Measuring Conduction Velocity Using One or More Satellite Devices

• US 20080306394A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Biomedical, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zdeblick, Mark J., Robertson, Timothy, Savage, George M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/341 Vectorcardiography [VCG]

Abstract

A method for measuring the conduction velocity of a depolarization wave in a tissue employs a first satellite located within the tissue and a second that satellite is located within the tissue a distance away from the first satellite, e.g., by using the time of depolarization wave as reported from each satellite and the distance to determine velocity of the wave. Also provided are systems and kits that find use in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A method of determining conduction velocity of a depolarization wave in a tissue, said method comprising:

(a) determining a time interval between a first satellite'"'"'s reporting of a depolarization wave in said tissue and a second satellite'"'"'s reporting of a depolarization wave in said tissue, wherein said second satellite is located a distance away from said first satellite; and

(b) calculating said conduction velocity using said time interval and distance.

2. The method according to 1, wherein said first and second satellites are present on a lead.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said first and second satellites are coupled to at least one conductive element within said lead.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said lead comprises two wires and said first and second satellites are each coupled to said two wires.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said lead comprises a single wire and said first and second satellites are each coupled to said single wire.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said at least one conductive element is coupled to central controller.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein each satellite comprises at least one effector coupled to a circuit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises configuring said first and second satellites to report the presence of a depolarization wave.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said first and second satellites are configured sequentially.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said method further comprises coupling an effector of each of said satellites to at least one conductive element.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said coupling of said satellites is done sequentially.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises applying a stimulus to said tissue to produce said depolarization wave.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said stimulus is a pharmacological stimulus.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said pharmacological stimulus is applied by administering a medication.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said stimulus is an electrical stimulus.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said electrical stimulus is applied by causing said first satellite to depolarize said tissue.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said stimulus is a physical stimulus.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said physical stimulus is applied by a exercising a host that comprises said tissue.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said tissue is cardiac tissue.

46. A computer readable storage medium having a processing program stored thereon, wherein said processing program operates a system according to claim 37 to perform a method according to claim 1.

48. A processor comprising a computer readable medium according to claims 46 or 47.

49. A kit comprising:

a computer readable storage medium according to claims 46 or 47.

20. The method according to Clam 1, wherein said method further comprises obtaining first measure of conduction velocity from said first and second satellites and a second measure of conduction velocity from a third and fourth satellite, wherein said third and fourth satellites are positioned at a different location of said tissue.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said first and second satellites are present on a first lead and said third and fourth satellites are present on a second lead.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said method further comprises determining a direction of said depolarization wave in said tissue from said first and second measures of conduction velocity.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said method comprises evaluating the conductive properties of a portion of said tissue using said determined direction.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said evaluating comprises identifying a region of abnormal depolarization wave conduction.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein said evaluating comprises identifying pre-ischemic region of said tissue.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein said evaluating comprises identifying an ischemic region of said tissue.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said region of abnormal depolarization wave conduction is characterized by a non-linear wave propagation.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said non-linear wave propagation is a curvilinear propagation.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein said method further comprises applying a stimulus to said tissue in a manner sufficient to compensate for said region of abnormal depolarization wave conduction.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said method comprises employing a cardiac wavefront controller to apply said stimulus.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said cardiac wavefront controller applies an electrical stimulus to said tissue from two or more different effectors in a manner sufficient to compensate for said region of abnormal depolarization wave conduction.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said cardiac wavefront controller sequentially applies an electrical stimulus to said tissue from two or more different effectors.

33. A method of stimulating cardiac tissue, said method comprising:

identifying a region of abnormal depolarization wavefront conduction in cardiac tissue; and

applying a applying a stimulus to said tissue in a manner sufficient to compensate for said region of abnormal depolarization wave conduction.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said method comprises employing a cardiac wavefront controller to apply said stimulus.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein said cardiac wavefront controller applies an electrical stimulus to said tissue from two or more different effectors in a manner sufficient to compensate for said region of abnormal depolarization wave conduction.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said cardiac wavefront controller sequentially applies an electrical stimulus to said tissue from two or more different effectors.

47. A computer readable storage medium having a processing program stored thereon, wherein said processing program operates a system according to claim 37 to perform a method according to claim 33.

50. The kit according to claim 49, wherein said computer readable storage medium is present in a processor according to claim 47.

51. The kit according to claim 50, wherein said processor is present in an implantable control device.

37. A system for evaluating determining conduction velocity of a depolarization wave in a tissue, said system comprising:

(a) a first satellite and a second satellite positioned a distance away from said first satellite, wherein each of said first and second satellites is capable of reporting of a depolarization wave in said tissue; and

(b) a signal processing element configured to;

(i) determine a time interval between said first satellite'"'"'s reporting of a depolarization wave in said tissue and said second satellite'"'"'s reporting of a depolarization wave in said tissue; and

(ii) calculate a conduction velocity of a depolarization wave in said tissue using said time interval and distance.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein said first and second satellites are present on a lead.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein said first and second satellites are coupled to at least one conductive element within said lead.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said at least one conductive element is coupled to central controller.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein said signal processing element is present at said central controller.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein said central controller is present in an implantable control device.

43. The system according to claim 42, wherein said first and second satellites are present on a first lead and said system further comprises third and fourth satellites that present on a second lead.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein said signal processing element is further configured to determine a direction of a depolarization wave in said tissue from a first and second measure of conduction velocity.

45. The system according to claim 37, wherein said system further comprises a cardiac wavefront controller.