Lumen-traveling biological interface device and method of use
View Patent ↗Lumen-traveling biological interface devices and associated methods and systems are described. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices capable of traveling within a body lumen may include a propelling mechanism to produce movement of the lumen-traveling device within the lumen, electrodes or other electromagnetic transducers for detecting biological signals and electrodes, coils or other electromagnetic transducers for delivering electromagnetic stimuli to stimulus responsive tissues. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices may also include additional components such as sensors, an active portion, and/or control circuitry.
1. A method of emplacing a cardiac stimulation device, comprising:
causing an untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site;
detecting with a sensor on the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device a branch point including two or more branches within the body tube tree;
selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, and a presence or absence of a chemical;
upon detecting the branch point, causing the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to enter the branch leading toward the target site;
causing the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site; and
delivering a cardiac stimulus at the target site.
2. The method of claim 1 , including introducing the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device into the body tube tree of the subject.
3. The method of claim 1 , including causing the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to engage a wall of the body tube tree at the target site.
4. The method of claim 1 , including pushing one or more additional cardiac stimulation devices with the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device.
5. The method of claim 1 , including pulling one or more additional cardiac stimulation devices with the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body tube tree is a vascular system of the subject.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward a target site located within a chamber of a heart of the subject.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the cardiac stimulus includes delivering a cardiac pacing stimulus.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the cardiac stimulus includes delivering an electrical stimulus.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the cardiac stimulus includes delivering a magnetic stimulus.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the cardiac stimulus includes delivering a chemical stimulus.
12. The method of claim 1 , including selecting the target site by selecting a site in proximity to a stimulation target.
13. The method of claim 1 , including selecting the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device by selecting an untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device sized to fit within the target site.
14. The method of claim 13 , including selecting the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device from an assortment of untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation devices of different sizes.
15. The method of claim 1 , adjusting the size of the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to fit within the target site.
16. The method of claim 1 , including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by causing at least a portion of the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to expand to form a pressure fit with the wall of the body tube tree.
17. The method of claim 1 , including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by releasing an adhesive material from the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device.
18. The method of claim 1 , including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by extending at least one claw or barb-like structure from the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to penetratingly engage the wall of the body tube tree.
19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recording electromagnetic activity from the heart of the subject with the untethered self-propelling cardiac stimulation device.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, and a presence or absence of a chemical includes selecting the branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting the direction of blood flow of the subject.