Wireless monitoring of cardiac function

Abstract

Sensing device 100 has circuit board (104, fig. 1) comprising a first end, attached to the heart 202 by anchoring means, and having one or e.g. motion sensors such as MEMS or piezoelectric detectors.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a system, method, and computer program product for wireless monitoring of cardiac function. 5 Background After a patient undergoes open-heart surgery, it is possible to implant a sensor on the heart surface or in the heart wall. Implanting a heart sensor enables a surgeon or other medical professionals to monitor the functioning of the heart 10 during and after surgery. The heart sensor is configured to monitor various parameters of the heart, such as motion, pressure or electrical impulses. That data is then often analysed to provide information about heart function such as cardiac rhythm, loading, volume or work. Such information can be used to ensure that the heart is functioning normally or to detect abnormalities. 15 In order to measure heart parameters, the heart sensor is attached to a C\l surface of the wall by suture or otherwise. In the case that the patient undergoes surgery in order to fit a cardiac assist device, the heart sensor can be directly attached to the heart surface or cardiac assist device in order to monitor its function. 20 The heart sensor typically comprises a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), a piezoelectrical system, or electrodes attached to a printed circuit board and one or more wires or connecting to an external device. In order to connect the heart sensor to external monitoring systems, a through hole is made in the patient’s chest and the wires are threaded via the through hole. In this way, the chest cavity 25 can be sealed to complete the surgery but the heart monitor can still be used to measure heart parameters. Other prior art systems include catheter based, transvascular methods for installing a heart sensor. Such methods include feeding a sensor on the end of a wire into an artery, such as the carotid artery, and guiding the sensor through a 30 patient’s circulatory system until it arrives at the heart. Then, the sensor can be guided and anchored into an internal wall of the heart for monitoring heart parameters. Prior art heart sensors such as the ones described above are typically in place only temporarily or require dedicated systems that are usually only found in 35 hospitals for connection to and powering of the sensors. Summary According to a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a sensing device, comprising: a flexible circuit board comprising a first end and a second end; one or more sensors attached to the first end of the flexible circuit board; and an antenna attached to the second end of the flexible circuit board, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly receive power from and to wirelessly transmit data to and / or receive data from an external device, wherein the sensing device is configured to be implanted in a body and wherein the first end of the flexible circuit board is configured to be attached to a heart in the body by a first anchoring means and the second end of the flexible circuit board is attached within the body by a second anchoring means. The flexible circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a dielectric substrate film, which forms the base of the PCB, and electrical conductors printed on the substrate film that electrically connect components that are attached or printed onto the PCB. Components can be attached to a flexible PCB by the use of soldering, electrically conductive adhesive, non-electrically conductive adhesive, or other suitable means. The flexible circuit board is flexible in the sense that the PCB is formed as a thin layer or series of layers such that it is capable of bending or twisting without breaking. This is in comparison to rigid PCBs, which cannot bend or flex significantly without breaking. An advantage of flexible PCBs over rigid PCBs is that there is a significant reduction in size and weight, while retaining the same ability for components on the PCB to be connected. Flexible PCBs also have an advantage of reducing or eliminating the use of wiring in a circuit by integrating and guiding the signals inside the PCB itself to interface directly with other components, meaning that wires to connect the PCB to another component are not needed. That is, flexible PCBs have conductive elements that can electrically connect components attached or printed onto the PCB. Flexible PCBs have a further advantage in the context of their use for electronics in monitoring aspects of human or animal physiology, in that, a device that is implanted in a human or animal body must be capable of withstanding stresses placed on the device due to movement of the body. Such stresses can result from a person moving about, which could be further exacerbated by larger or more extreme movements during activities such as exercising or playing a sport. Stresses can also result from basic bodily functions, such as the movement of a thoracic diaphragm during breathing or the movement of heart muscles as a heart beats, thereby causing the heart muscles to expand and contract. To monitor a part of the body, a sensing device may be attached or implanted to the part of the body. If a sensing device is attached or implanted to a part of the body, such as the skin or an internal organ, it must be capable of withstanding movement of the part of the body so that the sensing device does not become dislodged from that part of the body. This is because dislodgement of the sensing device could result in an inability to monitor the part of the body to which the sensing device should be attached. Reattaching or re-implanting the sensing device may then require a person to visit a medical professional or undergo surgery, which is inconvenient for the person and, if surgery is required, could place severe strain on the body and includes a risk of injury as well as placing a burden on a hospital and its staff. Using a flexible circuit board for a sensing device that is attached to or implanted in a body provides an advantage of increasing the resilience of the sensing device. This is because the flexible circuit board is capable of bending or twisting when a surface to which the flexible circuit board is attached moves, and the flexible circuit board also typically has a lightweight construction compared to rigid PCBs, thereby reducing the likelihood of dislodgement during movement due to inertia of the circuit board. For heart sensing devices that are powered by an integrated power source, it is necessary to replace the power source or the complete device when there is no longer sufficient power for the sensing device to operate. Replacement of a power source or sensing device then requires surgery, which carries medical risks for the patient. Other prior art heart sensing devices are powered by a wired connection, but this has a disadvantage in that it requires the patient to be directly wired to a power source in order for the sensing device to function, which greatly hinders patient autonomy and mobility. The present disclosure provides a solution to this problem by enabling the transmission of power to the heart sensing device wirelessly. This is done by using an electrically powered transmitter device outside the patient that transmits power wirelessly to the heart sensing device inside the patient, thereby eliminating the need for a power source in the implanted sensing device and / or wires connected to the implanted sensing device. Near field power transfer, or near field communication (NFC), enables the transfer of power by time-varying magnetic fields using inductive coupling between coils of wire (antenna). In this situation, a power source is connected to a transmitting antenna and a load is connected to a receiving antenna and the load is powered by the power source by transmitting a time-varying magnetic field from the transmitter, thereby inducing an electric current in the receiving antenna. The sensing device can be powered by inductive coupling through the antenna of the sensing device. To minimise the distance between the antenna of the sensing device and a transmitting antenna the antenna of the sensing device can be embedded inside the flexible PCB under the patient skin as part of the implanted sensing device. In this way, the sensing device is configured to be wirelessly powered by near field communication (NFC). This means that the sensing device of the present disclosure does not need to be replaced in order for the sensing device to continue operation compared to solely battery-powered devices. This has an advantage of reducing medical risks to the patient as well as reducing costs to the patient and to hospitals. NFC also has an advantage of enabling wireless data transfer between the sensing device and an external device. In this way, the sensing device is configured to wirelessly transmit data to and / or wirelessly receive data from an external device. In the context of the present disclosure, the wireless transfer of power and data by NFC is to be understood to refer to all wireless power and data transfer methods that are suitable for communication with a medical device in a patient. The first end of the flexible circuit board is anchored to a surface of a heart such that there is little to no relative movement between the first end of the flexible circuit board and the heart surface. The one or more sensors are attached to the first end of the flexible circuit board. The one or more sensors may be attached to the first end of the flexible circuit board by crimping, soldering, or any other appropriate connection method. By anchoring the first end of the flexible circuit board to the heart surface, this has an effect that measurements of motion by the one or more sensors are effectively measurements of motion of the heart surface. In this way, the one or more sensors are configured to detect and measure one or more of the following parameters of the heart surface: pressure, position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, vibration, orientation, and / or angular velocity. Analysis of one or more of the one or more parameters can then be used to determine additional heart parameters such as: electrical activity, heart volume, heart loading (also known as preload), ventricular pressure, and / or contractility. Electrical activity is typically displayed to a user in the form of an electrocardiogram (ECG). A method for estimating and assessing preload is disclosed in the applicant’s prior application WO 2021 / 110761, which is incorporated herein by reference. Changes in the motion or electrical activity of the heart may, in one or more embodiments, be used to detect cardiac dysfunction such as reduced pumping capacity, heart muscle infarction and / or rejection of a transplanted heart muscle. Therefore, in one or more embodiments, the one or more sensors are used to detect cardiac dysfunction, reduced pumping capacity, and / or pump malfunction in patients with artificial heart pumps by enabling analysis of the heart parameters and determining additional heart parameters. In embodiments where a patient has a cardiac