Body-associated fluid transport structure evaluation devices

• US 20090131767A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zdeblick, Mark, Colliou, Olivier, Jensen, Marc, Arne, Lawrence W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/242 Detecting biomagnetic fields, e.g. magnetic fields produced by bioelectric currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6862 Stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3655 Arterio-venous shunts or fistulae
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3656 Monitoring patency or flow at connection sites; Detecting disconnections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3661 for haemodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3663 Flow rate transducers; Flow integrators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side

Abstract

Implantable devices for evaluating body-associated fluid transport structures and methods for using the same are provided. In some instances, the implantable devices include an elongated structure with at least one hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor stably associated therewith and a transmitter. The devices find use in a variety of different applications, including monitoring the function of various types of body-associated fluid transport structures, such as arteriovenous fistulae, vascular grafts, catheters, cerebrospinal fluid shunts, and implantable central venous access devices.

Claims

1. An implantable device comprising:

an elongated structure having at least one hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor, wherein the elongated structure is configured to position the hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor in sensing relationship with fluid in a body-associated fluid transport structure; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data obtained from the hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor to a location remote from the implantable device.

2. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is positioned on the elongated structure at a distance from the at least one hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor.

3. The implantable device according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter is positioned at one end of the elongated structure.

4. The implantable device according to claim 3, wherein the device comprises at least two hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensors.

5. The implantable device according to claim 4, wherein the at least two hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensors are each connected to the transmitter by their own signal conductor.

6. The implantable device according to claim 4, wherein the at least two hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensors are connected to the transmitter by a common signal conductor.

7. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the implantable device further comprises a power source.

8. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated structure is flexible.

9. The implantable device according to claim 8, wherein the elongated structure is configured to bound a body-associated fluid transport structure.

10. The implantable device according to claim 9, wherein the body-associated fluid transport structure is a graft.

11. The implantable device according to claim 9, wherein the body associated fluid transport structure is a surgically-created arteriovenous fistula.

12. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated structure comprises a fluid transport structure.

13. The implantable device according to claim 12, wherein the implantable device is a cerebrospinal fluid shunt.

14. The implantable device according to claim 12, wherein the device is a device for transferring fluid between an exterior location and an internal body location.

15. The implantable device according to claim 14, wherein the device is a dialysis device.

16. The implantable device according to claim 14, wherein the device is a implantable central venous access device.

17. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one hermetically sealed ultrasound reflector.

18. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a processor configured to process data obtained from the at least one sensor to determine a fluid transport structure parameter.

19. A system for evaluating fluid flow, the system comprising:

an elongated structure having at least one hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor, wherein the elongated structure is configured to position the hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor in sensing relationship with fluid in a body-associated fluid transport structure;

a transmitter configured to transmit data obtained from the hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor to an external unit; and

an external unit configured to receive the data from the transmitter.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the elongated structure is configured to bound a body-associated fluid transport structure.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the elongated structure comprises a body-associated fluid transport structure.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein the external unit comprises a processor configured to process data obtained from the transmitter to determine a fluid transport structure parameter.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter comprises a processor configured to process fluid transport structure data to determine a fluid transport structure parameter.

24. A method of determining a parameter of a body-associated fluid transport structure, the method comprising:

obtaining fluid transport structure data from at least one hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor, wherein the elongated structure is configured to position the hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor in sensing relationship with a fluid; and

determining a fluid transport structure parameter from the obtained fluid transport structure data.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the method is a method of determining the functionality of the body-associated fluid transport structure.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the fluid transport structure parameter is a measure of decreased or absent flow through the body-associated fluid transport structure.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the fluid transport structure parameter is a measure of a complication.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the complication is trauma.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the complication is infection.

30. A kit comprising:

(a) a device for evaluating a fluid transport structure, the device comprising;

(i) an elongated structure having at least one hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor, wherein the elongated structure is configured to position the hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor in sensing relationship with fluid in a body-associated fluid transport structure; and

(i) a transmitter configured to transmit data obtained from the hermetically sealed integrated circuit sensor to a location remote from the implantable device; and

(b) an external unit for receiving the data from the transmitter.

31. An implantable device comprising at least one hermetically sealed ultrasound reflector.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein the ultrasound reflector comprises a resonator present in a sealed cavity.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the resonator comprises a high modulus alloy