Devices and methods for detecting catheter complications

Abstract

A method for determining status of an implanted catheter includes acquiring raw pressure data from a pressure sensor of in an implantable infusion device. The pressure sensor is in communication with a lumen of the catheter operably coupled to the infusion device. The catheter has a delivery region, in communication with the lumen, intended to be positioned in a fluid-filled target location of a patient. The method further includes filtering the raw pressure data to remove the DC component, leaving the AC component within a relevant physiological frequency range; rectifying the AC component to produce a rectified pressure signal; calculating a mean magnitude of the rectified signal; and determining whether the mean magnitude is below a predetermined threshold. If the mean magnitude is below the threshold, the catheter is determined to be in a state other than a normal state.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.