Detection of pleural effusion using transthoracic impedance
First Claim
1. A system for the detection of fluid in a subject, comprising:
- an implantable thoracic impedance measurement circuit, configured to sense a thoracic impedance signal from the subject;
a processor, coupled with the thoracic impedance measurement circuit to receive the thoracic impedance signal, the processor configured to detect a pleural effusion indication including a differential indication of pleural effusion relative to pulmonary edema using the thoracic impedance signal; and
an external user interface, coupled to the processor to receive information about the pleural effusion indication, the external user interface configured to provide a user-detectable lung fluid indication using information about the pleural effusion indication.
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Abstract
This patent document discusses systems, devices, and methods for increasing a sensitivity or specificity of thoracic fluid detection in a subject and differentiating between pleural effusion and pulmonary edema. In one example, a thoracic impedance measurement circuit senses a thoracic impedance signal. In another example, a processor receives the thoracic impedance signal and determines whether such thoracic impedance signal is “significant.” A significant thoracic impedance signal indicates the presence of thoracic fluid and may be recognized by comparing the thoracic impedance signal (or variation thereof) to a thoracic impedance threshold. When a significant thoracic impedance signal is recognized, the processor is adapted to detect one or both of: a pleural effusion indication and a pulmonary edema indication using one or a combination of: physiologic information, patient symptom information, and posture information. In another example, the thoracic impedance threshold is adjusted using such physiologic, patient symptom, or posture information.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for the detection of fluid in a subject, comprising:
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an implantable thoracic impedance measurement circuit, configured to sense a thoracic impedance signal from the subject; a processor, coupled with the thoracic impedance measurement circuit to receive the thoracic impedance signal, the processor configured to detect a pleural effusion indication including a differential indication of pleural effusion relative to pulmonary edema using the thoracic impedance signal; and an external user interface, coupled to the processor to receive information about the pleural effusion indication, the external user interface configured to provide a user-detectable lung fluid indication using information about the pleural effusion indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for the detection of thoracic fluid in a subject, comprising:
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sensing a thoracic impedance signal using an implantable device; detecting a pleural effusion indication, including a differential indication of pleural effusion relative to pulmonary edema, using the thoracic impedance signal; deriving a user-detectable lung fluid indication using information about the pleural effusion indication; and providing the user-detectable lung fluid indication by way of an external user interface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification