Annular antenna
Inventors
Dagan, Amir • Hanani, Nitai • Ariav, Gal • Gindin, Igor • Gross, Yossi
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10828181-B2
Publication Date
2020-11-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described for use with a blood vessel of a subject. An annular antenna is placed inside the blood vessel such that radial expansion of the antenna is limited by a circumference of the blood vessel. A transmitter generates an inductive current in the antenna, by transmitting RF energy toward the antenna. A control unit measures the inductive current in the antenna, and, in response thereto, determines a physiological parameter of the subject. Other applications are also described.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an endovascular wireless system in which an annular antenna is placed inside a blood vessel so that radial expansion of the antenna is limited by a circumference of the blood vessel. A transmitter generates inductive current in the antenna by transmitting RF energy toward the antenna, and a control capsule measures the inductive current in the antenna and determines blood pressure of the subject based on that measured inductive current.
The system uses a tubular endovascular aortic stent with an outer diameter of 10-35 mm, where the antenna is coupled to the tubular endovascular aortic stent. The tubular endovascular aortic stent is configured to be disposed within the subject’s body at an aortic site between the bifurcation of the aorta with the left subclavian artery and the bifurcation of the aorta with the fifth intercostal artery.
The description links variations in inductive-current measurements to geometry changes of the antenna over the cardiac cycle and uses those variations to interpret blood pressure components associated with the cardiac cycle and respiratory cycle envelopes. The disclosure further relates such interpretation to inductive-voltage correlation with blood pressure components and respiratory-cycle envelope analysis in a sheep experimental context.
The disclosed approach includes antenna and stent mechanical and mounting concepts intended to support inductive current generation and measurement, including stent mechanical and junction designs for a convex deployment profile and retrieval into a catheter, electrode mounting on posts, and an antenna separation concept in which posts isolate the antenna from the stent body to improve inductive power transfer.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims: an apparatus claim and a method claim, together covering an endovascular blood-pressure determination system that uses an annular antenna coupled to a tubular endovascular aortic stent and an RF transmitter to generate inductive current that is measured by a control capsule to determine blood pressure. Across the inventive features, the claims specify the antenna radial-expansion constraint, the inductive-current generation and measurement, the stent coupling and placement site, and additional constraints on transmitter RF frequency and stent dimensions/profile.
Annular antenna with vessel-limited radial expansion and RF inductive-current generation
An annular antenna configured to be placed inside the blood vessel such that radial expansion of the antenna is limited by a circumference of the blood vessel; a transmitter configured to generate an inductive current in the antenna by transmitting RF energy toward the antenna.
Control capsule measuring inductive current to determine blood pressure
A control capsule comprising circuitry configured to measure the inductive current in the antenna, and in response thereto, to determine blood pressure of the subject.
Coupled tubular endovascular aortic stent at a specified aortic site
A tubular endovascular aortic stent having an outer diameter of 10-35 mm, wherein the antenna is coupled to the tubular endovascular aortic stent and the tubular endovascular aortic stent is configured to be disposed within the subject's body at an aortic site that is between the bifurcation of the aorta with the left subclavian artery and the bifurcation of the aorta with the fifth intercostal artery.
Generating and measuring inductive current in the aorta to determine blood pressure
Generating an inductive current, in an annular antenna that has been placed in an aorta of a subject and allowed to expand radially, such that radial expansion of the antenna is limited by a circumference of the aorta, by transmitting RF energy toward the antenna; measuring the inductive current in the antenna; and in response thereto determining blood pressure of the subject.
The claim set centers on an annular in-vessel antenna whose radial expansion is limited by the vessel circumference, an RF transmitter that generates inductive current in the antenna, and a control capsule that measures that inductive current to determine blood pressure. The apparatus/method further require a tubular endovascular aortic stent coupled to the antenna and disposed at a defined aortic site.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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