Impedance-based bladder sensing
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- emitting an electrical signal from a first electrode implanted proximate to a wall of a bladder of a patient at a first location;
receiving the electrical signal via a second electrode implanted proximate to the wall of the bladder at a second location; and
detecting an impedance through the bladder based on the signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems that sense the volume, activity or other parameters of the urinary bladder are described. The systems include at least two electrodes that are implanted at respective locations proximate the wall of the bladder, and may be located substantially opposite each other with respect to a center of the bladder. At least one of the electrodes receives an electrical signal emitted by another of the electrodes. Systems according to the invention detect an impedance through the bladder based on the signal, e.g., based on one or both of the current or voltage of the signal. Based on the detected impedance, the systems sense one or more parameters of the bladder, such as volume, activity, or the like, which influence the impedance. The detected impedance, or bladder parameter information derived from the impedance, may be stored for short- or long-term monitoring, or used to control delivery of a therapy to a patient.
65 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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emitting an electrical signal from a first electrode implanted proximate to a wall of a bladder of a patient at a first location;
receiving the electrical signal via a second electrode implanted proximate to the wall of the bladder at a second location; and
detecting an impedance through the bladder based on the signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a first electrode implanted proximate to a wall of a bladder of a patient at a first location;
a second electrode implanted proximate to the wall of the bladder at a second location; and
impedance measurement circuitry electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes that emits an electrical signal via the first electrode, receives the electrical signal via the second electrode, and detects an impedance through the bladder based on the signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system comprising:
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an implantable module implanted on or within a wall of a bladder of a patient;
a first electrode electrically coupled to the implantable module and located proximate to the wall of the bladder at a first location; and
a second electrode electrically coupled to the implantable module and located proximate to the wall of the bladder at a second location, wherein the implantable module emits an electrical signal via the first electrode, detects the electrical signal via the second electrode, detects an impedance through the bladder based on the signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification