Method for Using a Wireless Pressure Sensor to Monitor Pressure Inside the Human Heart

• US 20080082005A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings Ii S.A.R.L.
• Original Assignee: CardioMEMS Incorporated
• Inventors: Berr, Miguel, Corcoran, Kevin, White, Jason, Stern, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant

Abstract

A method for measuring pressure within a heart includes the steps of: (1) providing a passive wireless pressure sensor having a characteristic impedance and a deflectable surface, the characteristic impedance changing in response to deflection of the deflectable surface; (2) inserting the sensor to a location within the body of a patient at which the sensor can detect pressure within the heart; (3) affixing the sensor relative to the heart; (4) interrogating the sensor with an electromagnetic field; (5) receiving a signal from the sensor corresponding to a sensed pressure; and (6) leaving the sensor in situ so that future pressure measurements can be made.

Claims

1. A method for measuring pressure within a heart, comprising the steps of:

providing a passive wireless pressure sensor having a characteristic impedance and a deflectable surface, the characteristic impedance changing in response to deflection of the deflectable surface;

inserting the sensor to a location within the body of a patient at which the sensor can detect pressure within the heart;

affixing the sensor relative to the heart;

interrogating the sensor with an electromagnetic field;

receiving a signal from the sensor corresponding to a sensed pressure; and

leaving the sensor in situ so that future pressure measurements can be made.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the sensor to a location at which the sensor can detect pressure within the heart comprises the step of inserting the sensor to a location selected from the group comprising the left atrium, the right atrium, the left ventricle, and the right ventricle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the sensor to a location at which the sensor can detect pressure within the heart comprises the step of inserting the sensor to a location on the exterior wall of the heart.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of inserting the sensor to a location on the exterior wall of the heart comprises the step of inserting the sensor to a location in the interatrial groove of the heart.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of affixing the sensor relative to the heart comprises the step of suturing the interatrial groove closed.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of affixing the sensor relative to the heart comprises the step of suturing the sensor to a heart wall.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of affixing the sensor relative to the heart comprises the steps of:

affixing the sensor to a device for implanting within the heart; and

implanting the device within the heart.