System with a reservoir for perfusion management

• US 7,850,676 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell; Victoria P
• Application Number:
  US10/827,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20050234398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,430 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93.01, 604/164.01, 604/187, 604194-196, 604/239, 604/264, 604/272, 604/288.04, 604/523, 604/528, 600101-183, 606/107
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• 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 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• 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 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system for perfusion management that monitors, maintains, diagnoses, or treats perfusion deficiencies.

Claims

1. A device for perfusion management, comprising:

a body portion;

at least one extensible finger coupled to said body portion, the extensible finger being composed of a plurality of retractable segments, the plurality of retractable segments of the extensible finger configured to controllably telescopically extend from the body portion;

at least one reservoir in communication with said extensible finger;

a control circuitry coupled to said extensible finger, and/or said body portion;

and an array of sensors distributed among the plurality of retractable segments and configured to deploy from controllably openable and/or closable portholes.

2. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a device for data gathering, data processing, data storage, and/or data transmission.

3. The device for use in perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein the array of sensors comprise an imager, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a chemical sensor, a gas sensor, an electrolyte sensor, a composition sensor, a concentration sensor, and/or a flow sensor coupled to said extensible finger.

4. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a pump, and/or a source of pressure coupled to said extensible finger.

5. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a motor and/or an actuator coupled to said extensible finger.

6. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless data transmitter, coupled to said extensible finger and/or said control circuitry.

7. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless data receiver, and/or a wireless data controller coupled to said extensible finger and/or said control circuit.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one extensible finger is coupled to a source of a chemical, a chemical compound, a protein, a lipoprotein, a glycoprotein, a sugar, a lipid, an antigen, an antibody, a cytokine, a peptide, a neurotransmitter, a hormone, an ion, a messenger molecule, a nucleic acid, an engineered nucleic acid, a nucleic acid vector, a drug, a cell, a cell fragment, a cell organelle, a liposome, a pharmaceutical agent, a biological material, and/or a biological fraction internal and/or external to said reservoir.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one extensible finger is coupled to a source of two or more of a chemical, a chemical compound, a protein, a lipoprotein, a glycoprotein, a sugar, a lipid, an antigen, an antibody, a cytokine, a peptide, a neurotransmitter, a hormone, an ion, a messenger molecule, a nucleic acid, an engineered nucleic acid, a nucleic acid vector, a drug, a cell, a cell fragment, a cell organelle, a liposome, a pharmaceutical agent, a biological material, and/or a biological fraction internal and/or external to said reservoir.

10. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising an operative tool in communication with said extensible finger.

11. The device for perfusion management according to claim 10, wherein said operative tool comprises a tool positioner.

12. The device for perfusion management according to claim 10, wherein said operative tool comprises a device for ablating and/or degrading and/or liquefying a cell, a mass of cells, a tissue, and/or an assembly of biological materials exhibiting shear strength.

13. The device for perfusion management according to claim 10, wherein said control circuitry is operative to guide said operative tool.

14. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said extensible finger includes a source of an electric charge and/or electromagnetic radiation coupled and/or carried by said extensible finger.

15. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of retractable segments are configured to articulate at joints of adjacent segments.

16. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of retractable segments are hollow.

17. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said extensible finger further comprises a device for fully or partially blocking and/or shunting a liquid flow.

18. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a device for evacuating a target coupled to said extensible finger.

19. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a device for cauterizing and/or sealing a cell, a mass of cells, a tissue, and/or an assembly of biological materials exhibiting shear strength carried by said extensible finger.

20. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid dispenser operative to provide a fluid at a controlled rate.

21. The device for perfusion management according to claim 20, wherein said fluid dispenser is carried by said extensible finger.

22. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said extensible finger comprises a stent.

23. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said control circuitry is coupled to control said extensible finger.

24. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said control circuitry is operative to guide said extensible finger.

25. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said control circuitry comprises a processor, a feedback circuit, and/or a logic circuit.

26. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said control circuitry is a processor further comprising a stored software and/or firmware program cooperative with said processor.

27. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is of a size, a composition, a power dissipation level, and/or a shape configured for full or partial placement in vivo.

28. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said device is configured for implantation in an animal.

29. The device for perfusion management according to claim 28, wherein said animal is human.

30. The device for perfusion management according to claim 29, wherein said device is configured for placement in a selected location in said human corresponding to at least one physiological variable to be monitored and/or treated.

31. The device for perfusion management according to claim 30, wherein said selected location is in a circulatory system, an aorta and/or a vena cava.

32. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said device is operative to provide and/or monitor a treatment and/or a response in a patient.

33. The device for perfusion management according to claim 32, wherein said treatment comprises delivering a medicinal agent, a pharmaceutical agent, a therapeutic device and/or assembly to a location in said patient.

34. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein said device communicates exterior to said patient.

35. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of retractable segments are configured to slidably collapse against adjacent segments and/or within an interior of adjacent segments of larger diameter.

36. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one extensible finger is controllably adjustable.

37. The device for perfusion management according to claim 1, wherein articulation of the at least one extensible finger is controllably adjustable.