Posture detection system and method

• US 20050145246A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Hartley, Jesse W., Lee, Kent, Ni, Quan
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/285 Endotracheal, oesophageal or gastric probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/363 Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 : Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 : Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 : Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 : with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 : including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 : Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 : with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 : in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 : in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 : Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 : partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 : controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36535 : controlled by body position or posture

Abstract

A posture detection system includes an implantable device and a patient-external respiratory therapy device coupled via a communications channel. At least one of the implantable device and the patient-external respiratory therapy devices includes a posture detector. Posture information is transferred between the implantable device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device. The posture information may be used in connection with sleep detection or to modify therapy delivered by the implantable cardiac device and/or the patient-external respiratory therapy device.

Claims

1. A posture detection system, comprising:

an implantable cardiac device;

a patient-external respiratory therapy device; and

a communications channel between the implantable cardiac device and the a patient-external respiratory therapy device, the communications channel configured to transfer information between the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external therapy respiratory device, wherein at least one of the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device comprises one or more components of a posture detector, and the communications channel is configured to transfer at least posture information between the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-external respiratory device comprises the one or more components of the posture detector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable cardiac device comprises the one or more components of the posture detector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector is configured to discern between a sleep oriented posture and a non-sleep oriented posture.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector is configured to determine a positional orientation of a portion of a patient'"'"'s body.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-external respiratory therapy device comprises a respiratory mask and the posture detector is positioned on the respiratory mask.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the respiratory mask comprises a mask strap supported by the respiratory mask and the posture detector is positioned on the mask strap.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector is mechanically coupled to a patient'"'"'s body and the posture detector is communicatively coupled to a control unit of the respiratory therapy device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector comprises an accelerometer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector comprises an inclination sensitive sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device comprises a cardiac therapy device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the cardiac therapy device is configured to modify cardiac electrical stimulation therapy based on the patient posture information.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is configured to adapt a cardiac electrical stimulation therapy for disordered breathing based on the patient posture information.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the external respiratory therapy device is configured to modify external respiratory therapy based on the patient posture.

15. A posture detection method, comprising:

detecting posture using a sensor of a patient-external respiratory therapy device or a sensor of an implantable cardiac device; and

transmitting posture information between the patient-external respiratory therapy device and the implantable cardiac device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting therapy based on the posture information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the therapy comprises adjusting a disordered breathing therapy.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting a cardiac therapy delivered by the implantable cardiac device based on the posture information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the cardiac therapy comprises adjusting a cardiac pacing rate.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting respiratory therapy delivered by the patient-external respiratory therapy device based on the posture information.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the patient posture information to an advanced patient management system.

22. A posture detection system, comprising:

means for detecting posture using a sensor of a patient-external respiratory therapy device or a sensor of an implantable cardiac device; and

means for transmitting posture information between the patient-external respiratory therapy device and the implantable cardiac device.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for adjusting therapy based on the detected patient posture.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for adjusting a cardiac therapy based on the detected patient posture.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for adjusting a patient-external respiratory therapy based on the detected patient posture.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for adjusting a disordered breathing therapy based on the detected patient posture.