METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR NON-INVASIVE IMPLANTABLE PRESSURE SENSOR CALIBRATION

• US 20090299672A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yang, Gutfinger, Dan E., Zou, Yongning
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02156 Calibration means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02158 provided with two or more sensor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/005 Apparatus for calibrating pressure sensors

Abstract

An economical, repeatable, and non-invasive method and apparatus for the calibration of implantable pressure sensors that can minimize patient discomfort and risk of infection. In one embodiment, a calibration system for calibrating a first pressure sensor coupled to a management device and implanted into a human patient is provided. The calibration system includes a mouthpiece, a pump, a second pressure sensor, and a computer. The pump provides a positive pressure into an airway of the human patient via the mouthpiece. The second pressure sensor measures the airway pressure of the human patient, and the computer is coupled to the pump and monitors pressures measured by the first and second pressure sensors. Here, the computer also calculates one or more calibration constants based on the pressures measured by the first and second pressure sensors and provides the calibration constants to the management device to calibrate the first pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A calibration system for calibrating a first pressure sensor coupled to a management device and implanted into a human patient, the calibration system comprising:

a mouthpiece adapted to provide a positive pressure into an airway of the human patient;

a pump adapted to provide the pressure to the mouthpiece;

a second pressure sensor adapted to measure the airway pressure of the human patient; and

a computer coupled to the pump and adapted to monitor pressures measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor,

wherein the computer is adapted to calculate at least one calibration constant based on the pressures measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor and to provide the at least one calibration constant to the management device coupled to the first pressure sensor to calibrate the first pressure sensor.

2. The calibration system of claim 1, further comprising a one-way valve coupled between the pump and the mouthpiece and adapted to allow air to flow into but not out of the human patient.

3. The calibration system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure release valve coupled between the pump and the mouthpiece to prevent an over-pressure effect.

4. The calibration system of claim 1, wherein the computer sends the at least one calibration constant to the management device through a wireless link to calibrate the first sensor.

5. The calibration system of claim 1, wherein the computer includes a video monitor adapted to display the pressures measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.

6. The calibration system of claim 1, wherein the management device is a cardiac management device.

7. The calibration system of claim 1, wherein the second pressure sensor is an external reference pressure sensor.

8. The calibration system of claim 1, wherein the second pressure sensor is integrated within the computer.

9. The calibration system of claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor is a left atrial pressure sensor.

10. The calibration system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pneumatic abdomen strap adapted to wrap around the abdomen of the patient; and

a second pump adapted to inflate the pneumatic abdomen strap.

11. The calibration system of claim 10, wherein the computer controls the second pump to inflate the pneumatic abdomen strap to push up the diaphragm of the human patient and prevent the diaphragm from expanding downwards.

12. The calibration system of claim 10, wherein the second pump adapted to inflate the pneumatic abdomen strap is integrated into the pump adapted to provide the pressure to the mouthpiece.

13. The calibration system of claim 1, further comprising:

an abdominal muscle stimulation strap adapted to wrap around the abdomen of the patient; and

a muscle stimulator adapted to stimulate the abdominal muscle of the human patient via the abdominal muscle.

14. The calibration system of claim 13, wherein the computer controls the muscle stimulator to contract the abdominal muscle to push up the diaphragm of the human patient and prevent the diaphragm from expanding downwards.

15. The calibration system of claim 1, further comprising:

an adjustable abdomen strap adapted to wrap around the abdomen of the patient and to keep the diaphragm from expanding.

16. A method of calibrating a first pressure sensor coupled to a management device and implanted into a human patient, the method comprising:

placing a mouthpiece on the human patient;

pumping air into the lung of the human patient through the mouthpiece;

measuring at least one first pressure using the first pressure sensor implanted into the human patient;

measuring at least one second pressure using a second pressure sensor;

calculating at least one calibration constant based on the at least one first pressure and the at least one second pressure; and

providing at least one calibration constant to the management device coupled to the first pressure sensor to calibrate the first pressure sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying the at least one first pressure and the at least one second pressure respectively measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor on a video monitor to provide a visual feedback.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

wrapping an abdomen strap around the abdomen of the human patient.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

inflating the abdomen strap to push up the diaphragm of the human patient and prevent the diaphragm from expanding downwards.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

stimulating the abdominal muscle of the human patient via the abdomen strap to push up the diaphragm of the human patient and prevent the diaphragm from expanding downwards.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

adjusting the abdomen strap to push up the diaphragm of the human patient and prevent the diaphragm from expanding downwards.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the second pressure sensor is external to the human patient.