Systems and methods for deriving relative physiologic measurements using an implanted sensor device

• US 20060064142A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Von Arx, Jeffrey A., Mazar, Scott T., Chavan, Abhi
• Application Number:
  US10/943,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• 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: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for deriving physiologic measurement values that are relative to ambient conditions. In one embodiment, the system comprises an implantable medical device (“IMD”), which includes a main body; and a remote sensor system operable to measure an absolute physiologic parameter value within a patient'"'"'s body. The system further comprises an external device, which can be operable to obtain an ambient condition value outside the patient'"'"'s body that can affect the absolute physiologic parameter value, and communicate the ambient condition value to the remote sensor system. In accordance with one embodiment, the remote sensor system then can be further operable to receive the ambient condition value and calculate a relative physiologic parameter value from the ambient condition value and the absolute physiologic parameter value.

Claims

1. A system for deriving relative physiologic measurement values, comprising:

an implantable medical device (“

IMD”

), comprising;

a main body; and

a remote sensor system operable to measure an absolute physiologic parameter value within a patient'"'"'s body; and

an external device operable to;

obtain an ambient condition value outside the patient'"'"'s body that can affect the absolute physiologic parameter value; and

communicate the ambient condition value to the remote sensor system;

wherein the remote sensor system is further operable to receive the ambient condition value and calculate a relative physiologic parameter value from the ambient condition value and the absolute physiologic parameter value.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the absolute physiologic parameter value is marked with a first time stamp and the ambient condition value is marked with a second time stamp, and wherein the remote sensor system uses the first and second time stamps to select an ambient condition value that is obtained at a time reasonably close to a time when an absolute physiologic parameter value is measured to calculate the relative physiologic parameter value.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote sensor system is further operable to communicate the relative physiologic parameter value to the main body of the IMD, and wherein the main body of the IMD is further operable to receive the relative physiologic parameter value and store it in a memory.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote sensor system of the IMD is further operable to communicate the relative physiologic parameter value to the external device.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the main body of the IMD is further operable to communicate the relative physiologic parameter value to the external device.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the external device comprises an external computing device in communication with a backend computing system, and wherein the external computing device is operable to communicate the relative physiologic parameter value to the backend computing system.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the backend computing system comprises a database accessible by one or more health care providers, and wherein the one or more health care providers can obtain the relative physiologic parameter value from the database and use the relative physiologic parameter value to provide a service to the patient selected from the group consisting of diagnosing the patient, prescribing medication to the patient, providing a therapy to the patient, or modifying one or more settings of the IMD.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the external computing device comprises an IMD programmer.

9. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the external computing device comprises a repeater device in communication with the backend computing system.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the absolute physiologic parameter value comprises blood pressure, wherein the ambient condition value comprises an ambient pressure value, and wherein the relative physiologic parameter value comprises the blood pressure value relative to the ambient pressure value.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the blood pressure can be intravascular or intracardiac blood pressure.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the external device includes a sensor operable to measure the ambient condition value.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the external device is operable to receive the ambient condition value from an ambient condition source.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the external device comprises a wireless communication device carried on or near the patient'"'"'s body.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the external device is a device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor device adapted to be worn around a patient'"'"'s body part;

a monitor device that can be connected to a belt;

a monitor device that can be worn as a patch;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a monitor device that can be carried in a pocket or a personal carry bag; and

a customized cell phone or pager.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote sensor system of the IMD and the external device are operable to communicate via a wireless communication connection selected from the group consisting of:

a radio frequency communication connection;

an acoustic communication connection;

an electrical field communication connection; and

an optical communication connection.

17. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the main body of the IMD and the external device are operable to communicate via a wireless communication connection selected from the group consisting of:

a radio frequency communication connection;

an acoustic communication connection;

an electrical field communication connection; and

an optical communication connection.

18. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the remote sensor system and the main body are operable to communicate via a wired or wireless communication connection.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the wireless communication connection is selected from the group consisting of:

a radio frequency communication connection;

an acoustic communication connection;

an electrical field communication connection; and

an optical communication connection.

20. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the IMD is selected from the group consisting of a physiologic parameter sensor, a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a bi-ventricular pacer, a ventricular assist blood pump, a drug delivery pump, a drug infusion device, a neurostimulating device, an intra-ocular shunt, and an intra-cranial shunt.

21. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the IMD is operable to provide therapy to a patient, and wherein the IMD uses the relative physiologic parameter value to determine the proper therapy to provide to the patient.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the therapy is selected from the group consisting of cardiac pacing therapy, anti-tachycardia therapy, drug delivery therapy, neurostimulation therapy, and blood pump therapy.

23. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the IMD further comprises a therapy system for providing the therapy to the patient, and wherein the therapy system is configured as part of the remote sensing system.

24. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote sensing system comprises a stent-like structure.

25. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the main body and the remote sensing system are configured and implanted as separate IMDs.

26. A method for deriving relative physiologic measurement values, comprising:

a remote sensor system associated with an implantable medical device (“

IMD”

) measuring an absolute physiologic parameter value within a patient'"'"'s body;

an external device obtaining an ambient condition value outside the patient'"'"'s body that can affect the absolute physiologic parameter value;

communicating the ambient condition value from the external device to the remote sensor system;

the remote sensor system calculating a relative physiologic parameter value from the ambient condition value and the absolute physiologic parameter value.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

marking the absolute physiologic parameter value with a first time stamp;

marking the ambient condition value with a second time stamp; and

the remote sensor system using the first and second time stamps to select an ambient condition value that is obtained at a time reasonably close to a time when an absolute physiologic parameter value is measured to calculate the relative physiologic parameter value.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

the remote sensor system communicating the relative physiologic parameter value to a main body of the IMD; and

the main body of the IMD storing the relative physiologic parameter value in a memory.

29. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

the remote sensor system communicating the relative physiologic parameter value to the external device.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

the main body of the IMD communicating the relative physiologic parameter value to the external device.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the external device comprises an external computing device in communication with a backend computing system, and wherein the method further comprises the step of the external computing device communicating the relative physiologic parameter value to the backend computing system.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the backend computing system comprises a database accessible by one or more health care providers, and wherein the one or more health care providers can obtain the relative physiologic parameter value from the database and use the relative physiologic parameter value to provide a service to the patient selected from the group consisting of diagnosing the patient, prescribing medication to the patient, providing a therapy to the patient, or modifying one or more settings of the IMD.

33. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the external computing device comprises an IMD programmer.

34. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the external computing device comprises a repeater device in communication with the backend computing system.

35. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the absolute physiologic parameter value comprises blood pressure, wherein the ambient condition value comprises an ambient pressure value, and wherein the relative physiologic parameter value comprises the blood pressure value relative to the ambient pressure.

36. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the step of the external device obtaining an ambient condition value comprises the external device measuring the ambient condition value.

37. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the step of the external device obtaining an ambient condition value comprises the external device receiving the ambient condition value from an ambient condition source.

38. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the external device comprises a wireless communication device carried on or near a patient'"'"'s body.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein the external device is a monitor device selected from the group consisting of:

a monitor device adapted to be worn around a patient'"'"'s body part;

a monitor device that can be connected to a belt;

a monitor device that can be worn as a patch;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a monitor device that can be carried in a pocket or a personal carry bag; and

a customized cell phone or pager.

40. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the step of communicating the relative physiologic parameter value from the remote sensor system to the main body comprises communicating via a wired or wireless communication connection.

41. The method as recited in claim 40, wherein the wireless communication connection is selected from the group consisting of:

a radio frequency communication connection;

an acoustic communication connection;

an electrical field communication connection; and

an optical communication connection.

42. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the IMD is selected from the group consisting of a physiologic parameter sensor, a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a bi-ventricular pacer, a ventricular assist blood pump, a drug delivery pump, a drug infusion device, a neurostimulating device, an intra-ocular shunt, and an intra-cranial shunt.

43. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

the IMD determining a proper therapy to provide to the patient using the relative physiologic parameter value; and

the IMD providing the proper therapy to the patient.

44. The method as recited in claim 43, wherein the therapy is selected from the group consisting of cardiac pacing therapy, anti-tachycardia therapy, drug delivery therapy, neurostimulation therapy, and blood pump therapy.

45. The method as recited in claim 43, wherein the IMD further comprises a therapy system for providing the therapy to the patient, and wherein the therapy system is configured as part of the remote sensing system.