text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Feb 3, 2005
|Filing date
|Jul 30, 2003
|Priority date
|Jul 30, 2003
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Robert Nehls, Todd Sheldon
|Original Assignee
|Medtronic, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (57), Classifications (10), Legal Events (3)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
The present patent disclosure relates to and hereby incorporates by reference two non-provisional U.S. patent applications previously invented by E. Chinchoy; namely, application Ser. No. 10/376,981 filed 28 Feb. 2003 (Atty Dkt. P-10805.00) entitled, "Method and Apparatus for Assessing Left Ventricular Function and Optimizing Cardiac Pacing Intervals Based on Left Ventricular Wall Motion" and application Ser. No. 10/377,207 filed 28 Feb. 2003 (Atty Dkt. P-11229.00) entitled, "Method and Apparatus for Optimizing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Based on Left Ventricular Acceleration."
The present invention relates to the field of cardiac therapy. In particular, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for measuring displacement of cardiac tissue which measurement may be used to optimize certain forms of bi-ventricular cardiac therapy, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
Those skilled in the art of diagnosing cardiac ailments have long understood that certain patients, in particular heart failure (HF) patients, suffer uncoordinated mechanical activity wherein the myocardial depolarization and contraction of the right and left ventricle do not occur simultaneously. Such uncoordinated motion causes a decrease in cardiac output (CO), among other detrimental effects. Recently a variety of techniques have been proposed and practiced for minimizing such uncoordinated motion and increasing CO.
These prior art techniques for minimizing ventricular uncoordinated motion include CRT. In some forms of CRT, pressure-based measurements in one or both ventricles have been known and used for some time. In such methods, a pressure transducer is typically coupled to the distal end of a medical electrical lead used to measure intraventricular pressure variations. Such measured variations (maximum, minimum, calculated first derivatives thereof, etc.) provide feedback to an implantable pulse generator (IPG) programmed to deliver CRT. Such an IPG typically includes at least three medical electrical leads coupled to cardiac tissue. A first lead typically coupled to the right atrium, a second lead typically coupled to the right ventricle, and a third lead typically coupled to the left ventricle (often via the coronary sinus or great vein). That is, the third lead often couples to a location on the free wall of the left ventricle.
Thus, as is known in the art, based at least in part on the pressure-based measurements the IPG provides electrical cardiac pacing stimulus to the left ventricle (LV) and the right ventricle (RV) in an effort to suitably increase the measured pressure(s) and/or derivatives thereof.
When successfully delivered, CRT is known to increase CO and may, over time, cause a phenomenon known in the art as "reverse remodeling" of the LV and RV (and/or other beneficial) physiologic changes to the patient's heart.
The inventors are also aware of another technique for CRT for HF patients; namely, using an accelerometer disposed in the apex of the right ventricle to measure endocardial acceleration of the apical portion of the right ventricle. From this measurement in the right ventricle a left ventricular activity is inferred. However, to the best knowledge of the inventors such technique has not been used to directly measure deflection of the ventricular or atrial septal wall in patients afflicted with uncoordinated ventricular motion and the like.
The present invention addresses the above described needs by providing means for detecting uncoordinated ventricular motion, monitoring or measuring septal wall deflection due to ventricular uncoordinated motion, and/or reducing said uncoordinated motion with appropriately timed electrical stimulation coupled to both ventricular chambers to decrease said uncoordinated motion and increase cardiac output.
That is, the present invention provides novel methods and apparatus for measuring septal wall deflection in a closed-loop system including an IPG to thereby provide automatic optimization of inter-atrial (A-A) pacing intervals and/or interventricular (V-V) pacing intervals to minimize uncoordinated cardiac motion and improve CO, among other advantages. The present invention thus provides means for reducing: intra-atrial uncoordinated motion and intra-ventricular uncoordinated motion (A-A and V-V uncoordinated motion, respectively), as well as atrio-ventricular uncoordinated motion (i.e., A-V and V-A uncoordinated motion).
In embodiments of the present invention directed to reducing A-A uncoordinated motion an additional lead should be electrically coupled to the left atrium (LA). In one implementation of the present invention, if desired, a variety of respective intraventricular timing can be implemented so that an LV depolarization is timed to slightly precede an RV depolarization (or vice versa). That is, if due to physiologic cardiac characteristics—or other confounding factors—for a particular patient the timing of a discrete cardiac pacing pulse to the LV may need to be slightly offset from a corresponding cardiac pacing pulse delivered to the RV to minimize deflection of the ventricular septal wall. This optimization modality is believed to be highly effective in promoting beneficial, synchronized cardiac depolarization events, especially for HF patients.
In one form of the invention, septal wall deflection is measured by an accelerometer coupled to a portion of septal wall tissue. The accelerometer may comprise a single- or multiple-axis accelerometer. In the event that a single-axis accelerometer is used its axis ought to be transverse to the longitudinal axis of an elongated cardiac sense/pace (or dedicated) medical electrical lead. As a result, when the lead is disposed along the RV outflow tract (RVOT) the single-axis of the accelerometer will be substantially perpendicular to the plane of adjacent septal wall tissue and will provide a more reliable measurement of septal tissue motion. However, a multi-axis accelerometer may be coupled to an intermediate portion of an elongated medical lead adapted to actively affix the accelerometer to the septal wall at any convenient, oblique angle relative to the adjacent septal wall tissue. In any event, the choice of transducer has a bearing on the location and configuration of the accelerometer with respect to the tissue of the septal wall to which the lead is affixed. Any distal portion of the lead with respect to the accelerometer should have sufficient resiliency in the longitudinal axis to accurately convey deflection forces from the septal wall to the accelerometer.
A temporal window during which a useful signal may be obtained should be defined. If the window is accurately defined the duty cycle of the transducer and attendant computational overhead (and related energy drain) can be minimized. Alternatively, constant measuring, signal filtering, mathematical integrating (if applicable) and comparing the resulting signals to choose optimum pacing intervals may be employed. However, one reliable technique for defining the temporal window is to simply trigger the motion measurements from detected cardiac cycle activity. An atrial or ventricular electrogram, or other sensing vector(s) may be used. For example, a trigger event may comprise a sensed, intrinsic or evoked atrial or ventricular event with a programmable or predetermined motion-sensing-delay interval added so that the temporal motion-sensing window can begin and end when the septal wall motion is most likely to be of interest. Another technique to define the temporal window is to trigger from a maximum motion signal and, optionally, add a motion-sensing-delay before beginning to track signals related to motion of septal wall tissue. Since the present invention is directed at minimizing septal wall motion, a fiducial or reference point may effectively comprise a maximum magnitude acceleration signal.
In one form of the present invention the accelerometer may be combined into a single sensing cell having at least one additional physiologic sensor, such as a pressure sensor, disposed or coupled thereto. In this form of the invention, the pressure sensor can be spaced from the septal wall proximal the accelerometer, although such a configuration is not required. In an alternative form of the invention temperature sensor(s) may be electrically and/or mechanically coupled to the accelerometer and/or the canister for the IPG or to one of the other medical leads coupled to the IPG. Such sensors may provide direct venous or arterial temperature measurements and/or indirect measurement of cardiac function such as fluid flow, velocity, and the like.
In another form of the present invention, a primary accelerometer may be coupled to a portion of the atrial or ventricular septal wall and additional accelerometer(s) may be coupled to another portion of cardiac tissue. For example, an additional accelerometer may be coupled to a portion of RV endocardial tissue opposing the primary accelerometer. The output signals from such additional accelerometer units may be provided directly or in combination with other of the output signals from accelerometer or other physiologic sensors. That is, relatively excessive motion (i.e., acceleration, velocity or displacement) of the septal wall in combination with limited "motion? or measurable output signal related to the function of RV or LV tissue spaced from the septal wall may indicate uncoordinated V-V motion causing inefficient function during respective depolarization of the LV and RV. In the event that a pressure signal is measured adjacent an accelerometer, an additional component of the mechanical uncoordinated motion may be revealed.
According to the present invention, multiple-axis accelerometers may be used in conjunction with or in lieu of single-axis accelerometers. If a three-axis accelerometer is coupled to tissue opposing the septal wall tissue then an essentially three-dimensional (3D) representation or motion model may be determined. For example, if a single-axis accelerometer coupled to septal wall tissue indicates relatively limited displacement while a three-axis accelerometer coupled to the LV free wall indicates a non-linear "loop motion" displacement of the septal wall tissue, such mechanical uncoordinated motion may be more accurately determined. With additional empirical study, such motion may provide a strong correlation to one or more New York Heart Association (NYHA) HF classifications (e.g., Class I, II, II, IV and/or so-called "end-stage heart failure").
With respect to the closed-loop CRT optimization methods and apparatus, in addition to detecting (diagnosing) cardiac mechanical dysfunction and/or providing a correlation between sensed linear or non-linear acceleration (i.e., motion due to displacement) of the septal wall of a patient and NYHA Class of said patient, the present invention also provides automatically optimized, dynamically-adjustable CRT pacing modalities. In essence, one basic embodiment of the present invention provides A-A, A-V interval timing and/or V-V interval timing to minimize atrial and/or ventricular septal wall displacement. This interval timing can be viewed as "delay intervals" with respect to an initial intrinsic or evoked depolarization of one or more chambers of a patient's heart. The displacement sensed by one or more accelerometers may be directly provided to suitable CRT (or other pacing modality) timing circuitry and/or a first, second or other derivative (or integral) results calculated therefrom.
As indicated above, the present invention is directed toward providing a method and apparatus for optimizing ventricular function and selecting cardiac pacing intervals for the purposes of restoring normal ventricular synchrony based on monitoring septal wall motion. The present invention is useful in optimizing atrial-ventricular, inter-atrial and inter-ventricular pacing intervals during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) used for treating heart failure. The present invention is also useful in selecting pacing parameters used during temporary pacing applied for treating post-operative uncoordinated cardiac chamber (e.g., atrial and/or ventricular) motion. As such, the present invention may be embodied in an implantable cardiac pacing system including a dual chamber or multichamber pacemaker and associated set of medical electrical leads. Alternatively, the present invention may be embodied in a temporary pacing system including an external pacing device with associated temporary pacing leads.
The pacemaker 14, also referred to herein from time to time as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), is implanted subcutaneously in a patient's body between the skin and the ribs. Three transvenous-endocardial leads 16, 32 and 52 connect the IPG 14 with the RA, the RV and the LV, respectively. Each lead has at least one electrical conductor and pace/sense electrode. A remote indifferent can electrode 20 is formed as part of the outer surface of the housing of the IPG 14. The pace/sense electrodes and the remote indifferent can electrode 20 can be selectively employed to provide a number of unipolar and bipolar pace/sense electrode combinations for pacing and sensing functions.
The depicted bipolar endocardial RA lead 16 is passed through a vein into the RA chamber of the heart 10, and the distal end of the RA lead 16 is attached to the RA wall by an attachment mechanism 17. The attachment mechanism may be active or passive as is known in the art and as may be later developed. A helix or tined lead may be used as is known in the art, to adapt the distal end of an accelerometer-bearing lead for relatively permanent fixation to septal wall tissue. The bipolar endocardial RA lead 16 is formed with an in-line connector 13 fitting into a bipolar bore of IPG connector block 12 that is coupled to a pair of electrically insulated conductors within lead body 15 and connected with distal tip RA pace/sense electrode 17 and proximal ring RA pace/sense electrode 21 provided for achieving RA pacing and sensing of RA electrogram (EGM) signals. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a motion sensor 11 such as a single- or multi-axis accelerometer is coupled to the lead 16 proximal the attachment mechanism 17. In such embodiments, the attachment mechanism 17 is adapted to couple to a portion of septal tissue of the RA wall so that the motion sensor 11 provides a signal related to atrial septal wall motion. Off-axis (or radial) accelerometer data may not be as valuable in assessing wall motion and optimizing pacing intervals as on-axis (or longitudinal) data; therefore, a single or uniaxial accelerometer performs adequately according to the present invention.
In accordance with a triple chamber embodiment of the present invention, a coronary sinus lead 52 capable of stimulating the left ventricle is preferably of a relatively small size and diameter such that it may be passed through the coronary sinus and entering a vessel branching from the great cardiac vein and able to be steered to a left ventricular pacing site.
Sensor 60 may alternatively be provided as another type of sensor such as an optical, acoustical, or Hall effect sensor or a sensor having piezoelectric, inductive, capacitive, resistive, or other elements which produce a variable signal proportional to septal wall motion or acceleration. Sensor 60 is preferably located on lead 32 such that when the lead is positioned for pacing and sensing, sensor 60 is located approximately near the RV outflow tract (RVOT) so that relatively high fluid flow helps decrease deleterious fibrotic growth.
The depicted positions of the leads and electrodes shown in
This atrial septal wall motion signal from motion sensor 11, alone or in combination with a ventricular septal wall motion signal from motion sensor 60 (described below), is provided to pacing stimulus timing circuitry of the IPG 14 so that pacing stimulus is provided to minimize at least a portion of the respective wall motion signal(s). For example, according to the present invention septal wall motion signals corresponding to the isovolumic contractile phase of the cardiac cycle, a whole-cycle signal, a P-wave depolarization, an R-wave depolarization, and/or a filtered and/or rectified portion of the foregoing may be used to suitably administer the pacing stimulus.
Bipolar, endocardial RV lead 32 passes through the RA into the RV where its distal ring and tip RV pace/sense electrodes 38,40 are adapted for fixation to a portion of ventricular septal wall tissue by a distal attachment mechanism 41. The RV lead 32 is formed with an in-line connector 34 fitting into a bipolar bore of IPG connector block 12 that is coupled to a pair of electrically insulated conductors within lead body 36 and connected with distal tip RV pace/sense electrode 41 and proximal ring RV pace/sense electrode 38 provided for RV pacing and sensing of RV EGM signals. RV lead 32 may optionally include a RV septal wall motion sensor 60. RV septal wall motion sensor 60 may be positioned into or proximate a portion of the intraventricular septum for detecting motion or acceleration of the intraventricular septal tissue. Implantation of an acceleration sensor in the right ventricle, albeit in an apical portion of the RV, is generally disclosed in the above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,075 issued to Plicchi, et al.
