Method and apparatus for sensing cardiac contractile function
First Claim
1. A method of detecting and measuring cardiac contractile functions using a signal representative of cardiac wall movement provided by an acceleration sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing said acceleration sensor unit into a vein of a cardiac wall;
positioning said acceleration sensor unit in said vein of said cardiac wall in a manner such that said acceleration sensor unit responds to movement of said cardiac wall and provides said signal representative of cardiac wall movement; and
connecting said acceleration sensor unit to an electronic device.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function of a heart using an acceleration sensor unit inserted within the heart, such as within a vein of the cardiac wall are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of electrical events within the patient'"'"'s heart by inserting and positioning an implantable lead having an electrode near a cardiac wall as well as detecting mechanical events within the patient'"'"'s heart by then inserting and positioning a cardiac motion sensor unit through the inner lumen of the implantable lead. Furthermore, the systems and methods do not require dedicated leads and may be used with preexisting implantable leads.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of detecting and measuring cardiac contractile functions using a signal representative of cardiac wall movement provided by an acceleration sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
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introducing said acceleration sensor unit into a vein of a cardiac wall;
positioning said acceleration sensor unit in said vein of said cardiac wall in a manner such that said acceleration sensor unit responds to movement of said cardiac wall and provides said signal representative of cardiac wall movement; and
connecting said acceleration sensor unit to an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of detecting and measuring cardiac contractile functions of a heart using a signal representative of cardiac wall movement provided by an acceleration sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
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inserting a guide element along an inner lumen of an implantable lead;
introducing said implantable lead into said heart;
positioning said implantable lead within said heart using said guide element;
removing said guide element from said inner lumen of said implantable lead; and
subsequent to removing said guide element, inserting said acceleration sensor unit along said inner lumen of said implantable lead. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21)
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14. A method of creating a sensor for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function, said method comprising the steps of:
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inserting a cardiac motion sensor along an inner lumen of an implantable lead; and
positioning said cardiac motion sensor within said inner lumen of said implantable lead such that said cardiac motion sensor remains mobile relative to the longitudinal axis of said implantable lead. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification