METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING VASCULAR HEALTH CONDITIONS

• US 20080255471A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endothelix Co., Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Endothelix, Inc., Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Timothy J., Naghavi, Morteza, Kharalkar, Nachiket
• Granted Patent: US 8,551,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals

Abstract

The present invention relates to assessing and measuring vascular and endothelial function. A vasostimulant is provided to a patient to stimulate hemodynamic activity in a selected extremity and vascular function is assessed by monitoring a change in a blood flow, skin temperature and/or blood oxygen content at the selected extremity and assessing the patient'"'"'s vascular function based upon the monitoring.

Claims

1. A method for assessing vascular function, comprising:

a. providing a vasodilating stimulant to a patient to stimulate hemodynamic activity in a selected region of the patient'"'"'s body;

b. monitoring a change in the hemodynamic parameter at the selected region; and

c. assessing the patient'"'"'s vascular function based upon the monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a vasodilating stimulant comprises:

a. occluding blood flow to the selected region for a predetermined period of time; and

b. ceasing the occlusion after the predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hemodynamic parameter is temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises measuring changes in temperature at one of the patient'"'"'s fingertips.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a vasodilating stimulant comprises occluding blood flow to at least one of:

(i) a leg, (ii), ankle, (iii) toe, (iv) arm, (v) wrist, and (vi) a finger.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring occurs from a time prior to the beginning of said compression until a time after the hemodynamic parameter has stabilized.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising plotting the measured changes in temperature as a function of time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising additional monitoring by a method selected from the group consisting of:

photoplethysmography, ultrasound Doppler, laser Doppler, and oximetry.

9. A method for assessing vascular function in a patient, comprising:

a) measuring a stable baseline temperature at a selected region of the patient;

b) providing a vasostimulant to the patient;

c) measuring a change in temperature at the selected region after provision of the vasostimulant;

d) assessing the patient'"'"'s vascular function based upon the temperature change.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected region is a digit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the digit is a finger and the temperature is measured on a fingertip.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a vasostimulant comprises occluding blood flow to the selected region for a predetermined period of time and ceasing compression after the predetermined period of time, wherein the selected region consists of one or more of:

a leg, ankle, toe, arm, wrist, and a finger.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the measuring is conducted from a time prior to the administration of the vasostimulant until a time after a stable temperature is reached after provision of the vasostimulant.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising plotting the measured temperature as a function of time.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising additional monitoring by a method selected from the group consisting of:

photoplethysmography, ultrasound Doppler, laser Doppler, and oximetry.

16. A method for determining a vascular function status in a patient comprising:

a) initiating monitoring of temperature at a selected region of the patient until a stable temperature is reached;

b) while continuing the monitoring, occluding blood flow to the selected region for a predetermined period of time to stimulate hemodynamic activity, and ceasing the occlusion after the predetermined period of time;

c) continuing monitoring of the temperature until the temperature of the selected region has stabilized after ceasing the occlusion; and

d) assessing the patient'"'"'s vascular function status based upon changes in the monitored temperature.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising plotting the monitored temperature as a function of time.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected region is finger and the temperature is measured on a fingertip.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the blood flow is occluded at one or more region selected from the group consisting of:

a leg, ankle, toe, arm, wrist, and a finger.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising additional monitoring by a method selected from the group consisting of:

photoplethysmography, ultrasound Doppler, laser Doppler, and oximetry.