In the illustrated embodiment of a triple chamber IPG capable of delivering CRT, a unipolar or bipolar or multipolar endocardial LV CS lead 52 is passed through the RA, into the CS and further into a cardiac vein to extend the distal LV CS pace/sense electrode 50 alongside the LV chamber to achieve LV pacing and sensing of LV EGM signals. The LV CS lead 52 is coupled at the proximal end connector 54 fitting into a bore of IPG connector block 12. A small diameter unipolar lead body 56 is selected in order to lodge the distal LV CS pace/sense electrode 50 deeply in a cardiac vein branching from the great cardiac vein 48.
In a four chamber embodiment, LV CS lead 52 could bear a proximal LA CS pace/sense electrode positioned along the lead body to lie in the larger diameter coronary sinus adjacent the LA for use in pacing the LA or sensing LA EGM signals. In that case, the lead body 56 would encase an insulated lead conductor extending proximally from the more proximal LA CS pace/sense electrode(s) and terminating in a bipolar connector 54.
The IPG 14 includes interface circuitry 104 for receiving signals from sensors and pace/sense electrodes located at specific sites of the patient's heart chambers and delivering cardiac pacing to control the patient's heart rhythm and resynchronize depolarization of chambers of a patient's heart. The interface circuitry 104 therefore includes a therapy delivery system 106 intended for delivering cardiac pacing impulses under the control of control and timing system 102. Delivery of pacing pulses to two or more heart chambers is controlled in part by the selection of programmable pacing intervals, which can include atrial-atrial (A-A), atrial-ventricular (A-V), and ventricular-ventricular (V-V) intervals.
Physiologic input signal processing circuit 108 is provided for receiving cardiac electrogram (EGM) signals for determining a patient's heart rhythm. Physiologic input signal processing circuit 108 additionally receives signals from at least one septal wall motion sensor 11,60 and processes these signals and provides signal data to control and timing system 102 for further signal analysis. For purposes of illustration of the possible uses of the invention, a set of lead connections are depicted for making electrical connections between the therapy delivery system 106 and the input signal processing circuit 108 and sets of pace/sense electrodes, wall motion sensors, and any other physiological sensors located in operative relation to the RA, LA, RV and LV.
Control and timing system 102 controls the delivery of bi-atrial, bi-ventricular, or multi-chamber cardiac pacing pulses at selected intervals intended to improve heart chamber synchrony. The delivery of pacing pulses by IPG 14 may be provided according to programmable pacing intervals, such as programmable conduction delay window times as generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,101 issued to Struble et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, or programmable coupling intervals as generally disclosed in above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,473,645 issued to Levine. Selection of the programmable pacing intervals is preferably based on a determination of right ventricular septal wall motion derived from sensor 62 signals as will be described in greater detail below.
The therapy delivery system 106 can optionally be configured to include circuitry for delivering cardioversion/defibrillation therapy in addition to cardiac pacing pulses for controlling a patient's heart rhythm. Accordingly, as previously mentioned medical electrical leads in communication with the patient's heart could also advantageously include high-voltage cardioversion or defibrillation shock electrodes.
A battery 136 provides a source of electrical energy to power components and circuitry of IPG 14 and provide electrical stimulation energy for delivering electrical impulses to the heart. The typical energy source is a high energy density, low voltage battery 136 coupled with a power supply/POR circuit 126 having power-on-reset (POR) capability. The power supply/POR circuit 126 provides one or more low voltage power (Vlo), the POR signal, one or more reference voltage (VREF) sources, current sources, an elective replacement indicator (ERI) signal, and, in the case of a cardioversion/defibrillator capabilities, high voltage power (Vhi) to the therapy delivery system 106. Not all of the conventional interconnections of these voltages and signals are shown in
Current electronic multi-chamber pacemaker circuitry typically employs clocked CMOS digital logic ICs that require a clock signal CLK provided by a piezoelectric crystal 132 and system clock 122 coupled thereto as well as discrete components, e.g., inductors, capacitors, transformers, high voltage protection diodes, and the like that are mounted with the ICs to one or more substrate or printed circuit board. In
The RAM registers included in microprocessor-based control and timing system 102 may be used for storing data compiled from sensed EGM signals, wall motion signals, and/or relating to device operating history or other sensed physiologic parameters for uplink telemetry transmission upon receipt of a retrieval or interrogation instruction via a downlink telemetry transmission. Criteria for triggering data storage can be programmed via down linked instructions and parameter values. Physiologic data, including septal wall motion data, may be stored on a triggered or periodic basis or by detection logic within the physiologic input signal processing circuit 108. In some cases, the IPG 14 includes a magnetic field sensitive switch 130 that closes in response to a magnetic field, and the closure causes a magnetic switch circuit 120 to issue a switch closed (SC) signal to control and timing system 102 which responds in a magnet mode. For example, the patient may be provided with a magnet 116 that can be applied over the subcutaneously implanted IPG 14 to close switch 130 and prompt the control and timing system to deliver a therapy and/or store physiologic data. Event related data, e.g., the date and time and current pacing parameters, may be stored along with the stored physiologic data for uplink telemetry in a later interrogation session.
Uplink and downlink telemetry capabilities are provided to enable communication with either a remotely located external medical device or a more proximal medical device on or in the patient's body. Stored EGM, or septal wall motion data as well as real-time generated physiologic data and non-physiologic data can be transmitted by uplink RF telemetry from the IPG 14 to the external programmer or other remote medical device 26 in response to a downlink telemetered interrogation command. As such, an antenna 128 is connected to radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuit 124 for the purposes of uplink/downlink telemetry operations. Telemetering both analog and digital data between antenna 128 and an external device 26, also equipped with an antenna 118, may be accomplished using numerous types of telemetry systems known in the art for use in implantable devices.
The physiologic input signal processing circuit 108 includes at least one electrical signal amplifier circuit for amplifying, processing and in some cases detecting sensed events from characteristics of the electrical sense signal or sensor output signal. The physiologic input signal processing circuit 108 may thus include a plurality of cardiac signal sense channels for sensing and processing cardiac signals from sense electrodes located in relation to a heart chamber. Each such channel typically includes a sense amplifier circuit for detecting specific cardiac events and an EGM amplifier circuit for providing an EGM signal to the control and timing system 102 for sampling, digitizing and storing or transmitting in an uplink transmission. Atrial and ventricular sense amplifiers include signal processing stages for detecting the occurrence of a P-wave or R-wave, respectively and providing an atrial sense or ventricular sense event signal to the control and timing system 102. Timing and control system 102 responds in accordance with its particular operating system to deliver or modify a pacing therapy, if appropriate, or to accumulate data for uplink telemetry transmission in a variety of ways known in the art. Thus the need for pacing pulse delivery is determined based on EGM signal input according to the particular operating mode in effect. The intervals at which pacing pulses are delivered are preferably determined based on an assessment of septal wall motion data.
As such, input signal processing circuit 108 further includes signal processing circuitry for receiving, amplifying, filtering, averaging, digitizing or otherwise processing the wall motion sensor signal. If additional wall motion sensors 11,60 are included in the associated lead system, for example a RV or LV wall motion sensor, additional wall motion signal processing circuitry may be provided as needed. Wall motion signal processing circuitry is further provided for detection and/or determination of one or more wall motion signal characteristics such as maximum and minimum peak amplitudes, slopes, integrals, or other time or frequency domain signal characteristics that may be used as indices of wall motion or correlates to hemodynamic performance. Such wall motion signal characteristic values determined from a ventricular septal wall motion sensor signal are made available to control and timing system 102 via a ventricular-septal motion signal line (designated "VS MOTION") in
At step 210, an optimal A-V interval is determined if the pacing mode is an atrioventricular or atrio-biventricular or biatrial-biventricular mode. Depending on the dual chamber or multichamber pacing system being used, a right A-V interval or a left A-V interval or both may be determined. For the embodiment shown in
At step 220, the optimal V-V interval is determined for bi-ventricular or atrio-biventricular pacing modes. A method for optimizing the V-V interval based on septal wall motion will be described in conjunction with
In a patient with intact atrioventricular conduction, the A-V intervals tested may include the intrinsic A-V interval. In order to allow intrinsic A-V conduction, the A-V interval is set at a maximum setting or a setting longer than the intrinsic A-V conduction time. The intrinsic A-V conduction time may be determined by measuring the interval from an atrial pacing pulse to a subsequently sensed R-wave. Remaining test A-V intervals may be applied at decreasing increments from the intrinsic A-V interval. Alternatively, test A-V intervals may be applied randomly ranging from 0 ms to the intrinsic A-V interval. If atrioventricular conduction is not intact, a set of test A-V intervals may be selected over a predefined range, for example a range from 0 ms to on the order of 250 ms.
At step 315 a data collection window is set. Septal wall motion data is preferably collected during systolic contraction such that acceleration or motion of the septal wall over which the wall motion sensor is positioned may be measured. However, septal wall motion data may be acquired for use in assessing cardiac function or optimizing a therapy during the isovolumic contraction phase, the ejection phase, isovolumic relaxation, early diastolic filling, and/or late diastolic filling. The data collection window may be a fixed time interval following a delivered ventricular or atrial pacing pulse (or sensed R-wave if intrinsic A-V conduction is being tested in patients without AV block). A data collection window may be set as a time interval beginning at the delivery of a ventricular pacing pulse with a duration on the order of 30 to 180 ms, for example.
At step 320, the septal wall motion signal is sampled during the data collection window for each cardiac cycle during a predetermined time interval or for a predetermined number of cardiac cycles. In an alternative embodiment, the septal wall motion signal may be acquired continuously during the predetermined time interval or number of cardiac cycles and subsequently processed to separate components associated with the maximum acceleration phase of the systolic contraction. The time interval or number of cardiac cycles preferably extends over at least one respiration cycle such that averaging of the septal wall motion signal over a respiration cycle may be performed to eliminate variations in the septal wall motion measurements due to respiration. In one embodiment, the start and stop of wall motion data acquisition may be triggered by sensing a respiration cycle. Respiration may be detected based on impedance measurements or other methods known in the art.
At decision step 325, verification of a stable heart rate during the data acquisition interval is performed. Heart rate instability, such as the presence of ectopic heart beats or other irregularities, would produce anomalous septal wall motion data. As such, the heart rate preferably stays within a specified range. In one embodiment, heart rate stability may be verified by determining the average and standard deviation of the cardiac cycle length during the data acquisition period. The cardiac cycle length may be determined as the interval between consecutive ventricular events including ventricular pacing pulses and any sensed R-waves. If the average cardiac cycle length or its standard deviation falls outside a predefined range, the data is considered unreliable. Data acquisition may be repeated by returning to step 315 until reliable data is collected for the current test interval setting.
At step 330, signal averaging is performed to minimize the effects of respiration-related or other noise. The signals acquired during each cardiac cycle over the data collection interval are averaged to obtain an overall average septal wall motion signal. At step 340, one or more signal features are determined from the averaged signal as a measurement of septal wall motion and stored in device memory with corresponding test interval information. Preferably, the maximum amplitude of an accelerometer signal or its maximum excursion determined as the difference between the maximum and minimum peak amplitude, also referred to herein as "peak-to-peak difference" is determined as a measure of the maximum acceleration of the septal wall segment during systole. In one embodiment, the maximum peak amplitude or peak-to-peak difference of an accelerometer signal during isovolumic contraction is used as a metric of cardiac function. Other septal wall motion signal features may additionally or alternatively be determined as indices of LV mechanical function or hemodynamic correlates. Other septal wall motion signal features that may be derived include, but are not limited to, a slope, an integral, a frequency component, or other time or frequency domain characteristics.
If all test A-V intervals have not yet been applied, as determined at decision step 345, the method 300 returns to step 310 to adjust the A-V interval to the next test setting. Once all test A-V intervals have been applied, the optimal A-V interval is identified from the stored septal wall motion data at step 350.
When method 300 is executed by an external pacing system, septal wall motion data may be displayed in real-time or stored and presented following an optimization procedure. When method 300 for identifying an optimal A-V interval is executed by an implanted device, septal wall motion data may be stored for later uplinking to an external device for display and review by a physician. After identifying the optimal A-V interval, the A-V interval setting may be automatically adjusted according to method 200 described above.
Method 400 proceeds to determine the optimal V-V interval in a manner similar to method 300 for determining the optimal A-V interval described above. A data collection window is set at step 415, and septal wall motion data is collected for a predetermined time interval or number of cardiac cycles at step 420 during the data collection window applied to each cardiac cycle. After verifying a stable heart rate at step 425, signal averaging is performed at step 430 allowing an average peak amplitude or average peak-to-peak difference or other signal characteristic to be determined at step 435. After all test V-V intervals are applied as determined at decision step 440, the optimal V-V interval is identified at step 445.
When method 400 is executed by an external pacing system, septal wall motion data may be displayed in real-time or stored and presented following an optimization procedure. When method 400 for identifying an optimal V-V interval is executed by an implanted device, septal wall motion data may be stored for later uplinking to an external device for display and review by a physician. After identifying the optimal V-V interval, the V-V interval setting may be automatically adjusted according to method 200 described above.
As noted previously, after adjusting the V-V interval to an optimal setting, verification that the A-V interval is still optimal may be desired (step 230,
It is contemplated that optimization of A-V and V-V intervals based on septal wall motion according to the methods above may be performed in conjunction with an assessment of other wall segment motion, such as the RV apex. In particular, it may be desired to verify that other wall segment motion has not been degraded due to optimization of septal wall motion. It may also be desirable to optimize one or more pacing intervals based on septal wall motion and other pacing intervals based on RV apical wall motion or the motion of other wall segments.
Septal wall motion may be sensed during a selected phase of the cardiac cycle on a continuous, periodic or triggered basis with the wall motion signal characteristic determined and stored after each predetermined interval of time or number of cardiac or respiratory cycles. For example, cardiac function may be evaluated on a periodic basis such as hourly, daily, weekly, or otherwise. Additionally or alternatively, cardiac function may be evaluated on a triggered basis, which may be a manual or automatic trigger. Automatic triggers may be designed to occur upon the detection of predetermined conditions during which cardiac function evaluation is desired, such as a particular heart rate range, activity, or other conditions.
In one embodiment, septal wall motion is monitored continuously and storage of septal wall motion data is triggered upon the detection of predetermined data storage conditions, such as, but not limited to, a heart rate, activity, or a condition relating to septal wall motion. For example, septal wall motion may be sensed continuously, and, if a septal wall motion parameter crosses a threshold or satisfies other predetermined data storage criteria, septal wall motion parameter(s) are stored.
Manual triggers for septal wall motion sensing and/or data storage may be delivered by a clinician or by a patient, for example when the patient feels symptomatic. Methods for manually triggering the storage of physiological data in an implantable device are generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,352 issued to Klein, et al., hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Method 500 begins at step 501 when septal wall motion sensing is enabled according to the mode of operation of the monitoring device, which as just described, may be continuous, periodic, automatically- and/or manually-triggered monitoring. At step 505, a septal wall motion data collection window is set as described previously. At step 510, septal wall motion data is acquired for a predetermined interval of time or number of cardiac or respiratory cycles. At step 515, heart rate stability is verified as described previously. The wall motion signal is averaged over the number of cardiac cycles collected at step 520 to minimize respiratory or other noise. At step 525, a characteristic of the averaged signal is determined and stored as an indication of cardiac function. Other physiologic or parametric data may be stored with the cardiac function data such as heart rate, date and time of day, pacing modality and parameters, and/or any other physiological data that may be sensed by the monitoring device such as patient activity, blood pressure, etc.
The motion signals may be processed in a variety of ways as known in the art. For example, a signal may be filtered, rectified, mathematically integrated (or derived), and the like. With regard to filtering a septal acceleration signal, an about 5 to about 100 Hz band-pass filter provides a relatively clean signal from which the peaks are readily picked-off. A first integral of an accelerometer signal yields a velocity signal and a second integral yields a signal of displacement of the sensor. Thus, according to the present invention, each one or a discrete pair of acceleration, velocity and/or displacement measurements may be used to determine the optimal pacing interval. For example, a relatively high acceleration signal of very short duration likely indicates less overall septal "motion" than a slightly lower magnitude acceleration signal of relatively long duration.
Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a displacement metric of septal wall tissue as mathematically integrated from an accelerometer adapted to couple to septal wall tissue. According to this embodiment, a pacing interval of interest is slewed through a range of values and all discrete values of the second mathematical integral of the resulting acceleration signal are compared to identify the minimum displacement produced by a given one of said range of values. This minimum displacement value is then programmed for use during delivery of cardiac pacing therapy.
A cross-checking process to validate the selected minimum value comprises a comparison of the acceleration signal from which displacement was obtained. In the event that selected one of the underlying acceleration signals was of high magnitude and short duration while another was close in magnitude to the selected one—but of much longer duration—a cross-check processing technique could be set to declare a preferred value. Such a technique could be programmable so that a priority ranking is used for a primary, secondary and tertiary signal. In one form of this embodiment of the present invention, displacement could be the primary, most heavily weighted signal, acceleration could be the second-weight signal, and velocity would then be the third-weight signal. The present invention is intended to cover each alternative form of the three signals.
An aspect of the present invention closely related to the cross-checking process just described relates to validating the selected pacing interval(s) with an additional transducer. For example, a pressure or flow sensor or other mechanically-based transducer coupled to sense cardiac activity can be used to validate the optimized pacing intervals according to the present invention (based on one or more of acceleration, velocity, and displacement).
When the methods of the present invention are implemented in an implantable device, stored data available through uplink telemetry to an external device can be displayed and/or reviewed by a physician. When such methods are implemented in an external device, a display of cardiac function data may be updated each time a septal wall motion signal characteristic is determined.
Thus, a method and apparatus have been described for monitoring septal wall motion and optimizing a cardiac therapy based on minimal septal wall acceleration measured using a medical electrical lead equipped with an acceleration sensor. The methods described herein may advantageously be applied in numerous cardiac monitoring or therapy modalities including chronic or acute applications associated with implantable or external devices.
