Vascular pressure sensor with electrocardiogram electrodes

A system for sensing cardiac electrical activity and blood pressure within a blood vessel, the system comprising:

• a leadless implantable vascular sensor, comprising:
• an expandable fixation element;
• a sensor module housing coupled to the expandable fixation element and including:
• a sensor housing including a plurality of exterior surfaces defining an interior portion of the sensor housing;
• a power supply housing coupled to the sensor housing and containing an energy storage device;
• a pressure sensor disposed within the interior portion of the sensor housing, the pressure sensor configured to sense blood pressure within the blood vessel;
• a first electrocardiogram sensing electrode disposed on an exterior portion of the sensor housing;
• a second electrocardiogram sensing electrode disposed on an exterior portion of the power supply housing;
• an insulative break disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of exterior surfaces of the sensor housing and electrically isolating the first electrocardiogram sensing electrode from the second electrocardiogram sensing electrode;
• the sensor module housing further comprising a pair of parallel and opposed ends, the pair of parallel and opposed ends comprising a first end disposed on the sensor housing and a second end disposed on the power supply housing, and a plurality of sides disposed between the first end and the second end and including the plurality of exterior surfaces of the sensor housing, wherein:
• the first electrocardiogram sensing electrode is disposed on the first end;
• and
• the second electrocardiogram sensing electrode is disposed on the second end;
• wherein the first and second electrocardiogram sensing electrodes are exposed to tissue within the blood vessel and configured to sense cardiac electrical data within the blood vessel;
• circuitry for processing cardiac electrical data and blood pressure data sensed by the electrocardiogram sensing electrodes and pressure sensor;
• and
• a communication module configured to wirelessly transmit sensed cardiac electrical data and blood pressure data;
• and
• a communicating device configured to wirelessly receive the sensed cardiac electrical data and blood pressure data from the vascular sensor.

A method of sensing cardiac electrical activity and blood pressure within a blood vessel, comprising:

• implanting a leadless vascular sensor within a blood vessel of a patient, the vascular sensor including:
• a vascular sensor housing including:
• a sensor housing including a plurality of exterior surfaces defining an interior portion of the sensor housing;
• a power supply housing coupled to the sensor housing and containing an energy storage device;
• a pressure sensor disposed within the interior portion of the sensor housing;
• a first electrocardiogram sensing electrode disposed on an exterior portion of the sensor housing and exposed to tissue within the blood vessel;
• a second electrocardiogram sensing electrode disposed on an exterior portion of the power supply housing and exposed to tissue within the blood vessel;
• and
• an insulative break disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of exterior surfaces of the sensor housing and electrically isolating the first electrocardiogram sensing electrode from the second electrocardiogram sensing electrode;
• the sensor module housing further comprising a pair of parallel and opposed ends, the pair of parallel and opposed ends comprising a first end disposed on the sensor housing and a second end disposed on the power supply housing, and a plurality of sides disposed between the first end and the second end and including the plurality of exterior surfaces of the sensor housing, wherein:
• the first electrocardiogram sensing electrode is disposed on the first end;
• and
• the second electrocardiogram sensing electrode is disposed on the second end;
• sensing blood pressure data within the blood vessel using the pressure sensor;
• sensing cardiac electrical data within the blood vessel using the first and second electrocardiogram sensing electrodes;
• wirelessly transmitting sensed blood pressure data and cardiac electrical data to a device in wireless communication with the vascular sensor;
• and
• analyzing the sensed blood pressure data and cardiac electrical data, wherein analyzing the sensed blood pressure data and cardiac electrical data includes:
• generating a pressure waveform from the sensed blood pressure data;
• generating an electrocardiogram waveform from the sensed cardiac electrical data;
• and
• correlating the timing of one or more events in the blood pressure waveform with electrocardiogram waveform to detect an event or condition within the body.