System with a reservoir for perfusion management

• US 7,871,402 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHUMATE, VICTORIA PEARL
• Application Number:
  US11/891,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93.01, 604/164.01, 604/187, 604194-196, 604/239, 604/264, 604/272, 600101-183, 606/107
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system for perfusion management that monitors, maintains, diagnoses, or treats perfusion deficiencies.

Claims

1. A method for perfusion management, comprising:

storing a receivable in an implanted storage medium;

extending a flexible conduit between the storage medium and a target location;

transmitting the receivable from the storage medium to the target location; and

deploying one or more sensors of an array of sensors distributed along a length of the flexible conduit via one or more openable and/or closable portholes.

2. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising gathering, processing, storing and/or transmitting data.

3. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising imaging, and/or detecting a level of pressure, temperature, chemical, gas, electrolyte, composition, concentration, and/or flow.

4. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising delivering chemicals, chemical compounds, proteins, lipoproteins, glycoproteins, sugars, lipids, antigens, antibodies, cytokines, peptides, neurotransmitters, hormones, ions, messenger molecules, nucleic acids, engineered nucleic acids, nucleic acid vectors, drugs, cells, cell fragments, cell organelles, liposomes, pharmaceutical agents, biological materials, and/or biological fractions internal and/or external to said storage medium.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing an operation and/or action using a tool.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning a tool relative to the target location.

7. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising fully or partially blocking and/or shunting a liquid flow.

8. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising ablating, degrading, and/or liquefying a cell, a mass of cells, a tissue, and/or an assembly of biological materials exhibiting shear strength.

9. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising capturing a cell, a tissue, a fluid, a gel, a sample, a colloid, an emulsion, a debris, a contaminant, and/or a biological material.

10. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sampling a cell, a mass of cells, a tissue, and/or an assembly of biological materials exhibiting shear strength.

11. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising cauterizing and/or sealing a cell, a mass of cells, a tissue, and/or an assembly of biological materials exhibiting shear strength.

12. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising dispensing a fluid at a controlled rate.

13. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising controlling and/or guiding said flexible conduit.

14. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising placing said device fully or partially in vivo.

15. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising configuring said device for implantation in an animal.

16. The method for perfusion management according to claim 15, wherein said animal is human.

17. The method for perfusion management according to claim 16, further comprising configuring said device for placement in a selected location in said human.

18. The method for perfusion management according to claim 17, wherein said selected location is in a circulatory system, an aorta and/or in a vena cava.

19. The method for perfusion management according to claim 1, further comprising releasing an electric current and/or an electromagnetic radiation in proximity to a cell, a tissue, and/or an assembly of biological materials exhibiting shear strength.