| Endovascular graft with pressure, temperature, flow and voltage sensors -> Monitor Keywords |
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Endovascular graft with pressure, temperature, flow and voltage sensorsRelated Patent Categories: Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, Or Aids And Accessories Therefor, Arterial Prosthesis (i.e., Blood Vessel)Endovascular graft with pressure, temperature, flow and voltage sensors description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060149347, Endovascular graft with pressure, temperature, flow and voltage sensors. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the treatment of body lumens and, more particularly, to the endovascular placement of a prosthetic graft within vasculature for the purpose of repairing the same. [0002] Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a leading cause of death in the United States. Treatment options to repair AAA include conventional open surgery and implantation of an endovascular graft. Conventional open surgical repair of AAA involves major abdominal surgery with associated high rates of morbidity. Endovascular grafts have been developed to endoluminally bypass abdominal aortic aneurysms through minimally invasive surgery. Many patients that are unacceptable surgical risks for open repairs are eligible for endovascular graft implantation. Deployment of transfemoral, endovascular grafts to treat AAA is appealing for many reasons: avoidance of an abdominal incision, lack of aortic cross clamping, the potential for regional anesthesia, and a shortened hospital stay. [0003] Untreated AAA has been shown to continue to expand until rupture, with an associated high mortality rate. Implantation of endovascular grafts have also been associated with high complication rates, including perioperative death, conversion to open repair, the need for further intervention, the need for hemodialysis, a failure to cure the AAA, and wound complications. [0004] The inability to obtain or maintain a secure seal between the vessel wall and the endovascular graft is a complication unique to endovascular aneurysm exclusion. Because the term "leak" has been associated with aneurysm rupture following conventional surgery, the term "endoleak" has been proposed as a more definitive description of this complication. It is believed that persistent endoleaks result in continued aneurysm expansion, which may eventually lead to aneurysm rupture. Aneurysms that have been successfully excluded have shown a tendency towards a reduction in aneurysm diameter. Failure to properly exclude the aneurysm from systemic arterial blood pressure keeps the patient at risk of impending rupture. Endoleaks have been classified according to the source of the leaks. Current classifications of endoleaks include four categories. Type I endoleaks are "perigraft" or "graft-related" leaks that involve a persistent channel of blood flow due to inadequate or ineffective sealing at the ends of the endovascular graft, or between overlapping components of a modular system. Type II endoleaks are retrograde flow into the aneurysm sac from patent lumbar arteries, the inferior mesenteric artery, or other collateral vessels. Type III endoleaks result from fabric tears, graft disconnection, or graft disintegration. Finally, Type IV endoleaks are flow through the graft fabric associated with graft wall porosity or permeability. Preoperative patent side branches are not a good predictor of postoperative endoleaks. [0005] A number of reported cases of aneurysm rupture following implantation of an endovascular graft have been reported. Some of the ruptures occurred in patients without a documented endoleak. [0006] A number of studies have focused on measurement of pressure within the aneurysm sac following implantation of an endovascular graft, both in the human patient, an animal model, or an in vitro model. Properly implanted endovascular grafts have been shown to reduce the pressure within the aneurysm sac while an endoleak, with or without detectable blood flow, continues to pressurize the sac at pressures equivalent to the systemic arterial pressure. Animal studies utilizing a predictable rupturing aneurysm model have shown that non-excluded aneurysms will rupture. Thrombosed aneurysm sacs may still receive pressurization from a sealed endoleak and this continued pressurization keeps the aneurysm at risk for rupture. [0007] Current methods of patient follow-up include arteriography, contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT), duplex ultrasonography, abdominal X-ray, and intravascular ultrasound. All of these methods are costly and involve invasive procedures that have associated morbidity. None of the imaging methods are completely successful in detecting endoleaks. Therefore, the potential exists for an endoleak to go undetected until eventual rupture. An increase in aneurysm diameter is detectable, and should be considered an indication of endoleak. To avoid aneurysm rupture an increase in aneurysm diameter must be detected in a timely fashion to identify patients in need of corrective surgical procedures. [0008] An endovascular graft with the ability to measure pressure within the aneurysm sac and provide feedback to the physician could identify those patients with persistent pressurization of their aneurysm, and subsequent risk of rupture. Some physicians are advocating that the follow-up examinations of AAA patients focus on pressure measurements, but that this is not currently clinically feasible. [0009] Accordingly, there exists a need for an endovascular graft that facilitates non-invasive measurement of pressure, as well as other pertinent parameters, within the aneurysm sac and along the endovascular graft itself as a means for identifying