Systems and methods for detecting intrathecal penetration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A patient device, comprising:
- an impedance detector electrically couplable to an electrical contact carried by a signal delivery device, wherein the signal delivery device carries a plurality of electrical contacts, and wherein the electrical contact is a distal-most electrical contact of the signal delivery device; and
a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the impedance detector, the computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed, perform the following operations;
receive information from the impedance detector corresponding to an impedance of a circuit that includes the electrical contact and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contact;
compare the detected impedance to a predetermined criterion; and
if the detected impedance meets the predetermined criterion, provide an indication that the patient'"'"'s dura has been penetrated.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting intrathecal penetration are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes detecting a value corresponding to an impedance of an electrical circuit that in turn includes an electrical contact located within the patient, and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contact. The method further includes comparing the detected value to a predetermined criterion, and, if the detected value meets the predetermined criterion, identifying penetration of the patient'"'"'s dura based at least in part on the detected value.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A patient device, comprising:
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an impedance detector electrically couplable to an electrical contact carried by a signal delivery device, wherein the signal delivery device carries a plurality of electrical contacts, and wherein the electrical contact is a distal-most electrical contact of the signal delivery device; and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the impedance detector, the computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed, perform the following operations; receive information from the impedance detector corresponding to an impedance of a circuit that includes the electrical contact and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contact; compare the detected impedance to a predetermined criterion; and if the detected impedance meets the predetermined criterion, provide an indication that the patient'"'"'s dura has been penetrated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A patient device, comprising:
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an implantable signal delivery device having a rounded tip; a pair of electrical contacts carried by the signal delivery device; and an intrathecal penetration detector, the intrathecal penetration detector including; an impedance detector electrically coupled to the electrical contacts; a processor; a display device; and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the impedance detector, the computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed, perform the following operations; receive information from the impedance detector corresponding to an impedance of a circuit that includes the electrical contacts and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contacts; compare the detected impedance to a predetermined criterion; and if the detected impedance meets the predetermined criterion, provide an indication at the display device that the patient'"'"'s dura has been penetrated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A patient device, comprising:
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an impedance detector electrically couplable to an electrical contact carried by a signal delivery device; and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the impedance detector, the computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed, perform the following operations; receive information from the impedance detector corresponding to an impedance of a circuit that includes the electrical contact and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contact; compare the detected impedance to a predetermined criterion; and if the detected impedance meets the predetermined criterion, provide an indication that the patient'"'"'s dura has been penetrated, wherein the predetermined criterion includes a reference impedance of 50 ohms or less. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A patient device, comprising:
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an impedance detector electrically couplable to an electrical contact carried by a signal delivery device; and a computer-readable medium operatively coupled to the impedance detector, the computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed, perform the following operations; receive information from the impedance detector corresponding to an impedance of a circuit that includes the electrical contact and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contact; compare the detected impedance to a predetermined criterion; if the detected impedance meets the predetermined criterion, provide an indication that the patient'"'"'s dura has been penetrated; and if the detected value does not meet the predetermined criterion, provide an indication that the patient'"'"'s dura has not been penetrated. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification