# US 2019/0167122 A1 · Sensor system for endovascular pulsation balloon > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167122 A1 - Document ID: US20190167122A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/829,186 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC; Muffin Incorporated d/b/a Cook Advanced Technologies - Applicants: Cook Medical Technologies LLC; Muffin Incorporated d/b/a Cook Advanced Technologies - Inventors: F. Joseph Obermiller; William J. Havel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167122A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/0215: by means inserted into the body - A61B 5/6853: {with a balloon} - A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/10184: {Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation} - A61M 60/139: inside the aorta, e.g. intra-aortic balloon pumps - A61M 60/295: Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance - A61M 60/497: for balloon pumps for circulatory assistance - A61M 60/508: Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation - A61M 60/843: Balloon aspects, e.g. shapes or materials - A61B 17/12136: {Balloons} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61M 25/1025: {Connections between catheter tubes and inflation tubes} - A61M 2025/1052: {for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A system for monitoring the flow of blood within an endoluminal passage is provided comprising a medical device and a sensor. The medical device is implantable within the endoluminal passage and includes a shaft and an expandable segment coupled to the shaft. The expandable segment is movable between a first state and a second state. Movement of the expandable segment is responsive to a change in the fluid pressure external to the expandable segment. The sensor is positioned on the medical device and is adapted to collect information associated with the state of the expandable segment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for monitoring the flow of blood within an endoluminal passage, comprising: a medical device implantable within an endoluminal passage, the medical device comprising a shaft and an expandable segment coupled to the shaft, the expandable segment being movable between a first state and a second state, wherein movement of the expandable segment is responsive to a change in fluid pressure external to the expandable segment; and a sensor positioned on the medical device configured to collect information associated with the state of the expandable segment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes, including a first electrode positioned at a first end of expandable segment and a second electrode positioned at a second end of the expandable segment, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode form an electromagnetic field across a portion of the expandable segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a first pair of electrodes and a second pair of electrodes, wherein the electromagnetic is formed across the first pair of electrodes, and an impedance between the first pair of electrodes is measurable by the second pair of electrodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising an electrical current source coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrical current source comprises an induction coil implantable within a body of a patient in which a current may be induced from outside the body of the patient. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor positioned within the expandable segment, the piezoelectric sensor generating an electrical charge responsive to changes in the state of the expandable segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an inductor capacitor sensor positioned within the expandable segment, a capacitance of the inductor capacitor sensor being responsive to a change in fluid pressure external to the inductor capacitor sensor to generate an electrical current. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter electrically coupled to the sensor and configured to transmit the information associated with the state of the expandable segment. ### Claim 8 A system for monitoring the flow of blood within an endoluminal passage, comprising: a medical device implantable within an endoluminal passage, the medical device comprising a shaft and a plurality of expandable segments coupled to the shaft, wherein the plurality of expandable segments are arranged linearly along the shaft and each of the plurality of expandable segments being movable between a first state and a second state, wherein movement of the expandable segment is responsive to a change in fluid pressure external to the expandable segment; and a plurality of sensors positioned on the medical device, the plurality of sensors configured to collect information associated with the states of the plurality of expandable segments. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes arranged longitudinally along the medical device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is positioned between two of the plurality of expandable segments. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a reservoir portion coupled to one of the plurality of expandable segments, wherein the reservoir portion is sized to only be implantable within a body of a patient outside the endoluminal passage; and an electrical current source electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrical current source is positioned in the reservoir portion. ### Claim 12 A method of determining a characteristic of the flow of blood within an endoluminal passage, comprising: implanting a medical device within an endoluminal passage, the medical device comprising a shaft, an expandable segment coupled to the shaft, and a sensor positioned on the medical device, the expandable segment being movable between an expanded state and a compressed state, wherein movement of the expandable segment is responsive to a change in the flow of blood within the endoluminal passage over the expandable segment; transmitting a signal generated by the sensor responsive to the flow of blood in the endoluminal passage over the medical device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising electrically charging a circuit comprising first electrode located at a first position on a surface of the expandable segment, and a second electrode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein measuring the blood flow over the expandable segment by measuring an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second electrode is located at a second position on the surface of the expandable segment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first position of the surface of the expandable segment is longitudinally separated from the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising imaging the endoluminal passage before implanting the medical device to determine a responsiveness of the endoluminal passage to blood flow. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising calibrating the sensor of the medical device based on the responsiveness of the endoluminal passage such that the medical device accurately measures the blood flow within the endoluminal passage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a fluid pressure of the medical device based on the signal generated by the sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a dose of medication to a patient based on the signal generated by the sensor.