Endoluminal implant with therapeutic and diagnostic capability

• US 7,427,265 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: CardioMetrix, Inc.
• Inventors: Keilman, George W., Cimochowski, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser; Robert L
• Application Number:
  US09/695,748
• Time in Patent Office: 2,891 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6862 Stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• 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: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3656 Monitoring patency or flow at connection sites; Detecting disconnections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

An apparatus includes an endoluminal implant, a RF coupling coil coupled to the endoluminal implant and a therapeutic transducer electrically coupled to the RF coupling coil and physically coupled to the endoluminal implant. The RF coupling coil supplies electrical power to the therapeutic transducer. The therapeutic transducer has a capability for delivering therapeutic energy to a lumen disposed within the endoluminal implant in response to signals coupled via the RF coupling coil.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling, via a magnetic signal, a signal to a therapeutic transducer contained in an endoluminal implant;

activating said therapeutic transducer in response to said magnetic signal, the activating including ultrasonically activating a drug

coupling a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic transducer contained in said endoluminal implant to an implantable electronic circuit that is coupled to said endoluminal implant;

transmitting said diagnostic signal from a RF coupling coil that is electrically coupled to said implantable electronic circuit; and

receiving said diagnostic signal at a location outside of a patient'"'"'s body within which said endoluminal implant is implanted wherein activating said therapeutic transducer includes activating said therapeutic transducer in response to said diagnostic signal.

2. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location outside a patient'"'"'s body, a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic transducer coupled to an endoluminal implant disposed within a patient'"'"'s body;

transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a therapeutic signal in response to receiving said diagnostic signal; and

activating a therapeutic transducer that is coupled to said endoluminal implant in response to said therapeutic signal, the activating including ultrasonically activating a drug.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving a diagnostic signal includes receiving a diagnostic signal describing fluid flow through a lumen of said endoluminal implant.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein activating a therapeutic transducer includes providing, within said lumen, energy for activating a drug precursor.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a power signal for providing electrical power to implantable electronic circuitry coupled to said endoluminal implant; and

receiving said power signal by a RF coupling coil disposed within said patient'"'"'s body and electrically coupled to said implantable electronic circuitry.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a power signal via a hardwired connection extending from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body to said implantable electronic circuitry, said power signal for providing electrical power to implantable electronic circuitry coupled to said endoluminal implant.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving a diagnostic signal includes:

receiving a first diagnostic signal describing fluid pressure at a first end of a lumen of said endoluminal implant; and

receiving a second diagnostic signal describing fluid pressure at a second end of said lumen of said endoluminal implant.

8. A method comprising:

coupling, via a magnetic signal, a signal to a therapeutic transducer contained in an endoluminal implant;

activating said therapeutic transducer in response to said magnetic signal, the activating including rupturing delivery vehicles to locally deliver a drug

coupling a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic transducer contained in said endoluminal implant to an implantable electronic circuit that is coupled to said endoluminal implant;

transmitting said diagnostic signal from a RF coupling coil that is electrically coupled to said implantable electronic circuit; and

receiving said diagnostic signal at a location outside of a patient'"'"'s body within which said endoluminal implant is implanted wherein activating said therapeutic transducer includes activating said therapeutic transducer in response to said diagnostic signal.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location outside a patient'"'"'s body, a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic transducer coupled to an endoluminal implant disposed within a patient'"'"'s body;

transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a therapeutic signal in response to receiving said diagnostic signal; and

activating a therapeutic transducer that is coupled to said endoluminal implant in response to said therapeutic signal, the activating including rupturing delivery vehicles to locally deliver a drug.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving a diagnostic signal includes receiving a diagnostic signal describing fluid flow through a lumen of said endoluminal implant.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein activating a therapeutic transducer includes providing, within said lumen, energy for activating a drug precursor.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a power signal for providing electrical power to implantable electronic circuitry coupled to said endoluminal implant; and

receiving said power signal by a RF coupling coil disposed within said patient'"'"'s body and electrically coupled to said implantable electronic circuitry.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a power signal via a hardwired connection extending from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body to said implantable electronic circuitry, said power signal for providing electrical power to implantable electronic circuitry coupled to said endoluminal implant.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving a diagnostic signal includes:

receiving a first diagnostic signal describing fluid pressure at a first end of a lumen of said endoluminal implant; and

receiving a second diagnostic signal describing fluid pressure at a second end of said lumen of said endoluminal implant.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location outside a patient'"'"'s body, a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic transducer coupled to an endoluminal implant disposed within a patient'"'"'s body;

transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a therapeutic signal in response to receiving said diagnostic signal; and

activating a therapeutic transducer that is coupled to said endoluminal implant in response to said therapeutic signal, the activating including activating an ultrasonic transducer to insonify a lumen of said endoluminal implant with a first ultrasonic signal having a first frequency and a second ultrasonic signal having a second frequency, wherein receiving a diagnostic signal includes receiving a diagnostic signal describing fluid flow through a lumen of said endoluminal implant, and wherein activating a therapeutic transducer includes providing, within said lumen, energy for activating a drug precursor.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location outside a patient'"'"'s body, a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic transducer coupled to an endoluminal implant disposed within a patient'"'"'s body;

transmitting, from said location outside said patient'"'"'s body, a therapeutic signal in response to receiving said diagnostic signal; and

activating a therapeutic transducer that is coupled to said endoluminal implant in response to said therapeutic signal, the activating including activating an ultrasonic transducer to insonify a lumen of said endoluminal implant with a first ultrasonic signal having a first frequency and a second ultrasonic signal having a second frequency, wherein said first and second ultrasonic signals are collinear wherein receiving a diagnostic signal includes receiving a diagnostic signal describing fluid flow through a lumen of said endoluminal implant, and wherein activating a therapeutic transducer includes providing, within said lumen, energy for activating a drug precursor.