Integrated system to assist cardiovascular functioning with implanted cardiac device and sensor-enabled wearable device
This invention is a system to assist human cardiovascular functioning which integrates the operation of an implanted cardiac device and a wearable device with an arcuate array of biometric sensors. Analysis of data from the biometric sensors on the wearable device is used to automatically adjust and optimize the operation of the implanted cardiac device. This system can work as a closed loop system for assisting and improving human cardiovascular functioning.
1. A system for cardiac function assistance comprising:
an implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac rhythm management device, wherein the implanted device has a plurality of operating parameters including pacing rate and is configured to be implanted in a person;
a wearable device configured to be worn by the person, wherein the wearable device comprises an arcuate array of biometric sensors, the arcuate array of biometric sensors comprises a plurality of light emitters and light receivers;
a plurality of actuators, wherein a subset of actuators in the plurality of actuators tilts, rotates, raises, or lowers light receivers in the plurality of light receivers in order to maintain a selected distance and/or selected angle between the light receivers and the surface of the person's body,
wherein the implanted device and the wearable device are in wireless communication with each other, either directly or through an intermediary device, and
wherein one or more of the operating parameters of the implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac rhythm management device are automatically adjusted based on analysis of data from the biometric sensors.
2. The system in claim 1 wherein the wearable device is selected from the group consisting of a smart watch or watch band, a wrist or arm band, a finger ring, a sleeve, an ear bud or other ear insert, a chest strap, a smart sock, an adhesive patch, and smart glasses.
3. The system in claim 1 wherein a subset of actuators in the plurality of actuators tilts, rotates, raises, or lowers light emitters in the plurality of light emitters in order to maintain a selected distance and/or selected angle between the light emitters and the surface of the person's body.
4. The system in claim 1 wherein the biometric sensors are oxygenation sensors.
5. The system in claim 4 wherein the system increases the frequency of heart contraction stimulations via the implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac rhythm management device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
6. The system in claim 4 wherein the system increases the magnitude of heart contraction stimulations via the implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac rhythm management device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
7. The system in claim 4 wherein the system increases the regularity of heart contraction stimulations via the implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac rhythm management device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
8. The system in claim 4 wherein the system changes the locations on the heart to which electromagnetic energy is delivered via the implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac rhythm management device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
9. The system in claim 4 wherein the system changes the degree of coordination and/or timing between stimulations to different heart chambers via the implanted cardiac pacemaker or other implanted cardiac rhythm management device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
10. A system for cardiac function assistance comprising:
an implanted Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or other implanted blood-pumping device, wherein the implanted device has a plurality of operating parameters including rotational and/or flow speed and is configured to be implanted in a person;
a wearable device configured to be worn by the person, wherein the wearable device comprises an arcuate array of biometric sensors, the arcuate array of biometric sensors comprises a plurality of light emitters and light receivers;
a plurality of actuators, wherein a subset of actuators in the plurality of actuators tilts, rotates, raises, or lowers light receivers in the plurality of light receivers in order to maintain a selected distance and/or selected angle between the light receivers and the surface of the person's body,
wherein the implanted device and the wearable device are in wireless communication with each other, either directly or through an intermediary device, and
wherein one or more of the operating parameters of the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or other implanted blood-pumping device are automatically adjusted based on analysis of data from the biometric sensors.
11. The system in claim 10 wherein the wearable device is selected from the group consisting of a smart watch or watch band, a wrist or arm band, a finger ring, a sleeve, an ear bud or other ear insert, a chest strap, a smart sock, an adhesive patch, and smart glasses.
12. The system in claim 10 wherein a subset of actuators in the plurality of actuators tilts, rotates, raises, or lowers light emitters in the plurality of light emitters in order to maintain a selected distance and/or selected angle between the light emitters and the surface of the person's body.
13. The system in claim 10 wherein the biometric sensors are oxygenation sensors.
14. The system in claim 13 wherein the system activates the implanted Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or other implanted blood-pumping device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
15. The system in claim 13 wherein the system increases the duration of operation of the implanted Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or other implanted blood-pumping device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
16. The system in claim 13 wherein the system increases the rotational speed of the implanted Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or other implanted blood-pumping device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
17. The system in claim 13 wherein the system increases the speed of undulation, compression, or contraction of the implanted Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or other implanted blood-pumping device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.
18. The system in claim 13 wherein the system increases the magnitude of undulation, compression, or contraction of the implanted Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) or other implanted blood-pumping device when a low oxygenation level is detected by analysis of data from the oxygenation sensors.