patients at risk for aneurysm rupture after the endovascular graft is implanted. The present invention addresses these and other needs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] Briefly and in general terms, the present invention is embodied in an endovascular graft with sensors attached thereto. The device will have the ability to be delivered endovascularly and measure pertinent parameters within the excluded AAA. The endovascular graft would have the ability to transmit data about intra-sac parameters to an external monitoring device. Patient follow-up would be less costly (conducted in the physician office), non-invasive, and more accurate, allowing prompt intervention in those patients most at risk for acute rupture. The invention would also allow for more frequent patient follow-up, increasing the potential to diagnose and treat aneurysms at risk before acute rupture. The invention is applicable to all applications of endovascular grafts to treat aneurysmal segments of blood vessels. It is contemplated that the invention may be used with all shapes of endovascular grafts known within the art. [0011] In one embodiment, sensors are attached to the endovascular graft at the superior end, inferior end and midsection. Measurements of pertinent parameters and comparison of those measurements may allow early identification of areas of the patient's vasculature at risk for aneurysm rupture, thrombus formation, infection, inflamation or other anomalies without the need for invasive procedures. [0012] In another embodiment, a pattern of sensors are attached to the endovascular graft such that they cover the interior and exterior of the graft. The pattern of sensors allow a complete profile of pertinent parameters along the endovascular graft to be obtained. Such a profile may provide more accurate identification of anomalies. [0013] Sensors with pressure measurement capability may be used to detect pressure changes external the endovascular graft, in the aneurysm sac or in blood flow through the interior of the endovascular graft indicative of graft failure, graft kinking, or endoleak due to an inadequate seal between the endovascular graft and the vasculature. Sensors with temperature measurement capability may be used to detect temperature differentials associated with "hot spots" related to inflamation, infection or thrombus formation in the vessel. Sensors with the capability to measure oxygen and other blood constituents such as enzymes, proteins, and nutrients, may be used to detect minute blood flow indicative of endoleak. Sensors with the capability to measure electrical potential may be used to detect differences in potential associated with areas of the vessel at risk for thrombus formation. [0014] An antenna or other data transmitter and a power source may be attached external the endovascular graft, allowing a physician or technician to monitor graft and vessel health without the need for an invasive procedure. The transmitter transmits measurements made by the sensors to a receiver located outside the patient's body. [0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention showing a generally tubular endovascular graft implanted across an aneurysm sac; [0017] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 showing a partially assembled bifurcated endovascular graft; and [0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing a bifurcated endovascular graft having an array of sensors on the external and internal surfaces of the graft material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0019] As shown in the exemplary drawings and for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a prosthetic endovascular graft implant having the ability to measure pertinent parameters inside and outside the graft material and transmit the measurements to a receiver located external the patient within whom the endovascular graft is implanted. In one aspect, the invention includes a graft with sensors mounted on the external and internal surface that measure parameters such as pressure, temperature or voltage. In another aspect the invention includes a transmitter and energy source which facilitate transmission of parameters measured by the sensors to a receiver located outside the patient's body. [0020] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the invention is shown in which a generally tubular, including flared or tapered, endovascular graft 10 having a superior end 12 and inferior end 14 is implanted in a body vessel 30 across an aneurysm sac 32 with the superior end 12 secured above the aneurysm and the inferior end 14 secured below the aneurysm. The endovascular graft 10 has sensors 16 attached external the superior 12 and inferior 14 ends. Additionally, the endovascular graft 10 has sensors 18 attached internal the superior 12 and inferior 14 ends. Furthermore, the endovascular graft 10 has sensors 20 attached external the midsection. Moreover, the endovascular graft 10 has a transmitter 22 and power source 24 attached external the graft material in the area where the graft traverses the aneurysm sac 32. The sensors 16, 18, 20 measure pertinent parameters inside and outside the endovascular graft and the power source 24 provides power for the transmitter 22 which transmits the measurements to a receiver (not shown) located outside the patient's body. Continue reading about Endovascular graft with pressure, temperature, flow and voltage sensors... Full patent description for Endovascular graft with pressure, temperature, flow and voltage sensors Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Endovascular graft with pressure, temperature, flow and voltage sensors patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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