Pressure sensing in implantable medical devices
First Claim
1. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a delivery site in a patient, comprising the steps of:
- pumping said therapeutic substance under pressure from a reservoir of an implantable medical device implanted at a first location of a patient through a catheter fluidly coupled to said reservoir, said catheter having a proximal end coupled to the implantable medical device, a delivery region and a first lumen extending between said proximal end and said delivery region, said delivery region of said catheter placed in proximity to said delivery site in said patient, wherein the delivery site is removed from the first location of the patient;
detecting a pressure of said therapeutic substance in said first lumen;
detecting a reference pressure in the patient in proximity to the delivery region of said catheter;
comparing the pressure in said first lumen to the reference pressure to obtain a relative pressure in said first lumen; and
taking an action in response to said relative pressure in said lumen.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable medical device for delivering a therapeutic substance to a delivery site in a patient. A reservoir holds a supply of the fluid therapeutic substance. A catheter has a proximal end, a delivery region and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the delivery region. The proximal end of the catheter is operatively coupled to the reservoir. The delivery region of the catheter is adapted to be placed proximate the delivery site in the patient. The therapeutic substance is adapted to be delivered through the lumen to the patient. A sensing device is operatively coupled with the lumen of the catheter being capable of detecting a pressure of the therapeutic substance in the lumen. A controller is operatively coupled to the sensing device, the controller being capable of taking an action in response to the pressure in the lumen.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a delivery site in a patient, comprising the steps of:
-
pumping said therapeutic substance under pressure from a reservoir of an implantable medical device implanted at a first location of a patient through a catheter fluidly coupled to said reservoir, said catheter having a proximal end coupled to the implantable medical device, a delivery region and a first lumen extending between said proximal end and said delivery region, said delivery region of said catheter placed in proximity to said delivery site in said patient, wherein the delivery site is removed from the first location of the patient; detecting a pressure of said therapeutic substance in said first lumen; detecting a reference pressure in the patient in proximity to the delivery region of said catheter; comparing the pressure in said first lumen to the reference pressure to obtain a relative pressure in said first lumen; and taking an action in response to said relative pressure in said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
15. A method of delivering a therapeutic substance to a delivery site in a patient comprising the steps of:
-
pumping said therapeutic substance under pressure from a reservoir of an implantable medical device implanted at a first location of a patient through a catheter fluidly coupled to said reservoir, said catheter having a proximal end coupled to the implantable medical device, a delivery region and a lumen extending between said proximal end and said delivery region, said delivery region of said catheter placed in proximity to said delivery site in said patient, wherein the delivery site is removed from the first location of the patient; detecting pressure of said therapeutic substance in said lumen; determining whether said pressure has a characteristic signature in response to a transient change in flow comprising a rise and subsequent fall in delivery rate of the therapeutic substance as a result of pulsed delivery of said therapeutic substance; and taking action in response to said pressure in said lumen when said pressure has said characteristic signature. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification