Implantable pressure transducer system optimized to correct environmental factors

• US 9,918,677 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eigler, Neal L., Mann, Brian M., Whiting, James S., Hafelfinger, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US14/748,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20160007924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 600481, 600483-486, 600488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

This invention relates generally to systems and methods for optimizing the performance and minimizing complications related to implanted sensors, such as pressure sensors, for the purposes of detecting, diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease in a medical patient. Systems and methods for anchoring implanted sensors to various body structures is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring congestive heart failure in a patient, the method comprising:

providing a pressure sensor secured to a proximal anchor and a distal anchor;

selecting at least one of the proximal or distal anchors based on a desired implant distance with respect to an atrial septum wall of a patient'"'"'s heart;

delivering the pressure sensor to a hole in the atrial septum wall;

deploying the pressure sensor with the proximal anchor on a proximal side of the atrial septum wall, and the distal anchor on a distal side of the atrial septum wall, wherein the at least one of the proximal or distal anchors position the pressure sensor to extend the desired implant distance with respect to the atrial septum wall; and

monitoring a fluid pressure in a left atrium of the patient'"'"'s heart.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired implant distant positions a sensor face of the pressure sensor to be substantially coplanar with a left atrium side surface of the atrial septum wall.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired implant distant positions a sensor face of the pressure sensor to extend beyond the atrial septum wall into the left atrium of the patient'"'"'s heart.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired implant distant positions a sensor face of the pressure sensor to be proximally recessed with respect to a left atrium side surface of the atrial septum wall.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein deploying the sensor comprises expanding the proximal and distal anchors to compress the atrial septum wall between the proximal anchor and the distal anchor until the pressure sensor extends the desired implant distance with respect to the atrial septum wall.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the deploying includes bending legs of the distal anchor outward until the legs are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a base portion of the pressure sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deploying includes bending legs of the distal anchor proximally until the legs are at more than 90 degrees to a longitudinal axis of a base portion of the pressure sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the deploying includes bending legs of the distal anchor proximally until the legs are at an angle Θ

beyond a perpendicular line to a longitudinal axis of a base portion of the pressure sensor, wherein the angle Θ

is between 0° and

20°

.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the distal anchor to have a spring constant such that an opposing force applied by the proximal anchor through the atrial septum wall of a particular thickness will cause legs of the distal anchor to bend outward until the legs are at a select angle Θ

.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the distal anchor and the proximal anchor to have first and second spring constants, respectively, such that the proximal anchor applies a lower spring force to the atrial septum wall than the distal anchor such that variations in septum wall thickness are accommodated by variations in the position of the distal anchor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximal anchor includes a proximal ring and a distal ring with a plurality of legs extending there between, the selecting comprising configuring the legs to follow a helical path between the proximal and distal rings, and wherein, during the deploying, the legs unwinding and buckling outward and distally relative to the proximal ring when moving from a compressed state to an expanded state.