Abstract:
Devices and methods for identifying patient at elevated risk of developing future heart failure (HF) events, such as events indicative of HF decompensation status, are described. The devices and methods can stratify the risk using sensor signals or signal metrics selected in accordance with patient chronic conditions. A medical device can receive a patient status input including at least a first and a second chronic condition indicators, sense one or more physiologic signals from the patient, and generate a plurality of signal metrics from the physiologic signals when the first chronic condition indicator and the second chronic condition indicator meets respective criterion. One or more patient-specific signal metrics can be selected from a group including the signal metrics selected for both the first and the second chronic conditions. A risk stratification algorithm can use the selected one or more patient-specific signal metrics to compute a composite risk index indicative of the probability of the patient later developing an event indicative of worsening of HF.
Abstract:
A surgical locator circuit identifies a surgical target such as a kidney stone by disposing an emitter such as a magnetic source behind or adjacent the surgical target, and employing the circuit to identify an axis to the emitter, thus defining an axis or path to the surgical target. An array of sensors arranged in an equidistant, coplanar arrangement each senses a signal indicative of a distance to the emitter. A magneto resistor sensor generates a variable resistance is responsive to the distance to a magnetic coil emitting a magnetic field. An equal signal from each of the coplanar sensors indicates positioning on an axis passing through a point central to the sensors and orthogonal to the plane. A fixed element and signal conditioner augments and normalizes the signal received from each of the sensors to accommodate subtle differences in magneto resistive response among the plurality of sensors.
Abstract:
Renal screening systems include a circuit configured to electronically analyze MRI image data of a subject to evaluate renal function and generate a renal-risk report for a plurality of different therapeutic agents based on renal responses to test doses of each of the agents.
Abstract:
System and method for locating and identifying nerves innervating the wall of arteries such as the renal artery are disclosed. The present invention identifies areas on vessel walls that are innervated with nerves; provides indication on whether energy is delivered accurately to a targeted nerve; and provides immediate post-procedural assessment of the effect of energy delivered to the nerve. The method includes at least the steps to evaluate a change in physiological parameters after energy is delivered to an arterial wall; and to determine the type of nerve that the energy was directed to (none, sympathetic or parasympathetic) based on the evaluated results. The system includes at least a device for delivering energy to the wall of blood vessel; sensors for detecting physiological signals from a subject; and indicators to display results obtained using this method. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.
Abstract:
A continuous Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) estimation system may include a Foley catheter, a continuous urine creatinine sensor, and a urine output monitor. The continuous GFR estimation system computes creatinine clearance as CrCl=(Ucr×Uvol)/Pcr×Tmin), where Ucr is urine creatinine in mg/dL, Uvol is urine volume in mL, Pcr is plasma (serum) creatinine in mg/dL, and Tmin is time in minutes. A Foley catheter may be used to withdraw urine from the bladder. The urine may be delivered to a urine output monitor that provides the Uvol value over a time Tmin. Attached to the catheter is the flow-through continuous urine creatinine sensor for providing the Ucr value. The remaining parameter is Pcr. Because serum creatinine levels do not change rapidly over time, a blood sample may be withdrawn prior to the start of the continuous GFR to obtain the Pcr value.
Abstract:
System and method for locating and identifying nerves innervating the wall of arteries such as the renal artery are disclosed. The present invention identifies areas on vessel walls that are innervated with nerves; provides indication on whether energy is delivered accurately to a targeted nerve; and provides immediate post-procedural assessment of the effect of energy delivered to the nerve. The method includes at least the steps to evaluate a change in physiological parameters after energy is delivered to an arterial wall; and to determine the type of nerve that the energy was directed to (none, sympathetic or parasympathetic) based on the evaluated results. The system includes at least a device for delivering energy to the wall of blood vessel; sensors for detecting physiological signals from a subject; and indicators to display results obtained using this method. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.
Abstract:
Apparatuses for identifying nerve tissue and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example apparatus may include an elongate shaft having a distal region configured to be percutaneously deployed within a patient. An active imaging structure may be disposed on the distal region. The active imaging structure may be configured to remotely image nerve tissue by exciting a signal in nerve tissue from a percutaneous location and receiving the signal from a percutaneous location. The active imaging structure may include one or more probes.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) comprising T2- and/or T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis of one or more kidneys of a subject.