assist device implanted at the heart, vibrations of the cardiac assist device will propagate through the heart surface. Therefore, the one or more sensors of the sensing device anchored to the heart surface will also detect and measure vibrations of the cardiac assist device. In one or more embodiments, the first end of the flexible circuit board is anchored directly to the cardiac assist device. An advantage of this arrangement is to directly detect and measure vibrations of the cardiac assist device. In such embodiments, the first end of the flexible circuit board may be anchored by a bracket, screw, glue or any other suitable anchoring means. As mentioned above, the second end of the flexible circuit board is attached within the body by a second anchoring means. In some embodiments, the second end of the flexible circuit board is positioned on or proximate the fascia, either between the fascia and the muscle layer or between the fascia and the epidermal layer. In other embodiments, the second end is implanted intramuscularly or in the dermal layer. The second anchoring means is any means of fixing the second end within the body. In some embodiments, this is by suture. In other embodiments, the second end is implanted and the tissue surrounding the flexible circuit board is allowed to heal such that the second end is fixed within the body, meaning that the second end is anchored by bodily tissue. That is, generally, the second anchoring means is positioned subcutaneously or subfascially. Each of the one or more sensors may be a piezoelectrical sensor, a micromechanical electrical system (MEMS), electrodes, or any other suitable sensor. In the case that there is more than one sensor, each sensor may be the same type of sensor or comprise a mixture of sensor types. Electrodes are used to detect and measure electrical activity of the heart in order to produce an electrocardiogram (ECG). In embodiments where the one or more sensors include electrodes, this can comprise two or more exposed electrodes connected to the flexible circuit board and located at any part of the first end of the flexible circuit board that is exposed to the heart muscle. That is, the electrodes are positioned on the first end of the flexible circuit board such that they are in contact with the heart surface when the first end of the flexible circuit board is anchored to the heart surface. The ECG may be used to obtain an accurate detection of the heart cycle. This may be used together with the motion signals and other heart parameters to assess heart function. The ECG signal can also be used to detect complications, such as rejection of a transplanted heart or rhythm disturbances. In one or more embodiments, the one or more sensors comprise two or more electrodes and one or more motion sensors. The one or more motion sensors may be configured to measure one or more of pressure, position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, vibration, orientation, and angular velocity. In one or more embodiments, the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer and / or a gyroscope. In one or more embodiments, the sensing device comprises a controller. The controller may be a microprocessor or any other suitable processor. The controller is connected to the flexible circuit board. The controller is configured to process data received from the one or more sensors before being transmitted to an external device. Filtering data can be used to determine importance of the data, which may determine whether the data is transmitted to the external device. Filtering data can therefore be used to reduce the volume of data communicated by the sensing device. This has an advantage of reducing the power usage of the sensing device by reducing the total amount of data that is wirelessly transmitted from the device. The antenna of the sensing device is at the second end of the flexible circuit board. The antenna is configured to wirelessly transmit data from the sensing device to an external device and / or wirelessly receive data from the external device, and is configured to wirelessly receive power from the external device. In one or more embodiments, the antenna is configured to wirelessly receive power and wirelessly transmit data only. The antenna may be integrated within the flexible circuit board or connected to the second end of the flexible circuit board. In embodiments where the antenna is integrated in the flexible circuit board, the antenna may be in the form of a coiled wire inside the flexible circuit board. In embodiments where the antenna is connected to the flexible circuit board, the antenna may be attached by crimping, soldering or any other suitable connection means. In one or more embodiments, the sensing device comprises an encapsulation and / or a coating. The encapsulation and / or coating covers the whole of the sensing device. The Encapsulation may be a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) encapsulation or any other suitable material. The coating may be a parylene coating or any other suitable coating material. An advantage of the encapsulation and / or coating is to protect the sensing device from degradation, providing mechanical stability of the sensing device, and to protect the patient from contamination by the sensing device. The sensing device is configured to communicate with an external device. The external device is configured to wirelessly provide power to the sensing device. The external device is also configured to wirelessly receive data from the sensing device and / or wirelessly transmit data to the sensing device. In one or more embodiments, the external device is