Systems and methods for dynamic drug therapy response to blood pressure incidents

• US 8,702,683 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Baym, Michael H., Boyden, Edward S., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stohr, Leah
• Application Number:
  US13/373,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604/173, 604/180, 604/304, 604/305, 604/307, 604/308, 604/890.1, 600490-499
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/04 Measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0021 Intradermal administration, e.g. through microneedle arrays, needleless injectors mechanical aspects A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• 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: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 : Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 : for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

A dermal or transdermal drug-delivery skin patch has a blood pressure sensor structurally integrated or built into it. The skin patch when attached to a skin portion of an individual determines a blood pressure of the individual and in response needle-lessly delivers a treatment drug to the individual if necessary.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a sensor configured to make one or more ultrasonic measurements of an individual'"'"'s blood pressure; and

a drug-delivery device configured to dispense a drug in response to the measured blood pressure,

wherein the sensor and the drug-delivery device are integrated as a unit attachable to the individual.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery device is configured to dispense the drug to dynamically regulate the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery device is configured to dispense the drug to treat a condition sensitive to a result and/or effect of the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a broad angle sensor, a directed beam sensor, a bistatic sensor and a phased array sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to make Doppler measurements of a blood flow in the individual by correlating blood velocity and pressure.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to measure dynamic changes in a blood vessel size or elasticity that are indicative of the blood pressure.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further configured to apply sufficient energy to jostle blood in a blood vessel or the blood vessel itself.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is further configured to measure the blood pressure response to the applied energy.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery device comprises one or one or more needles and/or microjets for delivery of the drug to the individual.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery device is configured to use iontophoresis and/or sonophoresis for delivery of the drug to the individual.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery device is configured to dispense the drug in response to current, average and/or cumulative blood pressure values.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery device is configured to dispense the drug in response to changes in blood pressure values and/or in projected blood pressure values.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery device is configured to dispense the drug in response to parameters or characteristics of the blood pressure profile including pulse shape and/or systolic/diastolic blood pressure values.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising an input/output communications interface.

15. The device of claim 14, further configured to communicate blood pressure values, device actions and/or device status with an external point via the input/output communications interface.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising, a circuit configured to correct a blood pressure measurement for a relative height of the sensor.

17. The device of claim 1, which is adapted to be attached to a skin portion of the individual.

18. The device of claim 1, which is adapted to be fully or partially implanted in the individual.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to locate a blood vessel and make one or measurements of blood pressure in the located blood vessel.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising a signal or data interface configured to receive parameters relating to drug dispensation requirements and blood pressure values, and/or other instructions from an external source.

21. A drug delivery system, comprising:

a skin patch; and

a blood pressure sensor structurally integrated or built into the skin patch,

wherein the integrated structure is configured to be attached to a skin portion of an individual, wherein the blood pressure sensor is configured to determine a blood pressure of the individual and the skin patch is configured to needle-lessly deliver a drug dermally or transdermally to the individual in response to the determined blood pressure.

22. The system of claim 21, which is adapted to be attached to a skin portion of the individual.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the blood pressure sensor is a mechanical, optical, and/or electric sensor.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the blood pressure sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising an altitude sensing device configured to determine an altitude of the blood pressure sensor.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the altitude sensing device includes an accelerometer.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising a processing circuit configured to process blood pressure data and other data.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the skin patch is configured to deliver the drug to lower or raise the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the skin patch is configured to deliver the drug to reach or maintain a target blood pressure or range.

30. A method comprising:

providing a drug-delivery skin patch having a built-in or structurally integrated blood pressure sensor,

wherein the integrated structure is configured to be attached to a skin portion of an individual, wherein the blood pressure sensor is configured to determine a blood pressure of the individual, and wherein the skin patch is configured to needle-lessly deliver a drug dermally or transdermally to the individual in response to the determined blood pressure.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising delivering the drug in response to current, average and/or cumulative blood pressure values.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising delivering the drug in response to trends in blood pressure values and/or to projected blood pressure values.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising delivering the drug in response to parameters or characteristics of the blood pressure profile including pulse shape, and/or systolic/diastolic blood pressure values.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising delivering the drug to dynamically regulate the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising delivering the drug to treat a condition sensitive to a result and/or effect of the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

36. A method, comprising:

providing a blood pressure monitoring unit having a built-in ultrasound sensor and a drug delivery device,

wherein the unit is attachable to an individual and wherein the drug-delivery device is configured to dispense a drug in response to the measured blood pressure.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising making one or more blood pressure measurements of the individual with the ultrasound sensor in the attached unit.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising using the attached drug-delivery device to dispense a drug to the individual in response to the measured blood pressure measurements as prescribed.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising using the drug-delivery device to dispense the drug to dynamically regulate the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising using the drug-delivery device to dispense the drug to treat a condition sensitive to a result and/or effect of the individual'"'"'s blood pressure.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising using the drug-delivery device to dispense the drug in response to current, average and/or cumulative blood pressure values.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising using the drug-delivery device to dispense the drug in response to changes in blood pressure values and/or in projected blood pressure values.

43. The method of claim 36, further comprising using the drug-delivery device to dispense the drug in response to parameters or characteristics of the blood pressure profile including pulse shape, and/or systolic/diastolic blood pressure values.