.

49. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

one or more first sensors for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location at least partially within a medical patient;

one or more second sensors for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to the medical patent; and

a calibration device, wherein said calibration device is operable to compare said first and second measured pressures and adjust at least one calibration parameter.

50. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

one or more first sensors for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location at least partially within a medical patient;

one or more second sensors for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to the medical patent; and

a perturbation operable to calibrate said one or more first sensors based upon said second measured pressure.

51. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

a first means for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location inside of a medical patent;

a second means for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to a medical patent; and

a perturbation, wherein said perturbation is operable to calibrate said first means based upon said first and second measured pressures.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein said first means comprises one or more sensors.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein said second means comprises one or more sensors.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein said means for inducing a pressure perturbation comprises one or more perturbers.

55. The system of claim 51, further comprising means for displaying the second measured pressure to a patient.

56. The system of claim 51, further comprising a signal conditioning apparatus.

57. The system of claim 51, further comprising a central processing unit of a digital computer.

58. The system of claim 51, further comprising at least one calibration parameter.

59. The system of claim 51, further comprising at least one calibration coefficient.

60. The system of claim 51, further comprising an instruction module wherein said instruction module provides a patient instruction.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein said patient instruction is to recalibrate said first sensor.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein said patient instruction is to recalibrate said second sensor.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein said patient instruction is to contact a physician.

64. The system of claim 60, wherein said patient instruction is provided when said first measured pressure falls outside of a previously determined range.

65. The system of claim 60, wherein said patient instruction is provided when said second measured pressure falls outside of a previously determined range.

66. The system of claim 60, wherein said patient instruction is provided when a temperature falls outside of a previously determined range.

67. The system of claim 60, wherein said patient instruction is provided when a date falls outside of a previously determined range.

68. The system of claim 60, further comprising an automatic drug delivery device.

69. The system of claim 60, further comprising a cardiac defibrillator.

70. The system of claim 60, further comprising a pacemaker.

71. The system of claim 60, further comprising an oral drug management system.

72. The system of claim 60, further comprising a means for transmitting a signal indicative of the first measured pressure to a means for receiving.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for transmitting comprises a radio frequency inductive coupling.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for transmitting generates a radio frequency signal.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for transmitting generates a digital signal.

76. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for transmitting generates an analog signal.

77. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for receiving comprises a hand-held digital communication device.

78. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for receiving comprises a computer.

79. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for receiving comprises a telephone.

80. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for receiving comprises a personal digital assistant.

81. The system of claim 72, wherein said means for receiving comprises a monitor.

82. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

a first means for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location inside of a medical patent;

a second means for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to the medical patent; and

a perturbation, wherein said perturbation is operable to calibrate said first means with respect to said second means.

83. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

a first means for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location inside of a medical patent;

a second means for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to the medical patent; and

a perturbation, wherein said perturbation is operable to calibrate said first means with respect to said second measured pressure.

84. A pressure measurement calibration system comprising:

a first means for measuring a first measured pressure at a first location inside of a medical patent;

a second means for measuring a second measured pressure at a second location with respect to the medical patent; and

a means for perturbing, wherein said means for perturbing is operable to calibrate said first means based upon said first and second measured pressures.

85. A calibration monitor for a pressure measurement system located at least partially inside of a medical patient, comprising:

a recorder to measure a first atmospheric pressure at a first time and a second atmospheric pressure after a sampling period;

a processor to calculate the difference between the first atmospheric pressure and the second atmospheric pressure; and

an instruction, provided to said medical patient based upon said difference.

86. The calibration monitor of claim 85, wherein said instruction is to recalibrate said pressure measurement system.

87. The calibration monitor of claim 85, wherein said instruction is to contact a medical care provider.