IMPLANT FOR SECURING A SENSOR IN A VESSEL

• US 20080108904A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Heil, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US11/872,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108904A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/066 catheters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means

Abstract

The present invention provides an implantation system for delivering and securing a sensor in a patient'"'"'s pulmonary artery. In general, the implantation system includes a pulse generator, a catheter, and a sensor coupled to the distal end of the catheter. The sensor is wireless and is adapted to communicate with the pulse generator or an external device.

Claims

1. A system for sensing and communicating a physiological parameter within a cardiac vessel, the system comprising:

a catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end;

a guiding element for delivering the distal end of the catheter to a target location in the vessel;

a sensor module coupled to the distal end of the catheter, the sensor module comprising electrical circuitry, at least one sensing element, and a communication element adapted for wireless communication; and

a pulse generator.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an external device adapted for wireless communication with the communication element of the sensor module.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generator is adapted for wireless communication with the sensor module.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a suture sleeve located at the proximal end of the catheter.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fixation member adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the catheter for securing the distal end of the catheter at the target location.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the fixation member is a variably flexible wire or sheath adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the catheter.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fixation member adapted to be advanced over a body of the catheter for securing the distal end of the catheter at the target location.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the fixation member is an external sheath.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the target location is a location within the pulmonary artery.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the target location is a location in proximity to the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing element is a blood pressure sensor.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor module extends away from the catheter at an angle toward the center of the vessel.

13. A system for delivering and securing a sensor in the pulmonary artery, the system comprising:

a catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end;

a sensor module coupled to the distal end of the catheter, the sensor module comprising a physiological sensor and a communication element adapted for wireless communication; and

at least one fixation member adapted to secure the catheter at a location within the pulmonary artery.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one device adapted for wireless communication with the communication element of the sensor module.

15. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a guiding element for delivering the distal end of the catheter to a target location within the pulmonary artery.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the fixation member is an internal fixation member adapted to be inserted into the lumen of the catheter.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the fixation member is an external fixation member adapted to be advanced over a body of the catheter.

18. A method for sensing and communicating a physiological parameter at a target location within the pulmonary artery, comprising:

coupling a sensor module adapted for wireless communication to a distal end of a catheter having a lumen;

inserting a guiding element into the lumen of the catheter;

guiding the catheter, including the sensor coupled to its distal end, through a patient'"'"'s vasculature system to the target location within the pulmonary artery;

positioning the sensor at the target location;

securing the catheter; and

communicating wirelessly with the sensor module.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising changing a fixation region of the catheter from a flexible state to a stiffened state.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising inserting one or more fixation members to a fixation region of the catheter.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising advancing one or more fixation members over a body of the catheter to a fixation region.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising repositioning the sensor module.

23. The method according to claim 18, further comprising retrieving the sensor module.