System for incorporating sonomicrometer functions into medical instruments and implantable biomedical devices

• US 6,540,699 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonometrics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sonometrics Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US09/807,229
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/481, 600/498, 600/506, 600/508, 600/587, 607/9, 607/23
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36528 the parameter being measured by means of ultrasound

Abstract

A biomedical apparatus is disclosed including an implantable biomedical device for providing biomedical assistance to the body structure and a device controller for regulating the operation of the biomedical device. A sonomicrometer arrangement is provided, in contact with the body structure and in communication with the device controller. The sonomicrometer arrangement ultrasonically measures at least one physical parameter of the body structure and provides feedback information to the device controller. The device controller then regulates the operation of the biomedical device in response to the feedback information.

Claims

1. A biomedical apparatus comprising:

an implantable biomedical device for providing biomedical assistance to a body structure;

a device controller for regulating operation of the biomedical device;

a sonomicrometer arrangement, in contact with the body structure and in communication with the device controller, for ultrasonically measuring at least one physical dimension of the body structure and providing feedback information to the device controller, wherein the device controller regulates the operation of the biomedical device in response to the feedback information.

2. The biomedical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sonomicrometer arrangement includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers for respectively.sending and receiving ultrasonic signals.

3. The biomedical apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ultrasonic transducers are piezoelectric transducers for emitting ultrasound signals in a frequency range between about 1-10 MHz with an amplitude in an amplitude range of between about 1-50 mV.

4. The biomedical apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ultrasonic transducers are configured to measure the at least one physical dimension of the body structure during operation of the biomedical device.

5. The biomedical apparatus of claim 4 wherein the ultrasonic transducers are configured to measure a geometrical shape being at least one of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional.

6. The biomedical apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ultrasonic transducers are encapsulated in a biocompatible material.

7. The biomedical apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ultrasonic transducers include a plurality of attachment rings, for affixing to a surface of the body structure.

8. The biomedical device of claim 1 wherein the implantable biomedical device is a ventricular assist device for providing auxiliary pumping support for a heart.

9. The biomedical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device controller is part of an electronics module including a sonomicrometer control and a power supply.

10. The biomedical apparatus of claim 9 wherein sonomicrometer control includes a microprocessor that runs an embedded program that controls the operation of the sonomicrometer arrangement.

11. The biomedical apparatus of claim 10 wherein the embedded program causes the sonomicrometer arrangement to emit ultrasound pulses at a repetition rate of between about 50 Hz and about 500 Hz.

12. A biomedical method comprising:

implanting a biomedical device for providing biomedical assistance to a body structure;

ultrasonically measuring at least one physical dimension of the body structure;

generating feedback information corresponding to the ultrasonically measured physical parameter; and

regulating operation of the biomedical device in response to the feedback information.

13. The biomedical method of claim 12 wherein the step of ultrasonically measuring comprises measuring time of flight of an ultrasonic signal between a plurality of transducers.

14. The biomedical method of claim 12 wherein the step of ultrasonically measuring at least one physical parameter comprises measuring at least one physical dimension of the body structure during operation of the biomedical device.

15. The biomedical apparatus of claim 14 wherein the step of ultrasonically measuring at least one physical dimension comprises measuring a geometrical shape being at least one of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional.

16. The biomedical method of claim 12 wherein the step of implanting comprises implanting a ventricular assist device for providing auxiliary pumping support for a heart.

17. The biomedical method of claim 16 wherein the step of ultrasonically measuring comprises measuring physical dimensions of at least a part of the heart to monitor occurrences of collapse and hyperdilation.

18. The biomedical method of claim 17 wherein the step of regulating comprises varying the ventricular assist device to prevent collapse and hyperdilation.

19. The biomedical method of claim 12 wherein the step of ultrasonically measuring comprises emitting ultrasound pulses at a repetition rate of between about 50 Hz and about 500 Hz.