Inflatable cuff with built-in drug delivery device for dynamic drug therapy response to blood pressure incidents

• US 20130116615A1
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Baym, Michael H., Boyden, Edward S., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/04 Measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0021 Intradermal administration, e.g. through microneedle arrays, needleless injectors mechanical aspects A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 : Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 : for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

An inflatable cuff in a blood pressure-measurement system is integrated with a drug delivery device. The drug delivery device is configured to automatically deliver a drug dermally or transdermally to the individual in response to the measured blood pressures.

Claims

1. A blood pressure measurement system, comprising:

an inflatable cuff configured to restrict a blood flow in an individual;

a pressure measuring device coupled to the inflatable cuff to measure pressure(s) corresponding to the individual'"'"'s diastolic and/or systolic blood pressures; and

a drug delivery device integrated with the inflatable cuff, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to automatically deliver a drug dermally or transdermally to the individual in response to the measured blood pressure(s).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable cuff is configured for manual or automatic inflation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable cuff is configured to automatically inflate and deflate more than once according to a predetermined schedule.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure measuring device is a mechanical, audio, optical, and/or electric sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device includes electrical circuits to deliver the drug using iontophoresis, sonophoresis and/or electroporation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device includes mechanisms to deliver the drug using abrasion, ablation, microneedles and/or perforation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device includes drivers to deliver the drug using microjets, and/or needle-less injection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug in response to current, average and/or cumulative blood pressure values.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug in response to changes in blood pressure values and/or in projected blood pressure values.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug in response to parameters or characteristics of the blood pressure profile including pulse shape, and/or systolic/diastolic blood pressure values.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising, an input/output communications interface.

12. The system of claim 1, further configured to communicate blood pressure values, system actions, and/or system status with an external point via the input/output communications interface.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising, an altitude sensing device configured to determine an altitude of the inflatable cuff.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the altitude sensing device includes an accelerometer.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising, a circuit configured to correct a blood pressure measurement for a relative height of the sensor.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising, a processing circuit configured to process blood pressure data and other data.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to dynamically regulate the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to lower or raise the individual'"'"'s blood pressure(s).

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to reach or maintain a target blood pressure or range.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to treat a condition sensitive to a result and/or effect of the individual'"'"'s blood pressure(s).

21. A method for treating a blood pressure condition of an individual, comprising:

providing a blood pressure measurement system that can be attached to an individual,

wherein the blood pressure measurement system has an inflatable cuff configured to restrict a blood flow in the individual;

wherein a pressure measuring device is coupled to the inflatable cuff to measure a pressure corresponding to the individual'"'"'s blood pressure,

wherein a drug delivery device is integrated with or built-in to the inflatable cuff, and

wherein the drug delivery device is configured to automatically deliver a drug dermally or transdermally to the individual in response to the measured blood pressure(s).

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the inflatable cuff is configured for manual or automatic inflation.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the inflatable cuff is configured to automatically inflate and deflate more than once according to a predetermined schedule.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the pressure measuring device is a mechanical, audio, optical, and/or electric sensor.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device includes electrical circuits to deliver the drug using iontophoresis, sonophoresis and/or electroporation.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device includes mechanisms to deliver the drug using abrasion, ablation, microneedles and/or perforation.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device includes drivers to deliver the drug using microjets, and/or needle-less injection.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug in response to current, average and/or cumulative blood pressure values.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug in response to changes in blood pressure values and/or in projected blood pressure values.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug in response to parameters or characteristics of the blood pressure profile including pulse shape, and/or systolic/diastolic blood pressure values.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising, an input/output communications interface.

32. The method of claim 21, further configured to communicate blood pressure values, system actions, and/or system status with an external point via the input/output communications interface.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising, an altitude sensing device configured to determine an altitude of the inflatable cuff.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the altitude sensing device includes an accelerometer.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising, a circuit configured to correct a blood pressure measurement for a relative height of the sensor.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising, a processing circuit configured to process blood pressure data and other data.

37. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to dynamically regulate the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to lower or raise the individual'"'"'s blood pressure(s).

39. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to reach or maintain a target blood pressure or range.

40. The method of claim 21, wherein the drug delivery device is configured to deliver the drug to treat a condition sensitive to a result and/or effect of the individual'"'"'s blood pressure(s).