Method and system for monitoring and controlling systemic and pulmonary circulation during a medical procedure

Abstract

A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The system comprises a sensor to sense a biological characteristic, such as a chemical, physical or physiological characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid. The method also comprises a nerve stimulator in communication with the sensor to inhibit beating of a heart when the sensor senses the biological characteristic at a first value; and a cardiac stimulator in communication with the sensor to stimulate beating of the heart when the sensor senses the biological characteristic at a second value.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A method for controlling a heart beat during a medical procedure, comprising: 
 sensing a first gas level in a body;    stimulating a first nerve to inhibit beating of a heart;    performing at least one step of the medical procedure;    sensing a second gas level while performing the medical procedure;    stopping stimulation of the first nerve to allow beating of the heart when the second gas level is less than the initial gas level.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the gas level is sensed for at least one of the characteristics selected from the group consisting of presence of oxygen, concentration of oxygen, presence of carbon dioxide, and concentration of carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising stimulating the heart with a cardiac stimulator to cause beating of the heart when the second gas level is less than the first gas level.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first gas level and second gas level are sensed in cerebral blood flow.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing an alert signal when the second value is less than the first value.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the alert signal is selected from the group consisting of: a visual signal, a flashing light, an audible signal, and a beeping tone.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the medical procedure is started after sensing the first gas level, and wherein the second gas level is sensed during the medical procedure.  
   
   
       16 . A method for performing a medical procedure, comprising: 
 sensing a characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid via a sensor at a first value;    sending a first signal related to the sensed characteristic at a first value;    modifying the beating of a heart via a nerve stimulator in response to the first signal;    performing at least one step of the medical procedure;    sensing the characteristic via the sensor at a second value;    sending a second signal related to the sensed characteristic at a second value; and    modifying the beating of the heart via a cardiac stimulator in response to the second signal.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein modifying the beating of the heart via a nerve stimulator is performed automatically.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein modifying the beating of the heart via a nerve stimulator is performed manually.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein modifying the beating of the heart via a cardiac stimulator is performed automatically.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein modifying the beating of the heart via a cardiac stimulator is performed manually.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the delivery of a drug during the medical procedure.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the drug is delivered via a drug delivery means.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the drug delivery means is selected from the group consisting of a spray, a cream, an ointment, a medicament, a pill, a patch, a catheter, a cannula, a needle and syringe, a pump, and an iontophoretic drug delivery device.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of a beta-blocker, a cholinergic agent, a cholinesterase inhibitor, a calcium channel blocker, a sodium channel blocker, a potassium channel agent, adenosine, an adenosine receptor agonist, an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, dipyridamole, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, digoxin, digitalis, lignocaine, a bradykinin agent, a serotoninergic agonist, an antiarrythmic agent, a cardiac glycoside, a local anesthetic, atropine, a calcium solution, an agent that promotes heart rate, an agent that promotes heart contractions, dopamine, a catecholamine, an inotrope glucagon, a hormone, forskolin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, thyroid hormone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, prostacyclin, prostaglandin and a methylxanthine.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the drug is naturally occurring or chemically synthesized.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the nerve stimulator modifies the beating of the heart by stimulating a vagal nerve.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the nerve stimulator modifies the beating of the heart by stimulating a carotid sinus nerve.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the nerve stimulator modifies the beating of the heart by stimulating a fat pad.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the bodily fluid is blood.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the bodily tissue is cardiac tissue.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the bodily tissue is a nerve.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a chemical characteristic.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a physical characteristic.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a physiological characteristic.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a fluid flow characteristic.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a pressure characteristic.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a temperature characteristic.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is an electrical characteristic.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a chemical concentration.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a protein or peptide.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a component of a metabolic process.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid is a gas.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the gas is oxygen.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of an imaging system, an electrical sensor, a chemical sensor, an electromagnetic interference sensor, an electrochemical sensor, a pressure sensor, a sound wave sensor, a magnetic sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a visible light sensor, an infrared sensor, a radiation sensor, a flow sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, an optical sensor, a pH sensor, a potentiometric sensor, a fluorescence sensor and a biosensor.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the nerve stimulator comprises one or more electrodes.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of nerve stimulation electrodes, endotracheal electrodes, endoesophageal electrodes, intravascular electrodes, transcutaneous electrodes, intracutaneous electrodes, balloon-type electrodes, basket-type electrodes, umbrella-type electrodes, tape-type electrodes, suction-type electrodes, screw-type electrodes, barb-type electrodes, bipolar electrodes, monopolar electrodes, metal electrodes, wire electrodes, patch electrodes, cuff electrodes, clip electrodes, needle electrodes and probe electrodes.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cardiac stimulator comprises one or more electrodes.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of cardiac stimulation electrodes, clip electrodes, needle electrodes, probe electrodes, pacing electrodes, epicardial electrodes, patch electrodes, intravascular electrodes, balloon-type electrodes, basket-type electrodes, tape-type electrodes, umbrella-type electrodes, suction-type electrodes, endotracheal electrodes, endoesophageal electrodes, transcutaneous electrodes, intracutaneous electrodes, screw-type electrodes, barb-type electrodes, bipolar electrodes, monopolar electrodes, metal electrodes, wire electrodes and cuff electrodes.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising controlling a patients breathing via a breathing regulator.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the breathing regulator stimulates a phrenic nerve.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the breathing regulator controls a respirator.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the breathing regulator comprises one or more electrodes.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of nerve stimulation electrodes, endotracheal electrodes, endoesophageal electrodes, intravascular electrodes, transcutaneous electrodes, intracutaneous electrodes, balloon-type electrodes, basket-type electrodes, umbrella-type electrodes, suction-type electrodes, screw-type electrodes, tape-type electrodes, barb-type electrodes, bipolar electrodes, monopolar electrodes, metal electrodes, wire electrodes, patch electrodes, cuff electrodes, clip electrodes, needle electrodes and probe electrodes.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the medical procedure is selected from the group consisting of a surgical procedure, a non-surgical procedure, a fluoroscopic procedure, a cardiac procedure, a vascular procedure, a neurosurgical procedure, an electrophysiology procedure, a diagnostic procedure, a therapeutic procedure, an ablation procedure, an endovascular procedure, a liver procedure, a spleen procedure, a pulmonary procedure, an aneurysm repair, an imaging procedure, a CAT scan procedure, a MRI procedure, a pharmacological therapy, a drug delivery procedure, a biological delivery procedure, a genetic therapy, a cellular therapy, a cancer therapy, a radiation therapy, a transplantation procedure, a coronary angioplasty procedure, a stent delivery procedure, an atherectomy procedure, a procedure that requires precise control of cardiac motion, a procedure that requires precise control of bleeding, a non-invasive procedure, a minimally invasive procedure, an invasive procedure, a port-access procedure, an endoscopic procedure, a sternotomy procedure, a thoracotomy procedure and a robotic procedure.  
   
   
       56 . A method for performing a medical procedure, comprising: 
 sensing a first level of a biological characteristic in a body;    stimulating a nerve to inhibit beating of a heart;    performing at least one step of the medical procedure;    sensing a second level of the biological characteristic while performing the medical procedure;    stopping stimulation of the nerve to allow beating of the heart when the second level differs from the first level by a selective amount.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a chemical characteristic.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a physical characteristic.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a physiological characteristic.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a fluid flow characteristic.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a pressure characteristic.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a temperature characteristic.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is an electrical characteristic.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a chemical concentration.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a protein or peptide.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a component of a metabolic process.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the biological characteristic is a gas.