Method and apparatus to perform transvascular hemodynamic sensing

• US 20090088651A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kane, Michael J., Shuros, Allan Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/904,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• 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

Abstract

An implantable transvascular pressure sensing device may include at least one deflection sensor configured to output a deflection signal indicative of vascular wall deflections. A implantable transvascular pressure sensing device may further include an implantable sensor support member attached to the deflection sensor, the sensor support member configured to facilitate contact between the deflection sensor and a first vessel wall at a portion of a first vessel proximate a second vessel, wherein the portion of the first vessel wall is adjacent to the second vessel such that wall deflections of the second vessel deflect the portion of the first vessel wall. A method of measuring a parameter of a vessel can include generating a deflection signal from a sensor within a vein, the deflection signal indicative of venous wall deflections of the vein, and determining a parameter value associated with a vessel contacting the vein using the deflection signal.

Claims

1. An implantable transvascular pressure sensing device, comprising:

at least one deflection sensor configured to output a deflection signal indicative of vascular wall deflections; and

an implantable sensor support member attached to the deflection sensor, the sensor support member configured to facilitate contact between the deflection sensor and a first vessel wall at a portion of a first vessel proximate a second vessel, wherein the portion of the first vessel wall is adjacent to the second vessel such that wall deflections of the second vessel deflect the portion of the first vessel wall.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to determine the pressure within the second vessel based on the signal indicative of first vessel wall deflections.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising at least one reference sensor configured to be positionally maintained within the first vessel and out of contact with the portion of the first vessel, the reference sensor further configured to output a reference signal, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine the pressure in the second vessel using the deflection signal indicative of first vessel wall deflections and the reference signal.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured determine a heart rate based on the deflection signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first vessel is a coronary vein and the second vessel is a left circumflex coronary artery.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor support member comprises a stent.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor support member comprises a coil.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor support member comprises a helix.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to facilitate and maintain a point of contact between the first vessel and the second vessel, the point of contact proximate one of the deflection sensor.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor support member comprises a lead.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the deflection sensor comprises an optical fiber sensor.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the deflection sensor comprises one or more accelerometers.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the deflection sensor comprises one or more pressure transducers.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the deflection sensor comprises one or more strain gauges.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the deflection sensor comprises one or more electrodes configured to sense impedance of the first vessel.

16. A method of measuring a parameter of a vessel, the method comprising:

generating a deflection signal from a sensor within a vein, the deflection signal indicative of venous wall deflections of the vein; and

determining a parameter value associated with a vessel contacting the vein using the deflection signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the parameter is pressure.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating a reference signal from a reference sensor located within the vein but spaced apart from the sensor, the reference signal indicative of venous wall deflection of the vein; and

determining the parameter value using the deflection signal and the reference signal.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the vessel is an artery.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the vein is a coronary vein and the vessel is a left circumflex coronary artery.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising supporting the sensor using one or more of a stent, a helix, and an annular support member within the vein such that the sensor maintains contact with a wall of the vein, the wall of the vein in contact with the wall of the vessel.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising placing a vein biasing structure within the vein, the vein biasing structure biasing the vein such that an outer surface of the vein maintains contact with an outer surface of the vessel at a point of contact proximate the sensor.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising extending an anti-tachycardia pacing interval based on the parameter indicating a state of blood flow in the vessel.

24. A system for measuring a parameter of a vessel, the method comprising:

means for generating a deflection signal from a sensor within a vein, the deflection signal indicative of venous wall deflections of the vein; and

means for determining a parameter value associated with a vessel contacting the vein using the deflection signal.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for generating a reference signal from a reference sensor located within the vein but spaced apart from the sensor, the reference signal indicative of venous wall deflection of the vein; and

means for determining the parameter value using the deflection signal and the reference signal.