Cardiovascular Patents (Class 600/481)
  • Patent number: 8123685
    Abstract: In order to provide a simple and reliable monitoring technique for a number of different parameters of a patient in a bed (2), a system (1) is provided, said system (1) comprising: at least one first sensor device (25) adapted to measure a first force component acting in a first direction (12), said first force component corresponding to a first parameter of the patient, at least one second sensor device (36) adapted to measure a second force component acting in a second direction (13, 14), said second force component corresponding to a second parameter of the patient, and a data device (16) adapted to acquire the measured data from the at least one first sensor device (25) and the at least one second sensor device (36) and to process those data in order to provide information about the number of parameters of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Brauers, Ralf Dorscheid, Frank Johnen
  • Publication number: 20120046557
    Abstract: A fluid titration system has an optical sensor, a physiological monitor, a titration controller and an infusion device. The optical sensor transmits multiple wavelengths of light into a tissue site of a person and detects the optical radiation after attenuation by pulsatile blood flowing within the tissue site. The physiological monitor receives a resulting sensor signal and derives a plethysmograph that corresponds to the pulsatile blood flow. The monitor also calculates a plethysmograph variability measure that is responsive to changes in perfusion at the tissue site. A titration controller generates a fluid control output according to the variability measure. The infusion device administers a liquid solution via an intravenous (IV) connection to the person according to the fluid control output so as to regulate at least one of a fluid flow start, rate and stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: Massi E. Kiani
  • Patent number: 8118749
    Abstract: An implant assembly is implanted in vivo within a vascular system in which a vessel divides at a furcation into two sub-vessels, each sub-vessel having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said vessel. An implant assembly is released into a vessel such as a pulmonary arterial vessel of a patient. The implant assembly has a diameter smaller than or substantially equal to the inner diameter of the vessel and larger than the inner diameter of each of the sub-vessels. The implant assembly is configured so that it moves downstream within the vessel along with the flow of blood. When the implant assembly reaches a furcation where the vessel divides, the implant assembly is too large and not sufficiently compliant to fit through either of the smaller branch vessels. The implant assembly thus lodges at the furcation, prevented from moving downstream by being too large and stiff to fit into the branch vessels, and prevented from moving upstream by the flow of blood through the arteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: CardioMEMS, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason White, Kelly Tumlin
  • Patent number: 8111151
    Abstract: A WAN-based remote mobile monitoring method and device of electrophysiological data, including microprocessor circuit, electrophysiological signal sampling processing circuit, data storage circuit, image liquid crystal circuit, real-time clock, emergent calling circuit, working power supply management circuit, wireless network interface circuit, USB interface circuit, etc, has the in-built binding IP address of the remote electrophysiological data monitoring server, TCP/IP protocol, PPP protocol and BlueTooth protocol. Application controls self-adaptive analysis computing, exception event warning and alarming privilege graded setting, event data package combination, network digital communication, data storage circuit area management, safety information data storage management and remote emergent calling of the remote mobile monitoring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventors: Xiaohong Zhu, Haiqing Gao, Yonggang Zhao, Qichun Chen, Shiang Sun
  • Publication number: 20120029339
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device configured to acquire endoluminal data points while moving through a lumen of a subject's body generally in a first direction with respect to the lumen. While the endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through the lumen, a plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen are acquired using the endoluminal data-acquisition device. It is determined that, at least one location, two or more endoluminal data points were acquired. An output is generated using a portion of the plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen acquired using the endoluminal data-acquisition device, by using only a single endoluminal data point corresponding to the location. Other applications are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: SYNC-RX, LTD.
    Inventors: Ran COHEN, Zohar BARZELAY, Eldad KLAIMAN, David TOLKOWSKY
  • Publication number: 20120029372
    Abstract: Drug delivery methods and systems that include a determination of whether a cardiac condition is normal or abnormal, so that a drug may be administered in accordance with that determination. In one implementation, a drug delivery device may be controlled to reduce or stop the drug administration when a normal cardiac condition is detected. In another implementation, a patient monitoring device determines the duration that a cardiac condition is normal and provides an output indicative of the determination so that the patient may alter a therapy accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul A. Haefner, Loell Boyce Moon
  • Patent number: 8107707
    Abstract: A system (500) for visualizing a vascular structure represented by a three-dimensional angiography dataset is disclosed. Respective voxel values are associated with respective voxels. The dataset represents a vascular structure. The system comprises means (502) for establishing respective filling values; means (504) for identifying respective minimum filling values; means (506) for computing respective deficiency values; and an output (514) for providing a visualization in dependence on the deficiency values. A respective filling value is indicative of an amount of blood flow at the respective position in the vascular structure. A respective minimum filling value is a minimum of the filling values associated with the positions upstream of the respective position. A respective deficiency value is indicative of a difference between the filling value associated with the respective position and the minimum filling value associated with the respective position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Rafael Wiemker, Roland Opfer, Thomas Buelow
  • Publication number: 20120022382
    Abstract: A wireless plethysmogram sensor unit is capable of obtaining a plethysmogram from a living tissue of a measuring object and of transmitting the plethysmogram to a processing unit outside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a light source to emit measuring light into the living tissue and a light receiving element to receive light emerging from the tissue, which is accompanied by pulsation caused by absorption by arteries in the tissue. A memory stores a plethysmogram obtained in accordance with the light received by the light receiving element. A short range wireless communicator transmits the plethysmogram to the processing unit. A power source provides power to other elements in the sensor unit, and a controller controls the elements of the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Niwa Daisuke, Koji Terumoto, Kazuhiro Oguchi, Masahide Tanaka, Ken Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20120016246
    Abstract: A method for estimating a blood volume of a mammalian subject uses an electronic apparatus to i) compute a blood volume index from hemodynamic data for the subject, and ii) use the blood volume index to generate an output indicative of an estimated blood volume of the subject. The blood volume index is defined in terms of a baseline electrical body impedance of the subject, a baseline heart rate of the subject, an electrical body impedance of the subject at a time of interest, and a heart rate of the subject at the time of interest. The blood volume index may be further defined in terms of a relative heart rate and a relative electrical body impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Sandgaard
  • Patent number: 8096953
    Abstract: An organism information detecting apparatus includes a detector that detects organism information of a subject for a predetermined sampling time period, determines a motion state of the subject when the organism information is detected, and outputs an organism signal. A first calculator processes the organism signal to calculate organism information data, the detector determining a reliability degree of the organism information data based on whether the determined motion state of the subject is a previously determined motion state. A second calculator calculates an average value of the amount of variation per time of data obtained by digitizing the organism signal, the average value being data supplementary to the organism information data. The detector determines the motion state of the subject based on whether the supplementary data exceeds a previously determined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Kazuya Maegawa, Koichi Moriya, Shinichiro Miyahara, Kaori Takano
  • Patent number: 8092393
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolai Rulkov, Mark Hunt, Donald Brady
  • Publication number: 20120004561
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one patient physiological parameter from an imaging procedure includes at least the steps of measuring time enhancement outputs for at least two different regions of interest, and determining at least one difference between the time enhancement outputs to provide a measure of the at least one patient physiological parameter. The physiological parameter can be a parameter of the cardiopulmonary system. It can also be the cardiac output, the blood volume in a region, a rate transfer term or a transit delay. A first time enhancement output may be measured in the ascending aorta or the descending aorta and a second time enhancement output may be measured in the pulmonary artery trunk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Kalafut F. John
  • Patent number: 8088074
    Abstract: A monitoring device may include logic to receive arterial blood pressure data associated with a patient and receive tissue hemoglobin data associated with the patient. The logic may also calculate a linear correlation between the arterial blood pressure data and the tissue hemoglobin data. The correlation may be used to assess vascular reactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignees: Raba Equity Partners II, LLC, The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Robert A. Baruch, Ken M. Brady
  • Patent number: 8088075
    Abstract: In a method and system for identifying an implantable medical device (IMD), which is arranged to be disposed in a body, by conducting a telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and an external programmer device, cardiac data are registered from a point on the body of a patient having an IMD with which a communication session is to be established. The registered cardiac data are compared with one or more sets of intracardiac data pertaining to patients having an IMD implanted and to identify the IMD with which the communication session is to be conducted by the performed comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Jan Ljunström, Hans Abrahamson, Leif Lindkvist, Stefan Wahlberg, Niklas Sköldengen
  • Publication number: 20110319769
    Abstract: An ischemia monitoring system has detectors for detecting the onset of an ischemic event of a tissue in subject, the end of the ischemic event and the end of a following recovery from the ischemic event, respectively. A time processor determines the duration of the ischemic event and the recovery period based on the detected onset and end times. A status processor co-processes the two determined time durations for the purpose of monitoring the ischemic status of the subject and detecting any deterioration in ischemic status for the latest ischemic event as compared to previous ischemic events that have occurred in the subject's tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Sven-Erik Hedberg, Tomas Svensson, Michael Broomé, Karin Järverud, Stefan Hjelm
  • Patent number: 8075490
    Abstract: A system and a method for assessing the patency of a vessel or a graft during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery or PTCA, said system comprising a syringe capable of electronically measuring the pressure and flow of a fluid that is injected into the vessel or graft. The system also comprises a reading device connected to said syringe for displaying flow, pressure and flow resistance parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Assut Europe S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mikael Löfgren, Mikael Charlez
  • Publication number: 20110295107
    Abstract: A system marks and measures a Vessel lumen, heart valve or body cavity using a circumference measuring catheter. A catheter system comprises a catheter device including a loop having an adjustable circumference that is adjustable within a vessel. The catheter device includes a means for adjusting the circumference of the loop and a means for measuring adjusted loop circumference. An output unit sends data indicating the measured loop (vessel) circumference or cross-sectional area derived using the measured loop circumference for presentation to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Soroosh Kargar, Weng Lei
  • Publication number: 20110295126
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring a patient that includes a cuff configured to inflate to at least partially occlude an artery of the patient and a cuff controller configured to control inflation and deflation of the cuff. The system also includes a sensor configured to receive a signal associated with the at least partially occluded artery and generate an output signal based on the received signal. Also included is a signal analysis module configured to receive the output signal and determine a first hemodynamic parameter based on a first set of data obtained during inflation of the cuff and a second set of data obtained during deflation of the cuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: David E. Quinn, Matt Kinsley, Tyson B. Whitaker, John D. Seller
  • Patent number: 8068906
    Abstract: A method of analyzing cardiac functions in a subject using a processing system is described. The method may include applying one or more electrical signals having a plurality of frequencies to the subject and detecting a response to the applied one or more signals from the subject. A characteristic frequency can then be determined from the applied and received signals, and at least one component of the impedance (e.g., reactance, phase shift) can be measured at the characteristic frequency. Thus, the impedance or a component of impedance at a characteristic frequency can be determined for a number of sequential time instances. A new characteristic frequency may be determined within a cardiac cycle (e.g., with each sequential time instant) or the same characteristic frequency may be used throughout the cardiac cycle during which instantaneous values of impedance (or a component of impedance) are determined. These instantaneous values may be used to determine one or more indicia of cardiac function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Aorora Technologies Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Scott Matthew Chetham
  • Patent number: 8066637
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the state of entrainment between biological systems which exhibit oscillatory behavior such as heart rhythms, respiration, blood pressure waves and low frequency brain waves based on a determination of heart rate variability (HRV) and an evaluation of the power spectrum thereof. Entrainment reflects a harmonious balance between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system within the body. This internal state of heightened physiological efficiency enhances health and promotes optimal performance. According to one embodiment a method is used to determine the entrainment level based on an entrainment parameter related to HRV. The method first determines the power distribution spectrum (PSD) and then calculates an entrainment parameter (EP), which is a measure of the power distribution in the HRV spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Quantum Intech, Inc.
    Inventors: Doc L. Childre, Rollin I. McCraty, Michael A. Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20110282215
    Abstract: Diagnostic tool comprising a sheet representing a human or animal body, which body is divided into a set of zones, a first identifier being attributed to each zone, which tool also comprises, for each diagnostic to be applied, a set of indicators formed by a first indicator reproducing the first identifier attributed to the first of said zones where a person in charge of making the diagnostic must apply at least one finger of one of his or her hands and a sequence of second indicators reproducing the first identifiers attributed to the successive points attributed in zones thus identified where said person must successively apply at least one finger of his or her other hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Alexandra Martz
  • Patent number: 8057398
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments of the invention include a method, system, and apparatus to monitor cardiovascular signals such as arterial blood pressure (ABP), pulse oximetry (POX), and intracranial pressure (ICP). The system can be used to calculate and monitor useful clinical information such as heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse pressure variation (PPV), harmonic phases, pulse morphology, and for artifact removal. The method uses a statistical state-space model of cardiovascular signals and a generalized Kalman filter (EKF) to simultaneously estimate and track the cardiovascular parameters of interest such as the cardiac fundamental frequency and higher harmonics, respiratory fundamental frequency and higher harmonics, cardiac component harmonic amplitudes and phases, respiratory component harmonic amplitudes and phases, and PPV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: APDM, Inc., State of Oregon by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Portland State University
    Inventors: James McNames, Pedro Mateo Riobo Aboy
  • Publication number: 20110275941
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for using environmental data to manage health care are disclosed. One aspect is an advanced patient management system. In various embodiments, the system includes at least one implantable medical device (IMD) to acquire at least one IMD parameter indicative of patient wellness, means to acquire at least one environmental parameter from at least one external source, and means to correlate the at least one parameter indicative of patient wellness and the at least one environmental parameter to assist with patient health care decisions. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: John Hatlestad, Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Qingsheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 8052610
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a sensor for sensing a first signal in a patient, detection circuitry for receiving the first signal, determining a parameter therefrom, and detecting a first event in response to the parameter. The device further includes control circuitry configured to receive a second signal corresponding to a second event and to determine a threshold from the stored parameter in response to receiving the second event signal. The detection circuitry detects the first event in response to the parameter crossing the determined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland W. M. Bullens, Roger Kessels
  • Publication number: 20110270097
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a method and related apparatus for determining a physiological parameter from the arterial blood pressure signal, the photoplethysmographic signal, the electrocardiogram, or any other a physiologic signal whose pulse amplitude variation is affected by respiration and it is indicative of fluid status in order to quantify the degree of amplitude modulation due to respiration (pulse variation) and help assess fluid responsiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Pedro Mateo Riobo Aboy, Cristina Crespo Veiga
  • Publication number: 20110263991
    Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for non-invasively assessing one or more parameters associated with fluidic systems such as the circulatory system of a living organism, when such parameters are potentially affected by other concurrent events. In one exemplary embodiment, apparatus and methods for compensating for occlusive events (e.g., pressure cuff inflation) occurring ipsilateral to the location of parameter measurement are disclosed. Upon passive detection of signal degradation resulting from the event, the apparatus selectively enters a “wait state” wherein further processing of the hemodynamic data is suspended until the degrading event subsides. This behavior mitigates any adverse effects the event might have on the accuracy of the representation of the measured hemodynamic parameter generated by the system. In another exemplary embodiment, the measured data is analyzed in order to classify the type of event (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory J. Martin, Gregory I. Voss, Manouchehr Goharlaee, Stuart L. Gallant, Warren Craycroft
  • Patent number: 8033996
    Abstract: This invention provides user interfaces that more intuitively display physiological data obtained from physiological monitoring of one or more subjects. Specifically, the user interfaces of this invention create and display one or more avatars having behaviors guided by physiological monitoring data. The monitoring data is preferably obtained when the subject is performing normal tasks without substantial restraint. This invention provides a range of implementations that accommodate user having varying processing and graphics capabilities, e.g., from handheld electronic devices to ordinary PC-type computers and to systems with enhanced graphics capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventor: Andrew Behar
