Intracardiac sensors with switchable configurations and associated systems and methods

Abstract

The present technology relates to intracardiac sensors and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes a device for monitoring pressure within a patient's heart. The device can include an implantable capacitor having a capacitance value that is variable based on the pressure within the patient's heart and a sensing circuit configured to measure the capacitance value. The device can also include an implantable inductor and a power circuit configured to wirelessly receive power from an external source via the inductor. When the device is in a first configuration, the capacitor can be electrically coupled to the sensing circuit and the inductor can be electrically coupled to the power circuit. When the device is in a second configuration, the capacitor can be electrically coupled to the inductor to form a resonant circuit.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of monitoring pressure within a patient's heart using an implanted capacitor, the method comprising:
 measuring a capacitance value of the implanted capacitor using an implanted sensing circuit;   electrically coupling an implanted inductor and the implanted capacitor to form a resonant circuit, wherein a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit varies based on the capacitance value of the capacitor; and   measuring the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit using a device external to the patient.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the capacitance value of the implanted capacitor varies based on pressure within the patient's heart. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the implanted capacitor is initially electrically coupled to the implanted sensing circuit, and the implanted inductor is initially electrically coupled to an implanted power circuit. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving power at the implanted power circuit via the implanted inductor;   transmitting power from the implanted power circuit to the implanted sensing circuit.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 charging an implanted energy storage component via the power received by the implanted power circuit; and   transmitting power from the implanted energy storage component to the implanted sensing circuit.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein electrically coupling the implanted inductor and the implanted capacitor further comprises:
 electrically decoupling the implanted inductor from the implanted power circuit; and 
 electrically decoupling the implanted capacitor from the implanted sensing circuit. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the implanted inductor and implanted capacitor are electrically coupled to each other automatically in response to an electronics failure. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 in response to a control signal from a controller external to the patient, electrically coupling the implanted inductor and implanted capacitor to each other.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22  wherein measuring the resonant frequency comprises applying a magnetic field to the implanted inductor using the device external to the patient. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining a first pressure within the patient's heart based on the capacitance value measured by the sensing circuit; and   determining a second pressure within the patient's heart based on the resonant frequency measured by a device external to the patient.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising adjusting a shunting element implanted in the patient's heart based, at least in part, on the first pressure or the second pressure. 
     
     
         33 . A method of monitoring pressure within a patient's heart, the method comprising:
 electrically coupling an implanted inductor to an implanted power circuit via a first switch, wherein the implanted power circuit is configured to receive power from an external source via the implanted inductor;   electrically coupling an implanted capacitor to an implanted sensing circuit via a second switch, wherein the implanted sensing circuit is configured to measure a capacitance value of the implanted capacitor while receiving power from the implanted power circuit; and   electrically coupling the implanted inductor and the implanted capacitor via a third switch to form a resonant circuit, wherein a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit varies based on the capacitance value of the capacitor.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 electrically decoupling the implanted inductor and the implanted power circuit via the first switch; and   electrically decoupling the implanted capacitor and the implanted sensing circuit via the second switch.   
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A device for monitoring pressure within a patient's heart, the device comprising:
 a first pressure sensing element positionable within the patient's heart, wherein the first pressure sensing element comprises a capacitor and having a capacitance value that varies based on pressure within the patient's heart;   a second pressure sensing element positionable within the patient's heart, wherein the second pressure sensing element comprises a resistance value that varies based on pressure within the patient's heart;   a first sensing circuit operably coupled to the first pressure sensing element and configured to measure the capacitance value thereof;   a second sensing circuit operably coupled to the second pressure sensing element and configured to measure the resistance value thereof;   an inductor positionable within the patient's heart;   a power circuit operably coupled to the inductor and configured to wirelessly receive power from a source external to the patient's body via the inductor, wherein the power circuit is electrically coupled to the first and second sensing circuits to provide power thereto; and   a switching assembly, wherein—
 when the switching assembly is in a first configuration, the switching assembly electrically couples the second pressure sensing element to the second sensing circuit and electrically couples the inductor to the power circuit, and 
 when the switching assembly is in a second configuration, the switching assembly electrically couples the capacitor to the inductor to form a resonant circuit, and wherein a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit varies based on the capacitance value of the capacitor. 
   
     
     
         37 . A device for monitoring pressure within a heart of a patient, the device comprising:
 a plurality of sensing elements positionable within the heart of the patient, wherein the individual sensing elements comprise an electrical parameter value that is variable based on pressure within the heart;   a sensing circuit operably coupled to said pressure sensing elements and configured to measure pressure-variable electrical parameters thereof;   a power receiving element positionable within the patient's heart;   a power circuit operably coupled to power receiving element and configured to wirelessly receive power, via the power receiving element, from a source external to the patient, wherein the power circuit is electrically coupled to the sensing circuit to provide power thereto; and   a switching assembly, wherein—
 when the switching assembly is in a first configuration, the switching assembly electrically couples one or more of the pressure sensing elements to the sensing circuit and electrically couples the power receiving element to the power circuit, and 
 when the switching assembly is in a second configuration, the switching assembly electrically couples one pressure sensing element to the power receiving element to form a resonant circuit, and wherein a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit varies based on the pressure-variable parameter of the pressure sensing element.