Implantable monitoring probe

• US 20040260164A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Endonetics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tsukashima, Ross, Kilcoyne, John T., Johnson, George M., Klecher, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00148 using anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/037 Measuring oesophageal pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4233 oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means

Abstract

Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Claims

1-54. -54. (Canceled).

55. A medical device for placement within a body lumen of a patient, the device comprising:

a device housing sized for introduction into the body lumen;

a sensor, carried by the device housing, to sense at least one physiological parameter within the body lumen; and

a securing structure mounted to the device housing to secure the device housing relative to a surface within the body lumen, wherein the securing structure is at least partially degradable.

56. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.

57. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the securing structure includes a cavity formed in the device housing and a pin to capture luminal tissue within the cavity.

58. The medical device of claim 57, wherein the cavity includes a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw the tissue into the cavity.

59. The medical device of claim 57, wherein the pin is at least partially formed from a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material and releases the luminal tissue upon substantial dissolution or absorption of the material.

60. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the securing structure includes a pin, hook, barb, clip, suture or staple at least partially formed from a degradable material.

61. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the securing structure includes an adhesive.

62. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the securing structure includes a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material formed at least in part from a material selected from the list consisting of polylactic acid, copolymers of polylactic acid and glycolic acid, polymers of p-dioxanone and 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, and hydroxycarboxylic acids.

63. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the securing structure includes an expandable frame mounted to the device housing and sized to engage an interior wall of the body lumen upon expansion.

64. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the device housing is sized for introduction into an esophagus of the patient, and the securing structure includes an expandable frame mounted to the device housing and sized to engage an interior wall of the esophagus upon expansion.

65. The medical device of claim 64, wherein the expandable frame is formed at least partially from a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material.

66. The medical device of claim 55, further comprising a radio frequency transmitter carried by the device housing to transmit data generated by the sensor.

67. The medical device of claim 55, further comprising a position sensor carried by the device housing to sense an orientation of the device housing.

68. The medical device of claim 55, wherein the securing structure includes a bioabsorbable material.

69. A medical device for placement within a body lumen of a patient, the device comprising:

a device housing sized for introduction into the body lumen;

a sensor, carried by the device housing, to sense at least one physiological parameter within the body lumen; and

an expandable frame mounted to the device housing and sized to engage an interior wall of the body lumen upon expansion to thereby secure the device housing relative to the body lumen.

70. The medical device of claim 69, wherein the expandable frame comprises a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material.

71. The medical device of claim 69, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.

72. The medical device of claim 69, wherein the device housing is sized for introduction into an esophagus of the patient, and the expandable frame is sized to engage an interior wall of the esophagus upon expansion.

73. The medical device of claim 69, further comprising a radio frequency transmitter to transmit data generated by the sensor.

74. The medical device of claim 69, further comprising a position sensor carried by the device housing that senses an orientation of the device housing.

75. A method for remotely monitoring a physiological parameter in a body lumen of a patient, the method comprising:

introducing into the body lumen a medical device carrying a sensor to sense at least one physiological parameter within the body lumen;

securing the medical device relative to a surface within the body lumen with a securing structure mounted to the device housing that is at least partially degradable.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising activating the sensor to sense the physiological parameter.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the securing structure includes a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material.

78. The method of claim 75, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.

79. The method of claim 75, wherein the securing structure includes a cavity formed in the device housing and a pin, and securing the medical device includes advancing the pin within the cavity to capture luminal tissue.

80. The method of claim 79, further comprising applying vacuum pressure to the cavity to draw the tissue into the cavity.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein the pin is at least partially formed from a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material and releases the luminal tissue upon substantial dissolution or absorption of the material.

82. The method of claim 75, wherein the securing structure includes a pin, hook, barb, clip, suture or staple at least partially formed from a degradable material.

83. The method of claim 75, wherein the securing structure includes an adhesive, and wherein securing includes applying the adhesive to the device housing and a wall of the body lumen.

84. The method of claim 75, wherein the securing structure includes a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material formed at least in part from a material selected from the list consisting of polylactic acid, copolymers of polylactic acid and glycolic acid, polymers of p-dioxanone and 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, and hydroxycarboxylic acids.

85. The method of claim 75, wherein the securing structure includes an expandable frame mounted to the device housing, and securing includes expanding the frame to engage an interior wall of the body lumen upon expansion.

86. The method of claim 75, wherein the device housing is sized for introduction into an esophagus of the patient, the securing structure includes an expandable frame mounted to the device housing, and securing includes expanding the frame to engage an interior wall of the esophagus upon expansion.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the expandable frame is formed at least partially from a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material.

88. The method of claim 75, further comprising activating a radio frequency transmitter in the device housing to transmit data generated by the sensor.

89. A method for remotely monitoring a physiological parameter in a body lumen of a patient, the method comprising:

introducing into the body lumen a medical device carrying a sensor to sense at least one physiological parameter within the body lumen; and

expanding an expandable frame mounted to the device housing to a size sufficient to engage an interior wall of the body lumen to thereby secure the medical device relative to the body lumen.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising activating the sensor to sense the physiological parameter.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein the expandable frame comprises a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.

93. The method of claim 89, wherein introducing the medical device into the body lumen includes introducing the medical device into the esophagus of the patient.

94. The method of claim 89, further comprising activating a radio frequency transmitter in the medical device to transmit data generated by the sensor.

95. A medical device for placement within a body lumen of a patient, the device comprising:

a device housing sized for introduction into the body lumen;

means, carried by the device housing, for sensing at least one physiological parameter within the body lumen; and

means for securing the device housing relative to a surface within the body lumen, wherein the securing securing means is at least partially degradable.

96. The medical device of claim 95, wherein the sensing means includes means for sensing at least one of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.

97. The medical device of claim 95, wherein the securing means includes means for capturing luminal tissue, wherein the capturing means is at least partially formed from a dissolvable or bioabsorbable material and releases the luminal tissue upon substantial dissolution or absorption of the material.

98. The medical device of claim 95, wherein the securing means includes a radial expansion means for engaging an interior wall of the body lumen.