Implantable system and method for measuring left atrial pressure to detect, diagnose and treating congestive heart failure
First Claim
1. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a medical patient, the method comprising:
- implanting a cardiac pacing lead combined with a sensor lead connected to a pressure transducer substantially permanently within the medical patient;
operating the pressure transducer to generate a signal indicative of fluid pressure within the left atrium;
communicating the signal indicative of the fluid pressure within the left atrium to a signal processing apparatus;
operating the signal processing apparatus to generate an instructive signal indicative of an appropriate therapeutic treatment, wherein operating the signal processing apparatus comprises generating one of at least two distinct signals, each said signal indicative of a different therapeutic treatment; and
communicating the instructive signal indicative of the appropriate therapeutic treatment to the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides improved apparatus and methods for treating congestive heart failure in a medical patient. The apparatus includes a pressure transducer permanently implantable within the left atrium of the patient'"'"'s heart and operable to generate electrical signals indicative of fluid pressures within the patient'"'"'s left atrium. The pressure transducer is connected to a flexible electrical lead, which is connected in turn to electrical circuitry, which in the preferred embodiment includes digital circuitry for processing electrical signals. The electrical circuitry processes the electrical signals from the pressure transducer and, based at least in part on those signals, generates a signal that indicates a desired therapeutic treatment for treating the patient'"'"'s condition. That signal is then communicated to the patient via a patient signaling device, following which the patient administers to him or herself the prescribed therapeutic treatment indicated by the signal.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a medical patient, the method comprising:
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implanting a cardiac pacing lead combined with a sensor lead connected to a pressure transducer substantially permanently within the medical patient; operating the pressure transducer to generate a signal indicative of fluid pressure within the left atrium; communicating the signal indicative of the fluid pressure within the left atrium to a signal processing apparatus; operating the signal processing apparatus to generate an instructive signal indicative of an appropriate therapeutic treatment, wherein operating the signal processing apparatus comprises generating one of at least two distinct signals, each said signal indicative of a different therapeutic treatment; and communicating the instructive signal indicative of the appropriate therapeutic treatment to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a medical patient, the method comprising:
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implanting a flexible sensor lead coupled to a pressure transducer substantially permanently within the medical patient; implanting a cardiac pacing lead to run substantially parallel to said flexible lead; operating the pressure transducer to generate a signal indicative of fluid pressure within the left atrium; communicating the signal indicative of the fluid pressure within the left atrium to signal processing apparatus; operating the signal processing apparatus to generate an instructive signal indicative of an appropriate therapeutic treatment, wherein operating the signal processing apparatus comprises generating one of at bait two distinct signals, each said signal indicative of a different therapeutic treatment; and communicating the instructive signal indicative of the appropriate therapeutic treatment to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a medical patient, the method comprising:
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implanting a defibrillator lead combined with a sensor lead connected to a pressure transducer substantially permanently within the medical patient; operating the pressure transducer to generate a signal indicative of fluid pressure within the left atrium; communicating the signal indicative of the fluid pressure within the left atrium to signal processing apparatus; operating the signal processing apparatus to generate an instructive signal indicative of an appropriate therapeutic treatment, wherein operating the signal processing apparatus comprises generating one of at least two distinct signals, each said signal indicative of a different therapeutic treatment; and communicating the instructive signal indicative of the appropriate therapeutic treatment to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A method for treating congestive heart failure in a medical patient, the method comprising:
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implanting a flexible lead coupled to a pressure transducer substantially permanently within the medical patient; implanting a defibrillator lead to run substantially parallel to said flexible lead; operating the pressure transducer to generate a signal indicative of fluid pressure within the left atrium; communicating the signal indicative of the fluid pressure within the left atrium to signal processing apparatus; operating the signal processing apparatus to generate an instructive signal indicative of an appropriate therapeutic treatment, wherein operating the signal processing apparatus comprises generating one of at least two distinct signals, each said signal indicative of a different therapeutic treatment; and communicating to instructive signal indicative of the appropriate therapeutic treatment to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification