Electrical generator or motor structure – Non-dynamoelectric – Piezoelectric elements and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-01
2002-11-26
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Non-dynamoelectric
Piezoelectric elements and devices
C310S321000, C600S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06486588
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention pertains generally to the field of implantable biosensors and, in particular, to methods and apparatus for monitoring physiological conditions in a patient using a biosensor at an implantation site in the body, such as, e.g., an aneurysmal sac, equipped with an acoustic telemetry and energy conversion mechanism.
BACKGROUND
An aneurysm is an abnormal ballooning of the wall of an artery that results from the weakening of the artery due to injury, infection, or other conditions, such as a congenital defect in the arterial connective tissue. Common forms of such an aneurysm include an abdominal aortic aneurysm, an iliac aneurysm, a bifurcated aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and the iliac, and a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
The aorta, which is the main arterial link in the circulatory system, begins at the left ventricle of the heart, forms an arch above the heart, and passes behind the heart, continuing downward through the thorax and the abdomen. Along this path, the abdominal aorta branches into two vessels, called the renal arteries, that supply blood to the kidneys. Below the level of the renal arteries, the abdominal aorta extends approximately to the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra, where it branches into the iliac arteries. The iliac arteries, in turn, supply blood to the lower extremities and the perineal region.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can occur in the portion of the abdominal aorta between the renal and the iliac arteries. This condition, which is most often seen in elderly men, often leads to serious complications, including rupture of the aneurysmal sac. A ruptured aneurysm occurs in approximately 3.6 out of 10,000 people and is considered a medical emergency, since the resultant rapid hemorrhaging is frequently fatal.
There are generally two methods for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms: (1) surgical repair of the aneurysm, and (2) endoluminal stent graft implantation. Surgical repair of the aneurysm involves the implantation of a tubular prosthetic vascular graft, traditionally made of fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polyester (Dacron), into the aorta. These prosthetic vascular grafts traditionally have been implanted by open surgical techniques, whereby a diseased or damaged segment of the blood vessel is surgically cut along its longitudinal axis and the tubular bioprosthetic graft is then inserted coaxial to the original artery and anastomosed within the host blood vessel as an internal replacement for the diseased segment. Then the longitudinal cut in the artery is sutured. Alternatively, prosthetic vascular grafts have been used as bypass grafts wherein opposite ends of the graft are sutured to the host blood vessel in order to form a conduit around the diseased, injured, or occluded segment of the host vessel.
These surgical approaches suffer from similar disadvantages, namely, the extensive recovery period associated with major abdominal surgery, the difficulties in suturing the graft to the aorta, the unsuitability of surgery for many at-risk patients, and the high mortality and morbidity rates associated with surgical intervention of this magnitude.
The second approach to treating an abdominal aortic aneurysm, endolumenal stent graft implantation, overcomes many of these disadvantages. An endoluminal stent graft normally consists of a vascular graft that is supported by a metallic stent skeleton over a portion of the length of the graft. By introducing and deploying the stent graft through the lumen of the blood vessel, a surgeon may then repair the damaged aortic segment using only percutaneous or minimal incisions in the patient. This technique initially involves translumenal delivery of the graft in a compacted low profile configuration by way of a catheter or some other transluminally advancable delivery apparatus. The stent is then radially expanded, thereby anchoring the graft to the surrounding blood vessel wall and sealing off the aneurysm from the rest of the circulatory system. As a result, the pressure within the isolated aneurysmal sac and the endotension of the artery are both reduced.
It is generally agreed that such endoluminal stent grafts work best in patients with small- to medium-sized abdominal aortic aneurysms, or in patients with large abdominal aortic aneurysms who are characterized as high risk candidates for open surgical abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. In addition to treating vascular aneurysms, an endovascular stent graft may also be used to treat occlusive vascular disease.
In some instances, the stented graft is constructed in such a manner that the tubular graft material forms a complete barrier between the stent and the blood, which is flowing through the blood vessel. In this way, the tubular graft material serves as a smooth, biologically compatible inner lining for the stent. Graft material known in the prior art includes woven or knitted fabrics, such as polyester fiber, or a porous form of PTFE known as ePTFE.
The major complication involved in the endolumenal stent graft implantation is the formation of an endoleak. An endoleak is defined as blood leakage into the aneurysmal sac causing the sac to fill with blood and increasing the endotension. Endotension is defined by the internal pressure within the aneurysm, the aneurysm diameter and wall thickness. In particular, endotension is a physical parameter that indicates the chances of aneurysm rupture. The implantation of a stent graft prevents blood from filling the aneurysmal sac, resulting in a depressurization of the sac with minimal influence on the aneurysm wall thickness. The diameter of the aneurysm might change with pressure reduction, but the direct parameter that vanes is the pressure.
Endoleaks can be divided into four categories: Type I, which results from leakage due to insufficient sealing of the graft against the aortic wall; type II, which results from blood flow to the aneurysmal sac through bypass arteries; type III, which arises from mechanical failure of the graft system; and type IV, which arises from leakage through the graft fabric due to the porosity of the material.
Because of the high risk of aneurysmal rupture, the early detection of endoleaks resulting in endotension is crucial. With early detection, the pressure within the aneurysmal sac may be reduced through endovascular treatment (balloon inflation or additional stent graft implantation for improve sealing) or a surgical intervention. Currently, the standard method for the detection of endoleaks is through contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CT), which relies on the x-ray imaging of the abdominal region after injection of a contrast media in order to improve the detection of blood and vascular tissue. If an endoleak is present, then the aneurysmal sac will fill with contrast media and the endoleak will then be identified in the resultant CT scan.
Although CT scans are considered a reliable method for detecting endoleaks, they suffer from several disadvantages. First, CT scans require an experienced operator and an expensive apparatus, placing significant financial constraints on its frequency of use. Second, the CT scan procedure exposes the patient to x-ray radiation and cannot be used as frequently as desired. Third, CT scans can only provide an estimate of the pressure within the aneurysm indirectly by detecting leakage into the aneurysmal sac, and are unable to detect small leaks that may cause slow, but potentially dangerous, pressurization within the aneurysm.
In addition to CT scans, ultrasound imaging methods have also been used to detect endoleaks. Ultrasound-based methodologies posses several advantages over CT, including a simpler apparatus and the absence of ionizing radiation. Consequently, such imaging can be performed more often and at a lower cost than CT scans. However, ultrasound-based imaging is operator dependent and less reliable than CT scans.
Endoleaks may also be detected by directly monitoring the internal pressure within an aneurysmal sac. For example, published EPO application EP 0 8
Doron Eyal
Penner Avi
Bingham & McCutchen LLP
Remon Medical Technologies LTD
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