IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH CHEMICAL SENSOR AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20120197231A1
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kane, Michael John, Von Arx, Jeffrey Allen, Bentsen, James Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36557 controlled by chemical substances in blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3962 in combination with another heart therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy

Abstract

In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable medical device with a pulse generator and a chemical sensor in communication with the pulse generator, the chemical sensor configured to detect an ion concentration in a bodily fluid. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for providing cardiac arrhythmia therapy to a patient including sensing a physiological concentration of an analyte, communicating data regarding the physiological concentration of the analyte to an implanted pulse generator, and delivering therapy to the patient based in part on the physiological concentration of the ion. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for monitoring diuretic therapy. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for controlling delivery of an active agent into a human body. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. A method for providing cardiac arrhythmia therapy to a patient comprising:

optically measuring a physiological concentration of an ion in a bodily fluid of the patient with an implanted chemical sensor;

transmitting data regarding the physiological concentration of the ion to an implanted pulse generator; and

delivering therapy from the implanted pulse generator to the patient based in part on the physiological concentration of the ion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising optically sensing a physiological concentration of a non-ionic component of the bodily fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting data regarding the physiological concentration of the ion to an implanted pulse generator comprises wirelessly transmitting data to the implanted pulse generator.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting the data regarding the physiological concentration of the ion to a non-implanted device via a telemetry link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting the data regarding the physiological concentration of the ion to a medical professional via a telemetry link.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining the data regarding the physiological concentration of the ion with data regarding the patient'"'"'s cardio-respiratory system to form a composite profile of the patient'"'"'s cardiac condition.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising reporting the composite profile of the patient'"'"'s cardiac health to a non-implanted device via a telemetry link.

8. The method of claim 6, the data regarding the patient'"'"'s cardio-respiratory system selected from the group consisting of an EKG signal, respiration rate, accelerometer data, trans-thoracic impedance, lead impedance, cardiac volume, blood pressure, weight, and cardiac necrosis signals.

9. A method for monitoring diuretic therapy comprising:

optically sensing a physiological concentration of an ion in a bodily fluid of a patient with an implanted chemical sensor;

communicating data regarding the physiological concentration of the ion to an implanted pulse generator; and

altering the delivery of the diuretic therapy to the patient based in part on the physiological concentration of the ion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein optically sensing a physiological concentration of an ion in a bodily fluid of the patient comprises optically measuring potassium ion concentration.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising optically measuring a concentration of a chemical indicative of renal function with the implanted chemical sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising reporting the physiological ion concentration and the concentration of the chemical indicative of renal function to a medical professional.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising reporting the physiological ion concentration and the concentration of the chemical indicative of renal function to a non-implanted device via a telemetry link.

14. The method of claim 11, the chemical indicative of renal function comprising creatinine or urea.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. A method for controlling delivery of an active agent into a human body, the method comprising:

measuring a physiological concentration of one or more analytes with an implanted system comprising a pulse generator and a chemical sensor, the chemical sensor comprising a sensing element, an excitation assembly, and a detection assembly; and

varying delivery of the substance at least in part as a function of the measured concentration of the one or more analytes.

18. The method of claim 17, the one or more analytes comprising at least one ion selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, lithium and hydronium.

19. The method of claim 17, the one or more analytes comprising an analyte indicative of renal function.

20. The method of claim 17, the one or more analytes comprising an analyte indicative of cardiac function.

21. The method of claim 17, the active agent comprising a diuretic.

22. The method of claim 17, in which measuring a physiological concentration comprises measuring a concentration in a bodily fluid selected from the group consisting of blood, interstitial fluid, serum, lymph, and serous fluid.