  • Patent number: 8029447
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multipurpose host system for processing and displaying invasive cardiovascular diagnostic measurement data. The system includes a an external input signal bus interface. The bus interface receives data arising from cardiovascular diagnostic measurement sensors. Measurement processing components receive data from particular sensor types. Based on the received data, the processing components render diagnostic measurement parameter values. A multi-mode graphical user interface includes display components corresponding to data received from particular sensor types. The user interface provides recommended action prompts that guide a user through a series of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: William Russell Kanz, Bruce Richard Chapman, Howard David Alpert
  • Patent number: 8025624
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing cardiac performance through cardiac vibration monitoring is described. Cardiac vibration measures are directly collected through an implantable medical device. Cardiac events including at least one first heart sound reflected by the cardiac vibration measures are identified. The first heart sound is correlated to cardiac dimensional measures relative to performance of an intrathoracic pressure maneuver. The cardiac dimensional measures are grouped into at least one measures set corresponding to a temporal phase of the intrathoracic pressure maneuver. The at least one cardiac dimensional measures set is evaluated against a cardiac dimensional trend for the corresponding intrathoracic pressure maneuver temporal phase to represent cardiac performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Wariar, Gerrard M. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20110230812
    Abstract: A method and a device for recognition of paravasal bleeding upon a supplying of blood to a vascular access via a line and/or upon the removal of blood from a vascular access via a line, particularly paravasal bleeding during extra-corporeal blood treatment, such as for hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration is provided. A device for extra-corporeal blood treatment, particularly for hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration, comprising a device for recognition of paravasal bleeding is also provided. The method and the device are based on the change of arterial pressure in the arterial branch or the venous pressure in the venous branch of the extra-corporeal circuit being registered during the extra-corporeal blood treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Pascal Kopperschmidt, Gross Malte, Spickermann Reiner
  • Patent number: 8021307
    Abstract: A delivery system for fixation of an implant assembly having an intracorporeal device at a deployment site using an anchoring structure. This invention provides an implant assembly having a an anchor for fixation within a vessel. The anchoring structure adapted to be delivered via a catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: CardioMEMS, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason White, Kelly Tumlin
  • Publication number: 20110224748
    Abstract: A monitoring device for a patient for predicting a cardiovascular anomaly and a method for operating a monitoring device is provided. Furthermore, an implantable electrotherapy device, such as an implantable cardiac pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter, or an implantable defibrillator, having a monitoring device are also provided. In an embodiment, the monitoring device acquires a value change of a hemodynamic parameter, which occurs as a result of a detected value change of a state parameter, for example, as a result of an activation or deactivation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy. By suitable evaluation of the value change of the hemodynamic parameter, the monitoring device can output an evaluation result signal which is indicative of an imminence of a cardiovascular anomaly, such as a cardiac decompensation, long beforehand and with high specificity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Michael LIPPERT, Michael Vollkron, Gerald Czygan, Stefan Paule
  • Patent number: 8016762
    Abstract: Blood pressure values measured in four limbs are plotted on first to fourth linear axes which extend from an origin in an upper right direction, an upper left direction, a lower left direction, and a lower right direction respectively, and a rectangle composed of vertices which are determined by the plotted blood pressure values is illustrated to present the blood pressure values. This allows a specific measured value in each site to be easily known, and the relationships between the blood pressure values in the four limbs are intuitively understood from the shape of the rectangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuei Ogawa, Yoshiya Muraki, Tomoyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8016814
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for delivering a diagnostic or therapeutic treatment, substance or device to a target area located within the body of a human or animal subject. A tissue penetrating catheter is positioned within a body lumen near the target area. A hollow penetrator is then advanced from the tissue penetrating catheter and penetrated from the body lumen in which the penetrating catheter is positioned into tissue in the direction of the target area. Thereafter, an elongate optical device (e.g., an optically equipped guidewire or catheter) is advanced through the hollow penetrator and continues to advance through tissue, in the direction of the target area. The elongate optical device is connected to an optical processing device (e.g., a spectrometer) which provides optically determined data (e.g., spectral reflectance, pH, oxygen concentration, temperature) indicating when the elongate optical device has entered the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Blakstvedt, Jesus Casas, Timothy Robinson
  • Patent number: 8016761
    Abstract: A method and system for use in measuring the endothelial dysfunction in a patient utilizing flow mediated dilation. The system includes both a non-invasive blood pressure monitor and an ultrasound system that communicate with each other to perform the flow mediated dilation. Initially, the ultrasound transducer and blood pressure cuff are positioned on an arm of the patient and the blood pressure cuff is inflated to occlude an artery for an occlusion period. Following the occlusion period, the ultrasound system is automatically signaled to begin determining both the diameter of the artery and the flow rate of blood through the artery without any operator intervention. Based upon the detected characteristics of the artery before and after occlusion, the system can determine the endothelial dysfunction of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: The General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce A. Friedman, Kai E. Thomenius, Aaron M. Dentinger
  • Patent number: 8016765
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new multi-mode sphygmomanometer which integrates into one enclosure a full manual sphygmomanometer comprising a mechanical cuff pressure measuring and display system, a manual inflation bulb and deflation valve such elements comprising the manual/mechanical aspect of the integrated device. Within the same physical enclosure and integrated with the manual sphygmomanometer the device also comprises an electronic blood pressure measuring and monitoring device comprising electronic sensing of the pressure, electronic indication of the cuff pressure and oscillation or KS amplitudes and logic implemented in a microprocessor that automatically interprets these signals to determine the BP parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Maynard Ramsey
  • Publication number: 20110212478
    Abstract: A catheter for insertion into a blood vessel, the catheter having a sampling part arranged to capture a blood sample at a plurality of locations along a length of the blood vessel and an apparatus arranged to analyse blood taken from a plurality of locations along the length of the blood vessel and to provide a profile of concentration levels along the length of the blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Richard Harley Grenville OWEN, Stephen Blatcher, Stewart Maddison Fox, Martin Lawrence Hughes
  • Patent number: 8007436
    Abstract: A biological information monitoring system includes a plurality of biological information sensor modules 1A and 1B attached to the right side and left side of a subject body, which sensor modules 1A and 1B each incorporate a biological information sensor for detecting biological information, and a communicator capable of wireless radio communication for the biological information. At least one of the biological information sensor modules 1A and 1B includes a determination device for performing determination of an abnormality by comparing the biological information detected by one biological information sensor in one of the sensor modules with biological information sent from the other biological information sensor module through the communicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Intellectual Property Bank Corp.
    Inventor: Noritada Katayama
  • Patent number: 8002718
    Abstract: In a shockwave system with a shockwave source for treatment of a patient with shockwaves, a control and evaluation unit for evaluating an input signal supplied directly thereto that is correlated with a blood pressure value of the patient determined during the treatment, and controls the shockwave source dependent on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Buchholtz, Jens Fehre, Bernd Granz, Martin Hoheisel, Werner Kruft, Markus Lanski, Matthias Mahler, Christian Meinert, Thomas Mertelmeier, Ralf Nanke, Manfred Rattner
  • Patent number: 7998079
    Abstract: A biosensor senses pulse wave data of a user. The biosensor stores relation information, which indicates a relationship between recommended bedtime data and sleep-affecting activity data. The relationship between the recommended bedtime data and the sleep-affecting activity data is determined in view of at least one of previously sensed pulse wave data of the user and model pulse wave data. The biosensor receives at least one sleep-affecting activity value from the user. The biosensor computes recommended bedtime information based on the at least one sleep-affecting activity value in view of the relation information. The biosensor gives notification to the user based on the recommended bedtime information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiya Nagai, Katsuyoshi Nishii, Kazuhiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 7996058
    Abstract: A method for assessing functionality of a valve in a heart includes providing a position sensor that is a wireless transponder for transmitting or receiving an ultrasound wave for determination of position coordinates of the position sensor at the point; implanting the wireless transponder at a point on the valve; and using a position determining system for determining whether the valve is functioning properly based on position coordinates of the wireless transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Biosense, Inc.
