Monitor of heart failure using bioimpedance
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, the method comprising:
- injecting an electrical current between a first electrode located in or around a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region;
measuring a voltage potential between a second electrode in a superior vena cava and a third electrode in the superior vena cava, the voltage potential created by the electrical current;
measuring a second voltage potential between a fourth electrode in the superior vena cava and either the second electrode or the third electrode; and
assessing pulmonary edema based on (A) a first impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value and (B) a second impedance value calculated based on the electrical current and the second voltage potential.
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Abstract
In a method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, an electrical current is injected between a first electrode located in or around a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region. A voltage potential is measured between a second electrode in a superior vena cava and a third electrode in the superior vena cava, where the voltage potential is created by the electrical current. Pulmonary edema is assessed based on an impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, the method comprising:
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injecting an electrical current between a first electrode located in or around a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region; measuring a voltage potential between a second electrode in a superior vena cava and a third electrode in the superior vena cava, the voltage potential created by the electrical current; measuring a second voltage potential between a fourth electrode in the superior vena cava and either the second electrode or the third electrode; and assessing pulmonary edema based on (A) a first impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value and (B) a second impedance value calculated based on the electrical current and the second voltage potential. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, the method comprising:
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injecting an electrical current between a first electrode located in a fight ventricle of a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region; measuring a voltage potential between a second electrode in a superior vena cava and a third electrode in the superior vena cava, the voltage potential created by the electrical current; measuring a second voltage potential between a fourth electrode in the superior vena cava and either the second electrode or the third electrode; and assessing pulmonary edema based on (A) a first impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value and (B) a second impedance value calculated based on the electrical current and the second voltage potential.
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11. A method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, the method comprising:
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injecting an electrical current between a first electrode located in a coronary vein of a left ventricle of a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region; measuring a voltage potential between a second electrode in a superior vena cava and a third electrode in the superior vena cava, the voltage potential created by the electrical current; measuring a second voltage potential between a fourth electrode in the superior vena cava and either the second electrode or the third electrode; and assessing pulmonary edema based on (A) a first impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value and (B) a second impedance value calculated based on the electrical current and the second voltage potential.
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12. An implantable medical device, comprising:
- a housing for the implantable device sized for implantation in a chest region of a patient and comprising a housing electrode;
a lead port into which a proximal end of a lead is connectable, the lead having first, second, third, and fourth conductors that are insulated from one another and that extend from the proximal end of the lead to corresponding first, second, third, and fourth electrodes, the third electrode positioned near a distal end of the lead for location in or around a heart, the first, second, and fourth electrodes positioned on the lead for location in a superior vena cava;an electrical impedance measurement circuit electrically connected to the lead port and the housing electrode, the circuit comprising a current generator, a voltage amplifier and a control module, the current generator designed to inject an electrical current between the third electrode located in or around the heart and the housing electrode, the voltage amplifier designed to measure a first voltage potential between the first and second electrodes located in the superior vena cava and a second voltage potential between a fourth electrode in the superior vena cava and either the second electrode or the third electrode, wherein the voltage potential is created by the electrical current, and the control module designed to assess pulmonary edema based on (A) a first impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value and (B) a second impedance value calculated based on the electrical current and the second voltage potential. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a housing for the implantable device sized for implantation in a chest region of a patient and comprising a housing electrode;
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18. A method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, the method comprising:
- injecting an electrical current between a first electrode located in or around a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region;
measuring a first voltage potential between a second electrode and a third electrode, at least one of the second electrode and the third electrode in a superior vena cava, the voltage potential created by the electrical current;
measuring a second voltage potential between a fourth electrode in the vena cava and either the second electrode or the third electrode; and
assessing pulmonary edema based on (A) a first impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value and (B) a second impedance value calculated based on the electrical current and the second voltage potential. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- injecting an electrical current between a first electrode located in or around a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region;
Specification