configured to wirelessly transmit power and wirelessly receive data only. The external device is located outside the body of the patient. The external device is part of a control system for controlling the sensing device. In one or more embodiments, the external device is a mobile communications device. In other embodiments, the external device is a communications patch. The mobile communications device may be a smartphone with NFC functionality or a dedicated communications device. The external device comprises an external device antenna for communication with the sensing device. The external device is configured to transmit power to the sensing device and to receive data from the sensing device using the external device antenna. The external device may also be configured to transmit data to the sensing device using the external device antenna. In one or more embodiments, the external device is configured to control functions of the sensing device, such as a measurement frequency of the one or more sensors. If the sensing device comprises a controller, the external device may be configured to command the controller to change data filtering parameters. In embodiments where the external device is a mobile communications device, the external device comprises a processor and a memory and is configured to store and process data received from the sensing device. The processor may be configured to process the data received from the sensing device to track heart parameters. The processor may also be configured to analyse the data to determine additional heart parameters. In embodiments where the external device is a communications patch, the communications patch is configured to connect to the sensing device. A mobile communications device is configured to connect with the communications patch. In such embodiments, the control system comprises the communications patch and the mobile communications device. The communications patch may use the external device antenna for communication with the sensing device and the mobile communications device or it may comprise a first external device antenna for dedicated communication with the sensing device and a second external device antenna for dedicated communication with the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device may be a smartphone with NFC functionality or a dedicated communications device. The communications patch comprises a power source, such as a battery, or a connection to an external power source. The communications patch is configured to power the sensing device using the power source. The communications patch is configured to be attached to the patient by an attachment means, such as glue or any other suitable attachment means. To ensure that the communications patch is able to communicate with the sensing device, the communications patch must be placed within communications range of the sensing device. The communications patch may be placed on the chest or elsewhere on the upper torso of the patient. In one or more embodiments, the communications patch comprises a processor and a memory and is configured to store and process data received from the sensing device. In other embodiments the mobile communications device comprises a processor and a memory and is configured to store and process data received from the sensing device. The processor may be configured to process the data received from the sensing device to track heart parameters. The processor may also be configured to analyse the data to determine additional heart parameters. The control system may be configured to display the heart parameters on a display. In one or more embodiments the control system comprises a server. In such embodiments, the mobile communications device is configured to communicate with the server over a mobile network, internet, or other suitable method. The mobile communications device is configured to transmit data to the server for storage and / or processing. The data sent to the server may be raw data from the one or more sensors or data that is processed by the control system and / or the sensing device. The server may be configured to transmit processed data back to the mobile communications device for display to the user. In one or more embodiments, operation of the sensing device is controlled remotely, via the server. An advantage of such embodiments is that medical staff at a hospital would be able to remotely control and monitor the sensing device, and analyse and evaluate data received from the sensing device, thereby enabling remote medical care to be provided. In one or more embodiments, the control system is configured to provide an alert. The alert may be sent to the patient or user when a complication or failure of the heart and / or a cardiac assist device is detected. The alert may be an audible alert, a visual alert, a haptic alert, or any combination of these. The user may be a medical staff member or any person that is responsible for care of the patient. In one or more embodiments, an alert message is also sent to a hospital or remote member of a caring team to alert them of the complication or failure. According to a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a system comprising: the sensing device of the first aspect and a control system. The control system comprises an external device, wherein the external device comprises an external device antenna and a power source, and wherein the external device is configured to wirelessly transmit power to and to wirelessly transmit data to and / or receive data from the sensing device. The control system comprises any of the features as detailed above. According to a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of monitoring a heart of a patient using the system of the second aspect, comprising: wirelessly powering the sensing device using the external device; measuring, using the one or more sensors, data relating to one or more heart parameters; and wirelessly transmitting the data from the sensing device to the external device. One or more embodiments of the method comprise the external device being a communications patch, as discussed in above aspects. The method further comprises attaching the communications patch to the patient using an attachment means, such as glue. The communication patch is placed on the patient and in communications range of the sensing device, for example, on the upper torso or chest of the patient. In one or more embodiments, the method comprises analysing the data to determine one or more additional heart parameters. The data is analysed by a processor of the control system. The method may further comprise determining a complication or failure of the heart by evaluation of the heart parameters and / or the additional heart parameters. In one or more embodiments, the method comprises providing, by the control system, an alert. The alert may be sent to the patient or user when a complication or failure of the heart and / or a cardiac assist device is detected. The alert may be an audible alert, a visual alert, a haptic alert, or any combination of these. The user may be a medical staff member or any person that is responsible for care of the patient. In one or more embodiments, an alert message is also sent to a hospital or remote member of a caring team to alert them of the complication or failure. According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer program product, comprising instructions that configure the system of the second aspect to: power, by the control system, the sensing device; measure, using the one or more sensors, data relating to one or more heart parameters; and transmit the data from the sensing device to the external device. The computer program product is executable on a non-transient computer readable medium. Some patients have a cardiac assist device fitted in order to assist the function of the heart. A cardiac assist device may also be called a heart pump. As mentioned above, the one or more sensors may be configured to detect one or more of the following parameters: pressure, position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, vibration, orientation, angular velocity, heart volume, heart loading (also known as preload), ventricular pressure, and / or contractility. In an arrangement where the first end of the flexible circuit board is attached to heart pump, the one or more sensors are able to measure with increased accuracy the vibrations of the cardiac assist device, compared to an arrangement where the first end of the flexible circuit board is attached to a heart surface. In this way, the one or more sensors may be configured to measure vibration. Analysis of vibration parameters measured by the one or more sensors can then be used to determine, development of thrombus in the pump, pump suction issues, reduced pumping capacity, and / or pump malfunction. In some embodiments, analysis of heart parameters is carried out in a processor. In another aspect, the circuit board is not necessarily flexible. That is, the disclosure provides a sensing device comprising a circuit board comprising a first end and a second end; one or more sensors attached to the first end of the circuit board; and an antenna attached to the second end of the circuit board, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly receive power from an external device and to wirelessly transmit data from the one or more sensors to the external device and / or wirelessly receive data from the external device, wherein the sensing device is implanted in a body and wherein the first end of the circuit board is configured to be attached to a heart in the body by a first anchoring means and the antenna is attached to within the body by a second anchoring means. In another aspect, the antenna is not necessarily configured to receive power wirelessly. That is, the disclosure provides a sensing device comprising a flexible circuit board comprising a first end and a second end; one or more sensors attached to the first end of the flexible circuit board; and an antenna attached to the second end of the flexible circuit board, wherein the sensing device is configured to be implanted in a body and wherein the first end of the flexible circuit board is configured to be attached to a heart in the body by a first anchoring means and the second end of the flexible circuit board is attached to within the body by a second anchoring means. The sensing device may comprise a power source such as a battery, for powering the sensing device. In some embodiments, the sensing device is powered wirelessly and comprises a rechargeable power source, wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to be charged when the sensing device is receiving power. Figures Certain embodiments will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a sensing device; Figure 2 illustrates a heart monitoring system with wireless communication between an implanted sensing device and a mobile device; and Figure 3 illustrates a heart monitoring system comprising wireless communication between an implanted sensing device and an external communications patch. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a heart monitoring system. Specific Description As shown in Figure 1, a sensing device 100 for monitoring parameters of a heart in a person is disclosed. The sensing device 100 comprises a motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, gyroscope or other sensor suitable for measuring myocardial motion. The myocardial motion comprises pressure, position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, vibration, orientation, and angular velocity of heart tissue. The sensing device 100 also comprises two or more electrodes for measuring electrical impulses of the heart. The motion sensor and the electrodes are collectively referred to as the sensors 102 of the sensing device 100. The sensors 102 are connected to a first end 106 of a flexible circuit board 104. The first end 106 of the flexible circuit board 104 is attached to a surface of the heart by a first anchoring means, e.g. a suture, such that the sensors 102 do not move significantly relative to the surface of the heart. In this way, the sensors 102 move in accordance to the motions of the heart surface, and, thus, the motion sensor is able to effectively detect and measure the motions of the heart surface. Each electrode is a pad made from an electrically conductive material. Each electrode is spaced apart from one another on the flexible circuit board 104. When the first end 106 of the flexible circuit board 104 is attached to the surface of the heart, the flexible circuit board 104 is attached such that the two or more electrodes are in physical contact with the heart surface. By measuring electrical impulses of the heart, the electrical activity of the heart can be monitored and conditions, such as arrhythmia, may be detected if abnormal electrical activity is detected. The electrical activity of the heart can be tracked to produce an echocardiogram (ECG). The sensing device 100 also comprises an antenna 110 at a second end 108 of the flexible circuit board 104. The antenna 110 is a coiled wire in the flexible circuit board 102. The antenna 110 and the sensors 102 are electrically connected to one another through the flexible circuit board 104. The second end 108 of the flexible circuit board 104 is implanted proximate to the fascia. The antenna 110 is configured to transmit data from the sensors 102 to a receiver that is external to the body. In this way, the sensing device 100 is configured to wirelessly transmit data from the sensors 102 to a receiver that is external to the body. The antenna 110 is also configured to receive power from an external device. The antenna 110 is configured to operate as a near field communication (NFC) device. That is, the antenna 110 is configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from an externally powered transmitter, which creates an electric current in the antenna. The implanted sensing device 100 is then configured to use the electric current to power the operation of the sensors 102 and to enable the antenna 110 to transmit data to an external receiver. In other words, the sensing device 100 is powered by energy received from the external device. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the sensing device 100 is implanted in a person 200 and anchored to the person’s heart 202. The sensing device is configured to communicate with a control system 120, wherein the control system 120 comprises an external device. In Figure 2, the external device is a mobile communications device 122, such as a mobile phone. The mobile communications device 122 comprises software, such as a proprietary app. The mobile communications device 122 comprises an external device antenna for transmitting and / or receiving signals. The mobile communications device 122 comprises a processor and a memory. The mobile communications device 122 comprises a power source, such as a battery. The software is stored in the memory and is executable on the processor. The software contains instructions that, when executed on the processor, configures the mobile communications device 122 to power and communicate with the sensing device 100. To power the implanted sensing device 100, the mobile communications device 122 is configured to operate as an NFC transmitter. In this way, the mobile communications device 122 is configured for two-way communication to transmit an electromagnetic signal to the antenna 110 of the implanted sensing device 100. Transmission of the electromagnetic signal to the antenna 110 generates an electric current in the implanted sensing device 100 for powering the sensors 102, as set out above. Use of NFC requires the mobile communications device 122 to be in close proximity to the antenna 110. As shown in Figure 2, the antenna 110 of the sensing device is positioned in the chest cavity of the body of a person 200. So, to power the sensing device 100, the mobile communications device 122 is placed proximate to the person’s chest by a user and emits the electromagnetic signal to the antenna 110. In this way, the mobile communications device 122 is configured to wirelessly power the sensing device 100. The user may be a medical professional or the person 200 in which the sensing device 100 is implanted. The mobile communications device 122 is configured to wirelessly receive data from the sensing device 100. When the sensing device 100 is powered, the antenna 110 is capable of transmitting data from the sensors 102. Thus, when the mobile communications device 122 is in range of the antenna 110 and is powering the sensing device 100, the antenna 110 is configured to connect to the mobile communications device 122 and wirelessly transmit data to the mobile communications device 122. The data received from the implanted sensing device 100 can be processed and analysed in order to track heart parameters and to determine additional information about the function of the heart 202. The software configures the mobile communications device 122 to process data received from the sensing device using the processor. For example, analyses such as advanced calculations, frequency and motion data analysis, pattern recognition can be performed on the data. The analysed data is presented to the user on a display of the mobile communications device to provide the user with information about the status of the heart 202. Pre-processed data and / or post-processed data is stored locally on the memory of the mobile communications device 122. While connected to the sensing device 100, the user can use the mobile communications device 122, via the software, to control the sensing device 100. That is, the mobile communications device 122 is configured to wirelessly send instructions to the sensing device 100. The instructions comprise commands for the sensors 102 to take measurements of heart parameters. The instructions also comprise commands to adjust the frequency of the measurements. For example, the mobile communications device 122 can be used by the user to command the sensing device 100 to take a single measurement or to take a plurality of measurements over a period of time. The plurality of measurements can be taken at regular or irregular intervals of time. The mobile communications device 122 comprises a display 124. The mobile communications device 122 is configured to provide an alert when a complication or failure of the heart is detected. The display 124 is configured to show a visual alert to the user. Figure 3 shows another arrangement for the control system 120. The control system comprises a communications patch 130 and a mobile communications device 132. The communications patch 130 is attached to the skin of the person 200 using an attachment means, such as glue or an adhesive, and is positioned within communications range of the sensing device 100, proximate to the location of the antenna 110 of the sensing device 100. The communications patch 130 comprises a power source, such as a battery, and an external device antenna. The external device antenna is configured to communicate with the antenna 110 of the sensing device 100. The communications patch 130 is configured to operate as an NFC transmitter. In this way, the communications patch 130 is configured to use an NFC protocol to power the sensing device 100. Use of NFC requires the communications patch 130 to be in close proximity to the antenna 110, so positioning of the communications patch 130 on an external skin surface proximate to the location of the antenna 110 of the sensing device 100 enables the use of NFC. As shown in Figure 3, the antenna 110 of the sensing device 100 is positioned in the chest cavity of the body of a person 200. So, to power the sensing device 100, the communications patch 130 is configured to emit the electromagnetic signal to the antenna 110. In this way, the communications patch 130 is configured to wirelessly power the sensing device 100. The mobile communications device 132 is configured to be connected to the communications patch 130. The mobile communications device 132 may be connected to the communications patch 130 by a wired connector and / or by wireless means, such as Bluetooth. The mobile communications device 132 may be a mobile phone or a dedicated medical device. The mobile communications device 132 comprises software, such as a proprietary app. The mobile communications device 132 comprises an antenna for transmitting and / or receiving signals. The mobile communications device 132 comprises a processor and a memory. The software is stored in the memory and executed on the processor. The software contains instructions that, when executed on the processor, configures the mobile communications device 132 to communicate with the communications patch 132 and with the sensing device 100. The mobile communications device 132 is configured to command the communications patch 132 to wirelessly power and communicate with the sensing device 100 via the external device antenna. In this way, the mobile communications device 132 is configured to control the sensing device 100. The mobile communications device 132 is configured to receive data from the sensing device 100 via the communications patch 130. When the sensing device 100 is powered, the antenna 110 is capable of transmitting data from the sensors 102. Thus, when the mobile communications device 132 commands the communications patch 130 to power the sensing device 100, the antenna 110 is configured to connect to the communications patch 130 and to transmit data to the mobile communications device 132 via the communications patch 130. The mobile communications device 132 comprises a display 134. The mobile communications device 132 is configured to provide an alert when a complication or failure of the heart is detected. The display 134 is configured to show a visual alert to the user. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a sensing device 100 in wireless communication with a control system 120, where the control system is in wireless communication with a server 140. This arrangement is compatible with each of the systems depicted in Figures 2 and 3. The control system 120 is configured to communicate with the server 140 via a wireless network. The server 140 comprises a processor and a memory. In some embodiments, the control system is configured to upload data received from the sensing device 100 for processing at the server 140. The server 140 is also configured for remote storage of pre- and post-processed data.

Claims

1. A sensing device, comprising:a flexible circuit board comprising a first end and a second end;one or more sensors attached to the first end of the flexible circuit board;andan antenna attached to the second end of the flexible circuit board, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly receive power from and to wirelessly transmit data to and / or receive data from an external device,wherein the sensing device is configured to be implanted in a body and wherein the first end of the flexible circuit board is configured to be attached to a heart in the body by a first anchoring means and the second end of the flexible circuit board is attached within the body by a second anchoring means.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises two or more electrodes.

3. The sensing device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more sensors comprises one or more motion sensors.

4. The sensing device of claim 3, wherein the one or more motion sensors are configured to measure one or more of pressure, position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, vibration, orientation, and / or angular velocity.

5. The sensing device of any preceding claim, wherein the first anchoring means is configured to attach the first end of the flexible circuit board to a heart surface of the heart or to a cardiac assist device attached to the heart.

6. The sensing device of claim 5, wherein the first anchoring means is configured to minimise relative movement between the heart surface or the cardiac assist device and the first end of the flexible circuit board.

7. The sensing device of any preceding claim, wherein the second end of the flexible circuit board is attached proximate a fascia of the body.

8. The sensing device of any preceding claim, comprising a protective encapsulation and / or coating.

9. A system for monitoring a heart, comprising:the sensing device of any preceding claim; anda control system, wherein the control system comprises an external device and a processor, wherein the external device comprises an external device antenna configured to communicate with the antenna, and wherein the external device is configured to wirelessly power the sensing device and to wirelessly transmit data to and / or receive data from the sensing device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the external device is a communications patch attached to an external skin surface proximate to the position of the antenna of the sensing device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control system further comprises a mobile communications device configured to communicate with the communications patch.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the external device is a mobile communications device comprising the processor and a memory.

13. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the control system further comprises a server, and wherein the mobile communications device is configured to communicate with the server over a wireless network.

14. The system of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the control system is configured to provide an alert.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the alert is configured to be provided in response to detection of a complication or failure of the heart or of a cardiac assist device implanted at the heart.

16. A method of monitoring a heart of a patient using the system of claim 9, comprising:wirelessly powering the sensing device using the external device;measuring, by the one or more sensors, data relating to one or more heart parameters; andwirelessly transmitting the data from the sensing device to the external device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises analysing, by the processor, one or more of the one or more heart parameters to determine one or more additional heart parameters, the one or more additional heart parameters comprising: electrical activity, heart volume, heart loading, ventricular pressure, and / or contractility.

18. The method of claim 16 or 17, the method comprising analysing, by the processor, one or more of the one or more heart parameters to determine a complication or failure of the heart or of a cardiac assist device implanted at the heart, wherein the complication comprises one or more of: development of thrombus in the pump, pump suction issues, reduced pumping capacity, and / or pump malfunction.

19. The method of claim 18, the method comprising activating an alert in response to detection of the complication.

20. The method of any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the control system comprises a mobile communications device and a server, the method comprising communicating with the server, using the mobile communications device, over a wireless network.

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