Apparatus and method for detecting lung sounds using an implanted device

• US 20060025827A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Zhu, Quingsheng, Hatlesad, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,578,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• 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

Adventitious lung sounds indicative of lung congestion are detected using an implantable sensor. The sensor is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a pulmonary system and to output signals indicative of lung sounds in response to pulmonary system activity. A controller receives the signals and processes the signals to detect the presence of adventitious lung sounds. A respiratory cycle sensor operating in conjunction with the lung-sound sensor enables classification of an adventitious lung sound according to its time occurrence within the respiratory cycle. Posture sensing in conjunction with lung-sound sensing provides valuable additional information as to the severity of the lung congestion.

Claims

1. An implantable system comprising:

an implantable sensor adapted to be positioned adjacent to a pulmonary system and to output signals indicative of lung sounds;

at least one stimulating lead adapted to be positioned within a heart;

a pulse generator adapted to output electrical pulses to the lead; and

a controller adapted to receive the lung-sound signals, to monitor the lung-sound signals for the presence of adventitious lung sounds and to control the output of the pulse generator in response to the characteristics of the adventitious lung sounds.