MONITORING BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA

• Main Author: Rowe, Stanton J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.06.2019
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; DIAGNOSIS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; SURGERY; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS

Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for monitoring blood pressure in the inferior vena cava (IVC) to diagnose acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). An underlying principle of the disclosed systems and methods is that it is possible to reduce or prevent hospitalization by monitoring blood pressure in the IVC because an increase in IVC pressure is correlated with worsening renal function, causing fluid overload. Accordingly, the disclosed systems and methods monitor renal function by monitoring IVC pressure to detect early signs of ADHF by identifying increases in pressure over time. To monitor pressure in the IVC, a pressure sensor can be implanted in the IVC and can wirelessly transmit sensor data to a monitor device worn by the subject. If a pressure trend exceeds a specified threshold, the monitor device can generate an alert.