ACOUSTIC SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE OF LEFT VENTRICLE ASSIST DEVICES AND OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICES IMPLANTED IN A PATIENT'S BODY

• US 20120083682A1
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Klodell, Charles T., Gravenstein, Nikolaus, Schwab, Wilhelm K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,220,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/005 Detecting noise caused by implants, e.g. cardiac valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/026 comprising more than one sound collector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are related to apparatus and methods for acoustically monitoring the performance of a medical device disposed within the body of a patient. According to one embodiment of an apparatus, the apparatus includes at least one acoustic sensor and a computer system that is connected to receive information from the acoustic sensor, wherein the acoustic sensor is adapted to receive a set of acoustic information that corresponds to acoustic activity within the body of said patient. The computer system is adapted for: (A) receiving the set of acoustic information, and (B) using the set of acoustic information to calculate location information relating to a location of a source of the acoustic activity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for acoustically monitoring the performance of a medical device disposed within the body of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of acoustic sensors, wherein a first acoustic sensor is spaced apart from a second acoustic sensor; and

a computer system that is connected to receive information from said first and second acoustic sensors, wherein;

said first acoustic sensor is adapted to receive a first set of acoustic information that corresponds to acoustic activity within said body of said patient;

said second acoustic sensor is adapted to receive a second set of acoustic information corresponding to said acoustic activity within said body of said patient;

said computer system is adapted for;

(A) receiving said first and second sets of acoustic information, and

(B) using said first and second sets of acoustic information to calculate location information relating to a location of a source of said acoustic activity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer system is further adapted for using said location information to assess whether said source of said acoustic activity is said medical device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer system is further adapted for comparing at least one of said first set of acoustic information or said second set of acoustic information with acoustic information from within a library of acoustic information to assess a current mechanical state of said medical device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said computer system is further adapted for comparing at least one of said first set of acoustic information or said second set of acoustic information with acoustic information from within said library of acoustic information to assess whether at least one of said first set of acoustic information or said second set of acoustic information is indicative of a current or impending mechanical malfunction of said medical device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said medical device is a left ventricle assist device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said computer system is configured for calculating said location information regarding said location of said source of said acoustic activity based, at least in part, on:

(A) said first set of acoustic information;

(B) said second set of acoustic information; and

(C) information regarding a position of said first sensor relative to said second sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said apparatus comprises a belt;

said first and second acoustic sensors are attached adjacent said belt; and

said belt is adapted to be wrapped around said patient'"'"'s body while said first acoustic sensor receives said first set of acoustic information and while said second acoustic sensor receives said second set of acoustic information.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said belt is adapted to maintain said first acoustic sensor in a fixed position relative to said second acoustic sensor while said first sensor receives said first set of acoustic information and while said second acoustic sensor receives said second set of acoustic information.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said first and second acoustic sensors each adapted to be attached adjacent said belt in one of a plurality of positions;

said belt comprises a first set of one or more markings and/or target indicia, said first set of markings and/or target indicia being adapted to facilitate the attachment of said first acoustic sensor adjacent said belt in a first position; and

said belt comprises a second set of one or more markings and/or target indicia, said second set of markings and/or indicia being adapted to facilitate the attachment of said second acoustic sensor adjacent said belt in a second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

said first acoustic sensor comprises a window and a recticle disposed within said window, said recticle being adapted to facilitate positioning said first acoustic sensor in said first position by aligning at least a portion of said recticle with said first set of markings and/or target indicia.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said second acoustic sensor comprises a window and a recticle disposed within said window, said recticle is adapted to facilitate positioning said second acoustic sensor in said second position by aligning at least a portion of said recticle with said second set of markings and/or target indicia.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third acoustic sensor adapted to receive a third set of acoustic information corresponding to said acoustic activity within said body of said patient, wherein said computer system is adapted for (A) receiving said first, second, and third sets of information, and (B) using said first, second, and third sets of information to calculate location information relating to a location of a source of said acoustic activity.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first, second, and third acoustic sensors are positioned in a substantially triangular arrangement with respect to one another.

14. A method of determining information regarding the position of acoustic activity within a patient'"'"'s body, said method comprising:

positioning a plurality of acoustic sensors such that a first acoustic sensor is in a first position relative to said patient'"'"'s body and a second acoustic sensor is in a second position relative to said patient'"'"'s body;

using said first sensor to retrieve a first set of acoustic information that corresponds to said acoustic activity;

using said second sensor to retrieve a second set of acoustic information that corresponds to said acoustic activity; and

using said first and second sets of acoustic information, as well as location information regarding a position of said first sensor relative to said second sensor, to calculate information regarding a location of a source of said acoustic activity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said acoustic activity corresponds to noise generated by a medical device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said medical device is a left ventricle assist device

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising using said location information to assess whether said source of said acoustic activity is said medical device.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising comparing at least one of said first set of acoustic information or said second set of acoustic information with acoustic information from within a library of acoustic information to assess a current mechanical state of said medical device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising comparing at least one of said first set of acoustic information or said second set of acoustic information with acoustic information from within said library of acoustic information to assess whether said acoustic information is indicative of a current or impending mechanical malfunction of said medical device.

20. An apparatus for acoustically monitoring the performance of a medical device disposed within the body of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

at least one acoustic sensor;

a computer system that is connected to receive information from said acoustic sensor, wherein;

said acoustic sensor is adapted to receive a set of acoustic information that corresponds to acoustic activity within said body of said patient; and

said computer system is adapted for;

(A) receiving said set of acoustic information, and

(B) using said set of acoustic information to calculate location information relating to a location of a source of said acoustic activity.