METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLANTABLE PRESSURE TRANSDUCER FOR REGULATING BLOOD PRESSURE

• US 20090143837A1
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Inventors: Rossing, Martin A., Irwin, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension

Abstract

An apparatus and a system can chronically and automatically measure a physiologic parameter associated with the high pressure side of the vasculature and/or regulate blood pressure based upon the measured parameter. The apparatus may be made up of a transducer, a baroreflex activation device having one or more electrodes, and a lead having two or more conductors. The system can measure a physiologic parameter and selectively administer a therapy, such as, for example, electro-stimulation of baroreceptors, based upon the measurement. The transducer for measuring the physiologic parameter can be chronically implanted in the high-pressure side of the vasculature. The implantation method may include intravascularly positioning the transducer in the external carotid artery in such a way that the transducer is first introduced into the arterial vasculature through the superior thyroid artery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for an implantable medical device that monitors at least one physiologic parameter and selectively stimulates a baroreflex response, the apparatus comprising:

a transducer adapted to measure the at least one physiologic parameter from within a blood vessel;

an electrode adapted to stimulate the baroreflex response;

an elongate body having an at least one distal end adapted to be positioned within the blood vessel with the transducer positioned proximate the at least one distal end;

a first conductor in the elongate body operably coupled to the transducer to relay a signal representative of the physiologic parameter from the transducer; and

a second conductor in the elongate body adapted to relay a therapy signal to the electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physiologic parameter measured by the transducer is representative of a blood pressure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate body further comprises a second distal end adapted to be positioned about a blood vessel, with the electrode positioned proximate the second distal end.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second distal end is positioned proximal to the first distal end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for selectively activating the electrode at least partly in response to the sensor signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first conductor is adapted to supply power to the transducer and the second conductor is adapted to supply power to the electrode.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second conductor is electrically coupled to the transducer and the second conductor is adapted to supply power to the electrode and to the transducer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured for continuously monitoring at least one physiologic parameter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a lead.

10. A medical system for selectively stimulating a baroreflex response in response to a measurement of a physiologic parameter, the medical system comprising:

at least one apparatus having an elongate body with at least one distal end and including a transducer adapted to measure the physiologic parameter from within a blood vessel and generate a sensor signal representative of the physiologic parameter and an electrode adapted to receive a therapy signal and stimulate the baroreflex response; and

a control unit that communicates signals with the transducer and the electrode to provide a baroreflex activation therapy.

11. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the physiologic parameter measured by the transducer is representative of a blood pressure.

12. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the elongate body further comprises a second distal end adapted to be positioned about a blood vessel, with the electrode positioned proximate the second distal end.

13. The medical system of claim 12, wherein the second distal end is positioned proximal to the first distal end.

14. The medical system of claim 12, further comprising means for selectively activating the electrode at least partly in response to the sensor signal.

15. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the at least one apparatus comprises:

a first conductor operably coupled to the transducer to relay the sensor signal; and

a second conductor operably coupled to the electrode to relay the therapy signal.

16. The medical system of claim 15, wherein the first conductor is adapted to supply power to the transducer and the second conductor is adapted to supply power to the electrode.

17. The medical system of claim 15, wherein the second conductor is electrically coupled to the transducer and the second conductor is adapted to supply power to the electrode and to the transducer.

18. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the at least one apparatus comprises a lead.

19. A method of initiating a baroreflex response, the method comprising:

accessing a first blood vessel having a region capable of initiating a baroreflex response;

creating an opening in a second blood vessel proximate the region and branching from the first blood vessel;

inserting a transducer operably carried by a distal end of an apparatus into the opening in the second blood vessel;

positioning an electrode operably carried by the distal end of the apparatus proximate the region of the first blood vessel; and

operably connecting the transducer and the electrode to a control unit; and

causing the control unit to selectively generate a therapy signal delivered to the electrode in response to a sensor signal representative of the physiologic parameter measured by the transducer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein creating the opening in the second blood vessel is accomplished by completely snipping the second blood vessel.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first blood vessel and the second blood vessel are arteries and the method is performed on the high pressure side of the vasculature.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein positioning the electrode positions the electrode about an exterior portion of the first blood vessel.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein positioning the electrode positions the electrode about a nerve proximate the first blood vessel.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein creating the opening in the second blood vessel branching from the first blood vessel is performed on a superior thyroid artery branching from a carotid sinus.

25. A method of initiating a baroreflex response, the method comprising:

providing a control unit and at least one apparatus adapted to be implanted in a patient; and

providing instructions for implanting the at least one apparatus including;

accessing a first blood vessel having a region capable of initiating a baroreflex response;

creating an opening in a second blood vessel proximate the region and branching from the first blood vessel;

inserting a transducer operably carried by a distal end of an apparatus into the opening in the second blood vessel;

positioning an electrode operably carried by the distal end of the apparatus proximate the region of the first blood vessel; and

operably connecting the transducer and the electrode to a control unit; and

causing the control unit to selectively generate a therapy signal delivered to the electrode in response to a sensor signal representative of the physiologic parameter measured by the transducer.

26. The method of claims 25, wherein creating the opening in the second blood vessel is accomplished by completely snipping the second blood vessel.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first blood vessel and the second blood vessel are arteries and the method is performed on the high pressure side of the vasculature.

28. The method of claims 25, wherein positioning the electrode positions the electrode about an exterior portion of the first blood vessel.

29. The method of claims 25, wherein positioning the electrode positions the electrode about a nerve proximate the first blood vessel.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein creating the opening in the second blood vessel branching from the first blood vessel is performed on a superior thyroid artery branching from an external carotid artery.