Medical methods and systems incorporating wireless monitoring

• US 7,676,268 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gardeski, Kenneth C., Hettrick, Douglas A., Sowelam, Sameh, Markowitz, H. Toby
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow; Scott M
• Application Number:
  US11/565,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1- 28, 607/32, 600300-595
• US Class Current: 607/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00411 actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/397 electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

Medical systems and methods incorporate monitoring of at least two implanted markers, each of which is adapted to wirelessly transmit a signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal; the response signals are converted into positional information for the two markers. The systems and methods further incorporate both, or one of, an implanted sensing member and/or an implanted therapy delivery device. Signals received from the sensing member may be collated with the positional information. A therapy delivered from the therapy delivery device may be adjusted according to the positional information.

Claims

1. A system facilitating medical diagnosis, the system comprising:

implantable markers to wirelessly transmit a signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal, when the markers are implanted in a body;

an excitation signal transmitter to transmit the excitation signal to the implanted markers;

a marker signal receiver to receive the response signal from each of the two implanted markers;

a marker signal processor to convert the received response signals into positional information, the positional information comprising a distance between the two markers;

an implantable sensing member;

an implantable sensing member signal processor adapted to receive signals from the sensing member, when the sensing member is implanted in the body;

an analyzer to receive the positional information and the sensing member signals, and to collate the positional information with the sensing member signals;

a positional information transmitter coupled to the marker signal processor and the analyzer; and

an implantable sensing member signal transmitter coupled to the implantable sensing member signal processor and the analyzer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing member signal transmitter includes at least one lead, and at least one marker of the two markers is coupled to a body of the lead.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing member is a pressure transducer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing member is at least one electrode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer is a component of the implantable signal processor.

6. A medical therapy delivery system, comprising:

implantable markers to wirelessly transmit a signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal, when the markers are implanted in a body;

an excitation signal transmitter adapted to transmit the excitation signal to the implanted markers;

a marker signal receiver to receive the response signal from each of the two implanted markers;

a marker signal processor to convert the received response signals into positional information, the positional information comprising a distance between the two markers;

an implantable therapy delivery device including a controller to receive the positional information and to adjust a therapy delivered from the device according to the positional information;

a positional information transmitter for transmitting the positional information to the device controller, the positional information transmitter coupled to the marker signal processor;

an implantable sensing member; and

a sensing member signal transmitter coupled to the device controller;

wherein the device controller is further adapted to receive sensing member signals and to adjust therapy delivered from the device according to the sensing member signals in combination with the positional information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensing member is a pressure transducer.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensing member is at least one electrode.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensing member signal transmitter includes at least one lead and at least one marker of the two markers is coupled to a body of the lead.

10. A method of interrogating implanted markers for medical therapy delivery, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting an excitation signal,

wirelessly receiving a signal from each of the markers in response to the excitation signal,

converting the response signal into positional information, the positional information comprising a distance between the two markers; and

adjusting a therapy delivered from an implanted device according to the positional information;

transmitting signals from an implanted sensing member to the implanted device; and

wherein the therapy from the implanted device is adjusted according to the sensing member signals in combination with the positional information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the therapy comprises repositioning at least one pacing electrode coupled to the device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the therapy comprises altering pacing parameters within the device.