SENSOR FOR EDEMA

• US 20080058885A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Belalcazar, Andres, Stahmann, Jeffrey E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• 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 1/3704 Circuits specially adapted therefor, e.g. for sensitivity control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply

Abstract

A sensor is located within the body of a subject, such as for capturing pacing pulses transmitted as part of cardiac therapy from an implanted cardiac function management device. Counted pulses may be used to derive the onset of pulmonary edema within the body through pulse characteristics such as frequency and amplitude. The sensor may be anchored within mediastinal pleura or the airway of the body with the ability to communicate wirelessly to one or more other medical devices, such as an implanted cardiac function management device. It may also adjust transmission of the communication to discriminate among multiple sensors. Methods of use are also described.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first sensor, at least a portion of which is adapted to reside in a body of a subject, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a physiological first parameter via a first and a second electrode;

an energy storage device, coupled to the first sensor for storing energy received from the first sensor; and

an energy collection circuit, coupled to the energy storage device configured to detect energy pulses received from outside of the first sensor, the energy collection circuit further configured to release the energy stored in the energy storage device upon reaching a limit.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the first detector is configured to capture energy received from a pulse delivered by a cardiac function management device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes a communication module configured to transmit information about the first parameter via the first and second electrodes.

4. The system of claim 3, in which the communication module of the first sensor is configured to transmit information wirelessly, and comprises one or more of an ultrasonic transmitter, an inductive transmitter, and a body conductive transmitter.

5. The system of claim 4, in which the communication module is configured to transmit information synchronous to a pacing pulse delivered by a cardiac function management device.

6. The system of claim 5, in which the communication module is configured to adjust transmission of information to permit communication from at least a second separate and unattached sensor module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is sized and shaped to be fixated within the airway of a subject.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is sized and shaped to be fixated within the mediastinal pleura region of a subject.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to fixate at least a portion of the first sensor within the airway of a subject.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to fixate at least a portion of the first sensor within the mediastinal pleura region of a subject.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a cardiac function management device configured to transmit pacing pulses.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first sensor is located approximately 2 cm from a lead of the cardiac function management device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is configured to capacitively store the received energy.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the detected energy pulses have an amplitude and a frequency characteristic which is indicative of a tissue fluid accumulation.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a separate and unattached medical device configured to indicate a tissue fluid accumulation as a function of the detected energy pulses.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor indicates a tissue fluid accumulation as a function of the detected energy pulses.

17. A method comprising:

detecting pulses from an implantable cardiac rhythm management device using an at least partially implantable sensor at a first location within a body of a subject;

storing energy received from the pulses;

accumulating energy until a limit is reached; and

releasing the stored energy when the accumulated energy reaches the limit.

18. The method of claim 17, in which the detecting pulses comprise pacing pulses delivered by a cardiac function management device.

19. The method of claim 18, in which the detecting occurs approximately 2 cm from a lead of the cardiac function management device.

20. The method of claim 17, in which the detecting pulses comprise an amplitude and a frequency characteristic which is indicative of a tissue fluid accumulation.

21. The method of claim 17, in which the storing of energy comprises capacitive storage.

22. The method of claim 17, in which the accumulating of energy comprises counting pacing pulses delivered by a cardiac function management device.

23. The method of claim 17, in which the releasing of the stored energy comprises wirelessly communicating the information to a separate and unattached implantable medical device.

24. The method of claim 23, in which the wirelessly communicating includes one or more of acoustic communication, inductive communication, and communication using the body as an electrical signal conductor.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining fluid accumulation by the at least partially implantable sensor.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining fluid accumulation by a separate and unattached medical device.

27. A system comprising:

means for detecting pulses from an implantable cardiac rhythm management device using an at least partially implantable sensor at a first location within a body of a subject;

means for storing energy received from the pulses;

means for accumulating energy until a limit is reached; and

means for releasing the stored energy when the accumulated energy reaches the limit.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the detecting pulses comprise pacing pulses delivered by a cardiac function management device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the detecting pulses occur approximately 2 cm from a lead of the cardiac function management device.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the detecting pulses include an amplitude and a frequency characteristic which is indicative of a tissue fluid accumulation.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for storing energy comprises means for storing capacitively.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the accumulating energy comprises counting pacing pulses delivered by a cardiac function management device.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for releasing the stored energy comprises means for wirelessly communicating the information to a separate and unattached implantable medical device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the wirelessly communicating comprises one or more of acoustic communication, inductive communication, and communication using the body as an electrical signal conductor.