Cardiac implant devices with integrated pressure sensing

Abstract

A sensor implant device includes a shunt structure comprising a flow path conduit and a plurality of arms configured to secure the shunt structure to a tissue wall, and a pressure sensor device attached to one of the plurality of arms of the shunt structure. The pressure sensor device comprises one or more sensor elements, an antenna, control circuitry electrically coupled to the one or more sensor elements and the antenna, and a housing that houses the control circuitry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor implant device comprising:
 a first pressure sensor device configured to be positioned at least partially in a left atrium to sense a left atrial pressure in the left atrium, wherein the first pressure sensor device includes: 
 a first sensor configured to be positioned in the left atrium to sense the left atrial pressure; 
 an antenna; 
 control circuitry electrically coupled to the first sensor and the antenna; and 
 a housing that houses the control circuitry. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor device further comprises:
 a second sensor configured to be positioned in a right atrium to sense a right atrial pressure or in a coronary sinus to sense a coronary sinus pressure simultaneously with the left atrial pressure, wherein the control circuity is electrically coupled to the second sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The sensor implant device of  claim 2 , wherein the second sensor is configured to be positioned in the right atrium to sense the right atrial pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor implant device of  claim 3 , wherein a differential pressure between the left atrium and the right atrium can be determined using the left atrial pressure sensed by the first sensor and the right atrial pressure sensed by the second sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor implant device of  claim 2 , wherein the second sensor is configured to be positioned in the coronary sinus to sense the coronary sinus pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor implant device of  claim 5 , wherein a differential pressure between the left atrium and the coronary sinus can be determined using the left atrial pressure sensed by the first sensor and the coronary sinus pressure sensed by the second sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor implant device of  claim 5 , wherein the right atrial pressure of the right atrium can be determined using the coronary sinus pressure sensed by the second sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor implant device of  claim 7 , wherein a differential pressure between the left atrium and the right atrium can be determined using the left atrial pressure sensed by the first sensor and the right atrial pressure determined using the coronary sinus pressure sensed by the second sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the first pressure sensor device is configured to extend through a tissue wall separating the left atrium from a coronary sinus. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the first pressure sensor device is configured to extend through a tissue wall separating the left atrium from a right atrium. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the first pressure sensor device is configured to extend through a tissue wall, and wherein the first pressure sensor device includes tissue wall anchor features configured to anchor the first pressure sensor device to the tissue wall. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor implant device of  claim 11 , wherein the tissue wall anchor features extend outward from the housing of the first pressure sensor device and are configured to provide compressive force on the tissue wall. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor device includes a stent structure integrated with or attached to the first pressure sensor device. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor implant device of  claim 13 , wherein the stent structure is configured to be positioned in a coronary sinus and the housing of the first pressure sensor device is configured to extend through a tissue wall between the left atrium and the coronary sinus. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second pressure sensor device configured to be positioned in a right atrium or a coronary sinus to sense a right atrial pressure in the right atrium or a coronary sinus pressure in the coronary sinus, wherein the second pressure sensor device includes:
 a second sensor configured to be positioned in the right atrium to sense the right atrial pressure or the coronary sinus to sense the coronary sinus pressure; 
 an antenna; 
 control circuitry electrically coupled to the first sensor and the antenna; and a housing that houses the control circuitry; 
   wherein the first pressure sensor device is configured to be positioned on a first side of a tissue wall and the second pressure sensor device is configured to be positioned on a second side of the tissue wall.   
     
     
         16 . The sensor implant device of  claim 15 , wherein the first pressure sensor device and the second pressure sensor device are secured to one another by an attachment member. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor implant device of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment member is configured to be tightened to a desirable tension to secure and hold the first pressure sensor device and the second pressure sensor device against the tissue wall. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor device includes tissue anchor features attached to or integrated with the first pressure sensor device that are configured to anchor the first pressure sensor device to tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor device includes a radially expanding anchor feature configured to suspend the first pressure sensor device in the left atrium. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor implant device of  claim 19 , wherein the radially expanding anchor feature includes a radially expanding wire. 
     
     
         21 . The sensor implant device of  claim 20 , wherein the radially expanding wire is configured to exert outward radial force against the walls of the left atrium to suspend the first pressure sensor device in a central portion of the left atrium. 
     
     
         22 . The sensor implant device of  claim 20 , wherein the radially expanding wire includes a detachable joint feature that is configured to allow for detachment of the radially expanding wire from a guidewire. 
     
     
         23 . The sensor implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor device includes a plurality of anchor arms that are configured to suspend the first pressure sensor device in the left atrium. 
     
     
         24 . A sensor implant device comprising:
 a first pressure sensor device configured to be positioned at least partially in a coronary sinus to sense a coronary sinus pressure in the coronary sinus, wherein the first pressure sensor device includes:
 a first sensor configured to be positioned in the coronary sinus to sense the coronary sinus pressure; 
 an antenna; 
 control circuitry electrically coupled to the first sensor and the antenna; and 
 a housing that houses the control circuitry. 
   
     
     
         25 . The sensor implant device of  claim 24 , wherein the first pressure sensor device further comprises:
 a second sensor configured to be positioned in a left atrium to sense a left atrial pressure, wherein the control circuity is electrically coupled to the second sensor.   
     
     
         26 . The sensor implant device of  claim 25 , wherein a differential pressure between the coronary sinus and the left atrium can be determined using the coronary sinus pressure sensed by the first sensor and the left atrial pressure sensed by the second sensor. 
     
     
         27 . The sensor implant device of  claim 25 , wherein a right atrial pressure of a right atrium can be determined using the coronary sinus pressure sensed by the first sensor. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor implant device of  claim 27 , wherein a differential pressure between the left atrium and the right atrium can be determined using the left atrial pressure sensed by the second sensor and the right atrial pressure determined using the coronary sinus pressure sensed by the first sensor. 
     
     
         29 . The sensor implant device of  claim 24 , wherein the housing of the first pressure sensor device is configured to extend through a tissue wall separating the coronary sinus from the left atrium. 
     
     
         30 . The sensor implant device of  claim 29 , wherein the first pressure sensor device includes tissue wall anchor features configured to anchor the first pressure sensor device to the tissue wall. 
     
     
         31 . The sensor implant device of  claim 30 , wherein the tissue wall anchor features extend outward from the housing of the first pressure sensor device and are configured to provide compressive force on the tissue wall. 
     
     
         32 . The sensor implant device of  claim 24 , wherein the first pressure sensor device includes a stent structure integrated with or attached to the first pressure sensor device. 
     
     
         33 . The sensor implant device of  claim 32 , wherein the stent structure is configured to be positioned in the coronary sinus and the housing of the first pressure sensor device is configured to pass through a tissue wall between the coronary sinus and a left atrium. 
     
     
         34 . The sensor implant device of  claim 24 , and further comprising:
 a second pressure sensor device configured to be positioned in a left atrium to sense a left atrial pressure in the left atrium simultaneously with the coronary sinus pressure, wherein the second pressure sensor device includes:
 a second sensor configured to be positioned in the left atrium to sense the left atrial pressure; 
 an antenna; 
 control circuitry electrically coupled to the first sensor and the antenna; and 
 a housing that houses the control circuitry; 
   wherein the first pressure sensor device is configured to be positioned on a first side of a tissue wall separating the coronary sinus from the left atrium and the second pressure sensor device is configured to be positioned on a second side of the tissue wall.   
     
     
         35 . The sensor implant device of  claim 34 , wherein the first pressure sensor device and the second pressure sensor device are secured to one another by an attachment member. 
     
     
         36 . The sensor implant device of  claim 34 , wherein the attachment member is configured to be tightened to a desirable tension to secure and hold the first pressure sensor device and the second pressure sensor device against the tissue wall. 
     
     
         37 . The sensor implant device of  claim 24 , wherein the first pressure sensor device includes tissue anchor features attached to or integrated with the first pressure sensor device that are configured to anchor the first pressure sensor device to tissue.