New motion sensor
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Inc.
InventorKenneth Dowling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motion sensor, and an implantable cardiac stimulator incorporating such a motion sensor, has a fluid-type housing containing a fluid that includes at least one type of anisotropic molecules, the anisotropic molecules exhibiting an anisotropic property having a state that changes dependent on motion. The housing of the motion sensor is located externally on an animate subject, or is implanted in the animate subject, and includes externally accessible electrodes that detect a change in the state of the anisotropic property and emit an output signal representative of an activity level of the subject.
Claims19
1-16. (canceled)
A motion sensor for measuring an activity level of an animate subject, comprising:
- a fluid-tight housing adapted for placement relative to a subject for co-movement with movements of the subject;
- a fluid contained in said housing, said fluid comprising at least one type of anisotropic molecules, having an anisotropic property that changes dependent on motion of said fluid;
- and
- electrodes in communication with said anisotropic molecules for detecting a state of said anisotropic property, said electrodes being accessible from an exterior of said housing to provide an output signal representing an activity level of the subject.
An electrically detectable anisotropic fluid comprising a liquid crystalline polymer having molecules covalently bound to an iron-oxide nanoparticle.
A cardiac stimulator comprising:
- a motion sensor for measuring an activity level of an animate subject comprising a motion sensor for measuring an activity level of an animate subject, comprising a fluid-tight housing adapted for placement relative to a subject for co-movement with movements of the subject, a fluid contained in said housing, said fluid comprising at least one type of anisotropic molecules, having an anisotropic property that changes dependent on motion of said fluid, and electrodes in communication with said anisotropic molecules for detecting a state of said anisotropic property, said electrodes being accessible from an exterior of said housing to provide an output signal representing an activity level of the subject;
- a stimulator housing adapted for implantation in the subject;
- stimulation circuitry contained in said stimulator housing for generating electrical stimulation therapy signals;
- an electrode system adapted for implantation in the subject, said electrode system being connected to said stimulation generator and being adapted to interact with tissue in the subject to deliver said electrical stimulation therapy;
- and
- a control unit in said stimulator housing connected to said stimulation generator, and being in communication with said motion sensor to receive said output therefrom representing said activity level, said control unit modifying said electrical stimulation therapy dependent on said activity level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.