Posture detection system and method

• US 7,664,546 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Hartley, Jesse W., Lee, Kent, Ni, Quan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes; Angela D
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US10/943,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 607/3, 607/6, 607 17- 19, 607/42, 600/529, 128/200.24, 128/206.21, 128/204.18, 128/204.21
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/285 Endotracheal, oesophageal or gastric probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/363 Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 : Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 : Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 : Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 : with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 : including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 : Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 : with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 : in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 : in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 : Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 : partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 : controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36535 : controlled by body position or posture

Abstract

A posture detection system includes an implantable device and a patient-external respiratory therapy device coupled via a communications channel. At least one of the implantable device and the patient-external respiratory therapy devices includes a posture detector. Posture information is transferred between the implantable device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device. The posture information may be used in connection with sleep detection or to modify therapy delivered by the implantable cardiac device and/or the patient-external respiratory therapy device.

Claims

1. A posture detection system, comprising:

an implantable cardiac device;

a patient-external respiratory therapy device comprising a posture sensor configured to be coupled to the patient;

a processor and memory, the processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory; and

a communications channel between the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device, the communications channel configured to transfer posture information between the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external therapy respiratory device, wherein processor execution of the stored instructions causes one or both of the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device to detect episodes of sleep disordered breathing, correlate detected episodes of sleep disordered breathing to postural positions based on the posture information, provide an output based on the correlation, and enhance subsequent detection of disordered breathing episodes using correlation relationships between postural positions and episodes of disordered breathing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector is configured to determine a positional orientation of the patient'"'"'s head.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector is configured to determine a positional orientation of a portion of a patient'"'"'s body.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein processor execution of the stored instructions causes one or both of the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device to use correlation relationships between postural positions and episodes of disordered breathing to predict subsequent episodes of disordered breathing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein processor execution of the stored instructions causes one or both of the implantable cardiac device and the patient-external respiratory therapy device to predict episodes of disordered breathing based on posture.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein correlating detected episodes of sleep disordered breathing to postural positions further comprises correlating particular patient positions to episodes of disordered breathing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector comprises an accelerometer configured to output a waveform signal and wherein changes in the waveform signal correspond to postural changes of the patient.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the posture detector comprises an inclination sensitive sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable device comprises a cardiac therapy device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein processor execution of the stored instructions causes the cardiac therapy device to modify cardiac electrical stimulation therapy based on the patient posture information, the modification comprising switching between a uni-ventricular pacing mode to a bi-ventricular pacing mode.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein processor execution of the stored instructions causes the implantable device to modify a cardiac electrical stimulation therapy treating disordered breathing based on the patient posture information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein processor execution of the stored instructions causes the external respiratory therapy device to modify external respiratory therapy based on the patient posture.

13. A posture detection method, comprising:

detecting episodes of sleep disordered breathing;

detecting postural positions of a patient using a sensor of a patient-external respiratory therapy device;

correlating detected postural positions to the detected episodes of sleep disordered breathing;

transmitting posture information between the patient-external respiratory therapy device and the implantable cardiac device; and

adjusting disordered breathing therapy based on the posture information, wherein detecting episodes of sleep disordered breathing further comprises using one or more correlation relationships between the detected postural positions and the detected episodes of disordered breathing to enhance subsequent detection of disordered breathing episodes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the disordered breathing therapy comprises adjusting an externally delivered disordered breathing therapy.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting a cardiac therapy delivered by the implantable cardiac device based on the posture information, the cardiac therapy comprising a cardiac electrical stimulation therapy treating disordered breathing.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein correlating detected episodes of sleep disordered breathing to postural positions comprises correlating particular patient positions to episodes of disordered breathing.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising predicting subsequent episodes of disordered breathing based on one or more correlation relationships between the detected postural positions and the detected episodes of sleep disordered breathing.

18. A posture detection system, comprising:

means for detecting episodes of sleep disordered breathing;

means for detecting postural positions using a sensor of one of a patient-external respiratory therapy device and an implantable cardiac device;

means for correlating detected postural positions to the detected episodes of sleep disordered breathing;

means for transmitting posture information between the patient-external respiratory therapy device and the implantable cardiac device;

means for predicting subsequent episodes of disordered breathing based on correlation between the detected postural positions and the detected episodes of sleep disordered breathing; and

means for adjusting disordered breathing therapy based on the detected patient posture.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein means for adjusting disordered breathing therapy comprises means for adjusting a cardiac therapy treating disordered breathing based on the detected patient posture.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein means for adjusting disordered breathing therapy comprises means for adjusting a patient-external respiratory therapy based on the detected patient posture.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for using correlation relationships between the detected postural positions and the detected episodes of disordered breathing to enhance subsequent detection of disordered breathing episodes.