    Inventors: Shlomo Ben-Haim, Maier Fenster
  • Patent number: 7988634
    Abstract: A cardiac-related signal such as a cardiogenic impedance signal is derived to obtain cardiac information such as stroke volume information that may be used to evaluate cardiac performance and/or other medical conditions. In some aspects detection of the cardiogenic impedance signal involves adaptively cancelling an unwanted component of a sensed signal. For example, in some embodiments a sensed respiratory signal may be subtracted from a thoracic impedance signal to reduce a respiratory component of the thoracic impedance signal. In this way, a more accurate cardiogenic impedance signal may be derived from the resulting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Koh
  • Patent number: 7991207
    Abstract: A region-extraction method for extracting a contour of a desired region is provided. The method includes: a step (a) for displaying an image; a step (b) for selecting a desired region in the image; a step (c) for selecting an element graphic corresponding at least a partial contour in a partial region in the desired region; a step (d) for approximating the contour of a part of the element image to at least a partial contour in the partial region; a step (e) for repeating the steps (c) to (d) at least twice; and a step (f) for making a first contour by combining at least a part of elements after the approximation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Goto
  • Patent number: 7981044
    Abstract: A device for and a method of measuring a blood flow of a living body having blood vessels that emit bio-photons and through which blood flows, the device including a detector positioned adjacent to a predetermined portion of the living body for measuring a bio-photon emission from the living body and a processor for analyzing and displaying the blood flow of the living body based on a value of the bio-photon emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-hoon Shin
  • Patent number: 7972141
    Abstract: Many people do not have a physical feeling for what normal and abnormal blood pressure levels mean in relation to the forces exerted on the heart and blood vessels. A blood pressure simulation apparatus provides human subjects a means to physically feel simulated blood pressure levels through tactile feedback. Both normal and abnormal blood pressure cycles are simulated. Interfacing of the apparatus to an electronic blood pressure monitor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Gary Jay Morris
  • Publication number: 20110160596
    Abstract: An instrument positionable with respect to a body valve in the body of a living subject for performing a predetermined procedure on the living subject at a predetermined location relative to the body valve. The instrument includes: a movement sensor for sensing movements of the body valve; an effective portion for performing the predetermined procedure when the effective portion is at the predetermined location; and an effective portion positioner for positioning the effective portion in the living subject. The effective portion is positionable using the effective portion positioner in response to the movements sensed by the movement sensor for positioning the effective portion at the predetermined location in order to perform the predetermined procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Renzo Cecere, Toufic Azar
  • Patent number: 7967757
    Abstract: One or more cardiovascular parameters is estimated as a function of the arterial pressure waveform, in particular, using at least one statistical moment of a discrete representation pressure waveform having an order greater than one. Arterial compliance, the exponential pressure decay constant, vascular resistance, cardiac output, and stroke volume are examples of cardiovascular parameters that can be estimated using various aspects of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, not only are the first four moments (mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis) of the pressure waveform used to estimate the cardiovascular parameter(s) of interest, but also heart rate, statistical moments of a set of pressure-weighted time values, and certain anthropometric patient measurements such as age, sex, body surface area, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventor: Luchy Roteliuk
  • Publication number: 20110152696
    Abstract: A system and associated method that provides a virtual coach to a person during an exercise routine includes a sensor used to sense the level of a physiological parameter of the exerciser, such as heart rate, a processor programmed to compare the sensed physiological parameter to a target level of the physiological parameter, and, depending on the comparison, provide coaching prompts to the exerciser. Coaching prompts include audible and visual prompts. In another feature, a visual image of a virtual coach may be made available for display to the exerciser, and in yet another feature, a video of the virtual coach saying the audio prompt may be displayed. The system allows for selection from a plurality of virtual coaches. The audio and video of virtual coaches are recordings of real people and may be produced or obtained from other sources. In one embodiment, audio, visual, and video of the virtual coach may be downloaded from the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Hall Ryan Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard H. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20110152695
    Abstract: A method, apparatuses, and a system for carrying out exercise-related processing are described. The apparatus includes an exercise-measurement circuitry configured to measure exercise-related measurement data related to a user carrying out an exercise. The apparatus further comprises a communication circuitry configured to provide the portable apparatus with wireless communication capability. The apparatus further comprises a processing circuitry configured to receive the exercise-related measurement data from the exercise-measurement circuitry, to process the exercise-related measurement data, and to communicate with an external user interface apparatus over a bidirectional wireless communication connection through the communication circuitry so as to cause transmission of the processed exercise-related measurement data to the user interface apparatus and to receive configuration data from the user interface apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventors: Niclas Granqvist, Tapio Kanniainen, Sami Karvonen, Matti Korpela
  • Patent number: 7957570
    Abstract: A system and method to generate an illustration of a cardiac region of interest of an imaged subject is provided. The method includes generating a three-dimensional model from a series of acquired images of the cardiac region of interest; measuring a series of values of at least one functional parameter of the cardiac region of interest; generating a map of a spatial relation of the plurality of values of the functional parameter in spatial relation to the three-dimensional model of the cardiac region of interest; generating a three-dimensional model of a vessel structure leading to the cardiac region of interest; generating an output image that includes combining the three-dimensional model of the cardiac region of interest, the map of the series of values of the functional parameter, and the three-dimensional model of the vessel structure in spatial relation to one another relative to a common coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Deschamps, Jerome F. Knoplioch, Laurent Launay, Maria-Magdalena Nay