Intracranial pressure monitoring system

• US 20060020224A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Geiger, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/976,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020224A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/561
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a system and method for monitoring ICP within a patient on a continuous or periodic basis over an extended period of time. In some situations, a care-giver may want to record ICP measurements over a longer period of time to obtain trend data. A system for monitoring ICP includes a shroud-like, inductive power transmitted element designed to surround at least a substantial portion of a patient'"'"'s head and power an implanted ICP monitor. The shroud-like element may be a table-mounted device that arcs over the width of the table or bed, providing room for the patient'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. A system for sensing intracranial pressure (ICP), the system comprising:

an implantable ICP monitor for implantation in a head of a patient;

an inductive power transmitting element sized to extend over at least a substantial portion of the head of the patient and inductively power the ICP monitor; and

an external monitor to receive a transmitted ICP signal from the ICP monitor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inductive power transmitting element defines an opening to receive the head of the patient, the inductive power transmitting element including an inductive coil to inductively power the ICP monitor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external monitor is coupled to receive the transmitted ICP signal from the inductive power transmitting element.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the inductive power transmitting element includes a shroud-like element defining an opening to receive the head of the patient.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the shroud-like element has a hemispherical shape.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the external monitor includes a power generator to drive the inductive power transmitting element.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the external monitor includes a display to present information based on the transmitted ICP signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the inductive power transmitting element powers the ICP monitor over a substantially continuous period of time to cause the ICP monitor to transmit the ICP signal on a substantially continuous basis.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the inductive power transmitting element is coupled to a support platform for the patient.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the ICP monitor includes an inductive coil to receive power from the inductive power transmitting element, a pressure sensor, a telemetry interface to transmit the ICP signal, and a power generation circuit to convert the power into operating power for the pressure sensor and the telemetry interface.

11. A system for sensing intracranial pressure (ICP), the system comprising:

an inductive power transmitting element sized to extend over at least a substantial portion of a head of the patient and inductively power an ICP monitor implanted in the head of the patient;

an external monitor to receive the transmitted ICP signal from the ICP monitor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the inductive power transmitting element defines an opening to receive the head of the patient, the frame including an inductive coil to inductively power the ICP monitor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the external monitor is coupled to receive the transmitted ICP signal from the inductive power transmitting element.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the inductive power transmitting element includes a shroud-like element defining an opening to receive the head of the patient.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the external monitor includes a power generator to drive the inductive power transmitting element.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the inductive power transmitting element powers the ICP monitor over a substantially continuous period of time to cause the ICP monitor to transmit the ICP signal on a substantially continuous basis.

17. A system for sensing intracranial pressure (ICP), the system comprising:

means, extending over a substantial portion of the head of a patient, for inductively powering an ICP monitor implanted in the head of the patient; and

means for receiving the transmitted ICP signal from the ICP monitor via the means for inductively powering the ICP monitor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for inductively powering the ICP monitor defines an opening to receive the head of the patient, the frame including an inductive coil to inductively power the ICP monitor.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for powering the inductive power transmitting element.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for inductively powering the ICP monitor powers the ICP monitor over a substantially continuous period of time to cause the ICP monitor to transmit the ICP signal on a substantially continuous basis.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for receiving the transmitted ICP signal includes the means for inductively powering the ICP monitor as an antenna and a means for monitoring an output of the means for inductively powering the ICP monitor.

22. A method for sensing intracranial pressure (ICP), the method comprising:

powering an inductive power transmitting element sized to extend over at least a substantial portion of the head of the patient to inductively power an ICP monitor implanted in the head of the patient; and

receiving an ICP signal transmitted by the ICP monitor via an output of the inductive power transmitting element.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the inductive power transmitting element defines an opening to receive the head of the patient, the frame including an inductive coil to inductively power the ICP monitor.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the inductive power transmitting element includes a shroud-like element defining an opening to receive the head of the patient.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the shroud-like element has a hemispherical shape.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising powering the inductive power transmitting element to power the ICP monitor over a substantially continuous period of time to cause the ICP monitor to transmit the ICP signal on a substantially continuous basis.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the inductive power transmitting element is coupled to a support platform for the patient.