Pressure/temperature/flow monitor device for vascular implantation

• US 6,645,143 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tricardia Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Tricardia Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Schwartz, Robert S., Holmes, David R., VanTassel, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/961,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/485, 600/486, 600/488, 600/500, 600/549, 600/504, 600/505
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00592 Elastic or resilient implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00606 Implements H-shaped in cross-section, i.e. with occluders on both sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00623 Introducing or retrieving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00

Abstract

A medical monitoring apparatus designed to be implanted in the vascular system is capable of sensing and transmitting via a telemetry link to an external monitor both pressure and temperature information. An internally or externally powered microcircuit component is supported on a stent-like structure and adapted to be placed in the vascular system. Placement in the ventricular septum permits measurement of pressure and temperature in the left ventricle without introducing thrombus generating materials in the left ventricle.

Claims

1. A medical monitoring apparatus for use in a heart located in a body, the heart having first and second chambers separated by a septum, the apparatus comprising:

a stent having a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the stent adapted for placement in the septum such that the first end contacts heart tissue adjacent the septum in the first chamber and the second end contacts heart tissue adjacent the septum in the second chamber, the stent further having a body extending between the first and second ends, either or both of the first and second ends having a cross sectional dimension larger than a cross sectional dimension of the body when the stent is placed in the septum;

a sensor coupled to the stent for detecting a physiological parameter in the heart; and

a telemetric transmitter coupled to the sensor and configured to transmit one or more signals representative of a detected physiological parameter percutaneously to a receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to the stent in a manner such that, when the stent is placed in the septum, the sensor is exposed to blood in at least one of the first and second heart chambers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stent comprises one or more hooks on the first end and one or more hooks on the second end.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detected physiological parameter is temperature, flow rate, or pressure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stent is self-expandable or balloon expandable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second heart chambers are left and right ventricles, and the septum is a ventricular septum.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source coupled to the sensor and the telemetric transmitter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second heart chambers are left and right atria, and the septum is an atrial septum.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends have diameters that are greater than a diameter of the lumen.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stent exhibits a dumbbell configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stent self-expands into the dumbell configuration when released from the confines of a catheter.

12. A method for measuring one or more physiological parameters in a heart located in a body, the heart having first and second chambers separated by a septum, the method comprising:

implanting a stent with an associated sensor within an opening formed through the septum between the first and second chambers;

detecting a physiological parameter in the heart with the implanted sensor; and

telemetrically transmitting one or more signals representative of the detected physiological parameter percutaneously to a receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of implanting the stent is performed by inserting the stent through a myocardium of either a left ventricle or a left atrium during open heart surgery.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of implanting the stent is performed by delivering the stent via a catheter routed through a vascular system.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising calibrating the sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising making an incision through the septum to form the opening.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the stent comprises a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending therebetween, and the stent is implanted such that the first end is located in the first chamber, and the second end is located in the second chamber.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising exposing the sensor to blood in at least one of the first and second chambers.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising occluding the flow of blood through the stent.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the detected physiological parameter is temperature, flow rate, or pressure.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

implanting a power source within the body; and

coupling power from the power source to the sensor.

21. The method of claim wherein step of implanting the stent comprises expanding the stent within the opening.

23. A medical monitoring apparatus for use in a body, the apparatus comprising:

a stent having a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending therebetween;

a sensor coupled to the stent for detecting a physiological parameter in the body;

an occluding member disposed within the lumen; and

a telemetric transmitter coupled to the sensor and configured to transmit one or more signals representative of a detected physiological parameter percutaneously to a receiver.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the stent is self-expandable or balloon expandable.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a power source coupled to the sensor and the telemetric transmitter.

26. A method for measuring one or more physiological parameters in a body, comprising:

implanting a stent with an associated sensor within the body;

occluding the flow of blood through the stent;

detecting a physiological parameter in the body with the implanted sensor; and

telemetrically transmitting one or more signals representative of the detected physiological parameter percutaneously to a receiver.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising calibrating the sensor.