Devices and methods for detecting and treating inadequate tissue perfusion

• US 7,967,758 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Sciences U K Limited (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Data Sciences U K Limited (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Brockway, Brian P., Benditt, David G., Wilson, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari; Patricia C
• Application Number:
  US11/485,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20060253160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 600/500, 600/504
• US Class Current: 600/504
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36571 controlled by blood flow rate, e.g. blood velocity or cardiac output
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371

Abstract

Devices and methods for detecting inadequate tissue perfusion by measuring a parameter other than heart rate such as vascular blood pressure, intracardiac blood pressure, vascular blood flow or tissue perfusion, in addition to or as a substitute for heart rate. Such devices and methods improve the accuracy of determining when and to what degree therapy should be administered to treat inadequate tissue perfusion, such as pre-syncope, syncope, or orthostatic hypotension, particularly in the absence of abnormal cardiac function.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

detecting, using a first medical device, a heart rate of the patient as an indicator of inadequate tissue perfusion;

detecting, using a second medical device, at least one other indicator of inadequate tissue perfusion; and

delivering, the first medical device, a stimulus to increase heart rate as a function of both the detected heart rate and the at least one other indicator of inadequate tissue perfusion.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein delivering the stimulus to increase heart rate comprises delivering electrical impulses to a heart of the patient.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein delivering electrical impulses to the heart of the patient comprises providing a pacemaker.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein detecting the at least one other indicator of inadequate tissue perfusion comprises detecting an intravascular parameter.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein detecting the intravascular parameter comprises detecting blood pressure.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein detecting blood pressure comprises contacting blood disposed within a blood vessel of the patient with a catheter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first medical device is a separate device from the second medical device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first medical device is the same device as the second medical device.

7. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

detecting, using a first medical device, a heart rate of the patient as an indicator of inadequate tissue perfusion;

positioning a sensor of a second medical device proximate a blood vessel of the patient;

measuring an intravascular parameter using the sensor, and

delivering, using the first medical device, a stimulus to increase heart rate as a function of both the detected heart rate and the measured intravascular parameter.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein detecting the intravascular parameter comprises detecting blood pressure.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein detecting blood pressure comprises contacting blood disposed within the blood vessel with a catheter.

10. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

detecting, using a first medical device, a heart rate of the patient as an indicator of inadequate tissue perfusion;

detecting, using a second medical device, a blood pressure of the patient; and

delivering, using the first medical device, a stimulus to increase heart rate as a function of both the detected heart rate and the blood pressure of the patient.