Cardiac force sensor and methods of use
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a fully implantable intravascular cardiac lead including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion adapted to be coupled to an electronics unit of an implantable medical device, the distal portion adapted to be located within a chamber of a heart; and
a force sensor associated with the distal portion of the fully implantable intravascular cardiac lead, the force sensor including;
a displacement sensor adapted to sense a displacement of a portion of the heart during a heart movement, the displacement sensor including a first portion movable with respect to a second portion along an axial direction of the lead and in response to the displacement of the portion of the heart, axial movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion being representative of the displacement of the portion of the heart, the displacement sensor being configured to provide an output displacement signal indicative of the displacement sensed; and
a contractile structure separate from the displacement sensor, the contractile structure being configured to axially expand or axially contract an axial distance representative of the axial movement of the first portion of the displacement sensor with respect to the second portion, wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a sensed force signal indicative of a force with which at least the portion of the heart moves during the heart movement, the force sensor configured to determine the force as a function of the distance that the contractile structure axially expands or axially contracts, the force sensor being configured to communicate the sensed force signal to the electronics unit.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus permit sensing one or more forces exerted by one or more portions of a heart. A force transducer and displacement sensor are disclosed. A movement of one or more portions of a heart can be translated into one or more signals indicative of force. These signals can be used to provide information such as to diagnose or treat one or more conditions.
30 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a fully implantable intravascular cardiac lead including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion adapted to be coupled to an electronics unit of an implantable medical device, the distal portion adapted to be located within a chamber of a heart; and a force sensor associated with the distal portion of the fully implantable intravascular cardiac lead, the force sensor including; a displacement sensor adapted to sense a displacement of a portion of the heart during a heart movement, the displacement sensor including a first portion movable with respect to a second portion along an axial direction of the lead and in response to the displacement of the portion of the heart, axial movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion being representative of the displacement of the portion of the heart, the displacement sensor being configured to provide an output displacement signal indicative of the displacement sensed; and a contractile structure separate from the displacement sensor, the contractile structure being configured to axially expand or axially contract an axial distance representative of the axial movement of the first portion of the displacement sensor with respect to the second portion, wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a sensed force signal indicative of a force with which at least the portion of the heart moves during the heart movement, the force sensor configured to determine the force as a function of the distance that the contractile structure axially expands or axially contracts, the force sensor being configured to communicate the sensed force signal to the electronics unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a fully implantable intravascular cardiac lead including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion configured to be coupled to an electronics unit of an implantable medical device, the distal portion configured to be located within a chamber of a heart; and a force sensor associated with the distal portion of the fully implantable intravascular lead, the force sensor including; a displacement sensor configured to sense a displacement of a portion of the heart during a heart movement, the displacement sensor including a first portion movable with respect to a second portion along an axial direction of the lead and in response to the displacement of the portion of the heart, axial movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion being representative of the displacement of the portion of the heart, the displacement sensor being configured to provide an output displacement signal indicative of the displacement sensed; and a spring disposed at least partially around the displacement sensor, the spring configured to axially expand or axially contract an axial distance representative of the axial movement of the first portion of the displacement sensor with respect to the second portion, wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a sensed force signal indicative of a force with which at least the portion of the heart moves during the heart movement, the force sensor configured to determine the force as a function of the distance that the spring axially expands or axially contracts, the force sensor being configured to communicate the sensed force signal to the electronics unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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a fully implantable intravascular cardiac lead including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion configured to be coupled to an electronics unit of an implantable medical device, the distal portion configured to be located within a chamber of a heart; and a force sensor associated with the distal portion of the fully implantable intravascular lead, the force sensor including; a displacement sensor configured to sense a displacement of a portion of the heart during a heart movement, the displacement sensor including a first portion movable with respect to a second portion along an axial direction of the lead and in response to the displacement of the portion of the heart, axial movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion being representative of the displacement of the portion of the heart, the displacement sensor being configured to provide an output displacement signal indicative of the displacement sensed; and a bellows disposed at least partially around the displacement sensor, the bellows configured to axially expand or axially contract an axial distance representative of the axial movement of the first portion of the displacement sensor with respect to the second portion, wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a sensed force signal indicative of a force with which at least the portion of the heart moves during the heart movement, the force sensor configured to determine the force as a function of the distance that the bellows axially expands or axially contracts, the force sensor being configured to communicate the sensed force signal to the electronics unit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification