Systems and methods for implanting an implantable cardiac monitor

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for implanting an implantable cardiac monitor. An insertion system includes an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM). An insertion housing comprises a passage extending from a first end of the insertion housing to a second end of the insertion housing. The passage configured to receive the obturator and a receptacle in communication with the passage and an external environment. The receptacle configured to receive the ICM. An obturator is configured to move within the passage when the obturator is moved relative to the insertion housing. The obturator has a channel forming section at a distal end thereof and a motion limiter is provided on at least one of the shaft and the insertion housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]The present disclosure relates generally to implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs), and more particularly to systems and methods for implanting ICMs.BACKGROUND[0002]Implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) are devices that may be implanted under a patient's skin to continuously monitor the patient's cardiac activity. An ICM may be programmed to detect and record cardiac information and episodes such as atrial / ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, asystole, etc. Triggers for detecting and recording an event (e.g., such a Tachy / Brady detection rate, a number of events, and / or a duration of asystole) may be progammed by a clinician. Alternatively, when the patient experiences symptoms, the patient may activate the detection and recording using an external patient activator. Diagnostics and recorded events may be downloaded by the clinician in-clinic using a programmer. Further, the data may also be transmitted to the clinician using a daily rem...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a surgical instrument that can be used during spinal surgery. The instrument has a distinct channel at its end, which can be used to create a new channel under the patient's tissue. The instrument also has a blunt dissection barrel, which is shorter than the length of the instrument and can be used to hold the initial channel open. The instrument is designed to fit into a larger insertion housing and has a stop feature to prevent accidental removal from the housing. The technical effects of this invention include improved access to the spinal cord and dura, as well as reduced damage to the patient's tissue during surgery.

Problems solved by technology

Further, ICMs are diagnostic tools that do not deliver pacing or shock therapies to the patient, nor do they require leads to be implanted in the patient's heart.

However, using at least some known insertion systems, the incision may be difficult to keep open during the procedure.

Further, it may be difficult to maneuver the tool into the tissue to position the ICM.

Moreover, in at least some known insertion systems, it may be difficult to push the ICM, which. typically has rounded edges, into tissue.

Finally, once the ICM is implanted, at least some known insertion systems are difficult to remove from the patient.

However, ICM systems may exhibit difficulties in detecting the R-R interval when the QRS complex has relatively low amplitude (e.g. less than approximately 0.2 mV).

Given the ease at which ICMs may be implanted, some physicians may regard the implant of an ICM as a minor event and may not consider whether the implant location and orientation will yield a QRS complex with sufficient amplitude.

Thereafter, the ICM is removed and re-implanted which introduces an unnecessary procedure that is inconvenient, expensive and has at least some risk of infection.

Other physicians may use external electrodes to map an ideal location and orientation on the surface of the patient's skin prior to ICM implant; however, this adds significant time to the procedure and may not yield acceptable post-implant QRS amplitudes, which are subsequently measured subcutaneously.

However, discerning P-waves may he challenging given that P-waves are relatively small features as compared to R-waves (approximately 20 to 25% of the amplitude of an R-wave).

While ensemble averaging between multiple cardiac cycles may be utilized in an attempt to enhance P-waves, ensemble averaging utilizes additional processing power and reduces the ICM longevity.

Images