SYSTEM FOR ANCHORING AN IMPLANTABLE SENSOR IN A VESSEL

• US 20080275350A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Salo, Rodney W., Mi, Bin, Liao, Wangcai
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02152 specially adapted for venous pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6862 Stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means

Abstract

A system and a method of disposing a second sensor module overlying a first sensor module system is described. A first assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module is at least partially overlapped by a second assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module. If necessary or desired, the functions of the second sensor module can replace the functions of the first sensor module. The sensor module may include a blood pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor system configured to be delivered and secured at a location within an artery or vessel, the sensor system comprising:

a first assembly including a first sensor module coupled to a first expandable anchor, the first anchor configured to transition between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and

a second assembly including a second sensor module coupled to a second anchor, the second anchor configured to transition between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;

wherein the first anchor is configured to at least partially overlap the second anchor, such that the second sensor module is spaced apart from the first sensor module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second anchors are configured to mate such that the second sensor module is circumferentially offset from the first sensor module within the artery or vessel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second anchors are configured to mate such that the second sensor module is longitudinally offset from the first sensor module within the artery or vessel.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third assembly including a third sensor module coupled to a third anchor, the third anchor configured to transition between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the third anchor is configured to at least partially overlap the second anchor, such that the third sensor module is spaced apart from the second sensor module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first expandable anchor is self-expanding or balloon expandable.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second expandable anchor is self-expanding or balloon expandable.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the third expandable anchor is self-expanding or balloon expandable.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor module includes a pressure sensor adapted to measure blood pressure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module includes a pressure sensor adapted to measure blood pressure.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor each include corresponding first and second alignment features.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the alignment feature is a radiopaque marker.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first anchor is configured to interlock with the second anchor.

13. A method of overlapping a first assembly including a first expandable anchor and a first sensor module with a second assembly including a second expandable anchor and a second sensor module within an artery or vessel, the method comprising:

evaluating a position of first sensor module assembly at a target location within the artery or vessel;

delivering the second assembly to the target location within the pulmonary artery; and

positioning the second assembly within the first assembly such that the first expandable anchor at least partially overlaps the second expandable anchor.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising aligning a first alignment feature located on the first anchor with a second alignment feature located on the second anchor.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising expanding the second expandable anchor of the second assembly.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the position of the second sensor module assembly.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising deactivating the first sensor module.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising activating the second sensor module.

19. A sensor module assembly configured to mate with an implanted assembly disposed within a pulmonary artery, the implanted assembly including a first sensor module coupled to a first anchor having a first alignment feature, the assembly comprising a second assembly including a second sensor module coupled to a second expandable anchor, the second anchor configured to transition between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the second anchor including a second alignment feature, wherein the second alignment feature is configured to align with the first alignment feature, such that the second anchor at least partially overlies the first anchor.

20. A method of reinforcing a first assembly including a first sensor module coupled to a first expandable anchor at a target location within an artery or vessel, the method comprising:

delivering a second assembly including a second expandable anchor to the target location within the pulmonary artery;

overlapping at least a portion of the second assembly with at least a portion of the first assembly such that the second anchor is at least partially overlapped by the first anchor; and

expanding the second expandable anchor such that a position of the first expandable anchor is reinforced at the target location.