Method and system for monitoring and treating hemodynamic parameters

• US 8,712,549 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zdeblick, Mark, Savage, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHANU, ETSUB D
• Application Number:
  US10/734,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,792 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/325, 600/327, 600/332, 600/341, 600/486, 600/490, 600/372, 600/373, 607/116, 607/122
• US Class Current: 607/122
• 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 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A multiplexed medical carrier provides for sensing one or more patient parameters and/or delivering energy via separately identifiable effectors. The carrier includes a body and at least two electrical conductors coupled with at least two effectors. Effectors may be any combination of sensors, actuators or both. Sensors may measure such parameters as pressure, oxygen content, volume, conductivity, fluid flow rate, or any other chemical or physical parameters. Actuators may be used, for example, to pace a heart, stimulate muscle or neural tissue, broadcast ultrasonic energy, emit light, heat or other forms of radiation, or deliver any form of energy or substance. A method for collecting medical data from a patient includes interrogating a network of multiplexed sensors residing on parallel conductors in the patient, including addressing a first addressable sensor in the network to obtain data and addressing a second addressable sensor in the network to obtain data.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a medical carrier having a body and at least two conductors, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

providing separately identifiable effectors, wherein the effectors are axially spaced apart along the length of the carrier'"'"'s body and wherein at least one effector comprises;

at least two electrodes on a surface of the carrier'"'"'s body; and

an identifiable microprocessor capable of handling instructions, wherein the electrodes are coupled to the microprocessor and positioned about the microprocessor; and

electrically coupling each effector to the conductors through an opening defined in the surface of the carrier'"'"'s body.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein each effector comprises:

at least one sensor coupled to the microprocessor; and

at least one actuator coupled to the mircropocessor.

3. A method for configuring a medical carrier of the type including a plurality of satellite units, wherein the method comprises:

positioning at least two separately identifiable effectors along an elongate body, wherein each effector comprises;

a microprocessor capable of handling instructions; and

a plurality of electrodes that are positioned about the microprocessor and electrically coupled to the microprocessor and controlled thereby;

electrically coupling the microprocessor of each effector to a pair of shared conductors running the length of the elongated body, wherein the shared conductors carry power and data; and

configuring each effector through instructions provided to its corresponding microprocessor using one conductor of the pair of shared conductors.