As is known in the art, besides the transducers described hereinabove, other types of transducers may be used provided, in general, that such transducers are hermetically sealed, are fabricated (on least on the exterior surfaces) of substantially biocompatible materials and appropriately dimensioned for a given application. With respect to appropriate dimension, a transducer intended for transvenous deployment should be capable of catheter or over-the-wire delivery. Thus, the radial dimension should be on the order of less than about 11 French and preferably about less than eight French. Also, the transducer should be somewhat supple, and not too long, in the longitudinal dimension so that the transducer can safely navigate the venous system, pass through the coronary sinus and enter vessels branching from the coronary sinus (e.g., the great cardiac vein, and the like). These dimensions can be relaxed for a transducer intended for deployment though a portion of the chest (e.g., a thoracotomy) with an affixation mechanism adapted to mechanically couple to wall tissue.
As is also known in the art related to sensors and transducers, accelerometers can be described as two transducers, a primary transducer (typically a single-degree-of-freedom vibrating mass which converts the acceleration into a displacement), and a secondary transducer that converts the displacement (of a seismic mass) into an electric signal. Most accelerometers use a piezoelectric element as a secondary transducer. Piezoelectric devices, when subjected to a strain, output a voltage proportional to the strain, although piezoelectric elements cannot provide a signal under static (e.g., constant acceleration) conditions. Important characteristics of accelerometers include range of acceleration, frequency response, transverse sensitivity (i.e. sensitivity to motion in the non-active direction), mounting errors, temperature and acoustic noise sensitivity, and mass.
One type of primary transducer, which describe the internal mechanism of the accelerometer, include spring-retained seismic mass. In most accelerometers, acceleration forces a damped seismic mass that is restrained by a spring, so that it moves relative to the casing along a single axis. The secondary transducer then responds to the displacement and/or force associated with the seismic mass. The displacement of the mass and the extension of the spring are proportional to the acceleration only when the oscillation is below the natural frequency. Another accelerometer type uses a double-cantilever beam as a primary transducer which can be modeled as a spring-mass-dashpot, only the seismic mass primary transducer will be discussed.
Types of secondary transducers, which describe how the electric signal is generated from mechanical displacement, include: piezoelectric, potentiometric, reluctive, servo, strain gauge, capacitive, vibrating element, etc. These are briefly described as an introduction for the uninitiated.
Piezoelectric transducers are often used in vibration-sensing accelerometers, and sometimes in shock-sensing devices. The piezoelectric crystals (e.g., often quartz or ceramic) produce an electric charge when a force is exerted by the seismic mass under some acceleration. The quartz plates (two or more) are preloaded so that a positive or negative change in the applied force on the crystals results in a change in the electric charge. Although the sensitivity of piezoelectric accelerometers is relatively low compared with other types of accelerometers, they have the highest range (up to 100,000 g's) and frequency response (over 20 kHz).
Potentiometric accelerometers utilize the displacement of the spring-mass system linked mechanically to a wiper arm, which moves along a potentiometer. The system can use gas, viscous, magnetic-fluid, or magnetic damping to minimize acoustic noise caused by contact resistance of the wiper arm. Potentiometric accelerometers typically have a frequency range from zero to 20-60 Hz, depending on the stiffness of the spring, and have a high-level output signal. They also have a lower frequency response than most other accelerometers, usually between 15-30 Hz.
Reluctive accelerometers use an inductance bridge, similar to that of a linear variable differential transducer to produce an output voltage proportional to the movement of the seismic mass. The displacement of the seismic mass in inductance-bridge accelerometers causes the inductances of two coils to vary in opposing directions. The coils act as two arms of an inductance bridge, with resistors as the other two arms. The AC output voltage of the bridge varies with applied acceleration. A demodulator can be used to convert the AC signal to DC. An oscillator can be used to generate the required AC current when a DC power supply is used, as long as the frequency of the AC signal is far greater than that of the frequency of the acceleration.
In servo accelerometers, acceleration causes a seismic mass "pendulum" to move. When motion is detected by a position-sensing device, a signal is produced that acts as the error signal in the closed-loop servo system. After the signal has been demodulated and amplified to remove the steady-state component, the signal is passed through a passive damping network and is applied to a torquing coil located at the axis of rotation of the mass. The torque developed by the torquing coil is proportional to the current applied, and counteracts the torque acting on the seismic mass due to the acceleration, preventing further motion of the mass. Therefore, the current through the torquing coil is proportional to acceleration. This device can also be used to measure angular acceleration as long as the seismic mass is balanced. Servo accelerometers provide high accuracy and a high-level output at a relatively high cost, and can be used for very low measuring ranges (well below 1 g).
Strain gauge accelerometers, often called "piezoresistive" accelerometers, use strain gauges acting as arms of a Wheatstone bridge to convert mechanical strain to a DC output voltage. The gauges are either mounted to the spring, or between the seismic mass and the stationary frame. The strain gauge windings contribute to the spring action and are stressed (i.e., two in tension, two in compression), and a DC output voltage is generated by the four arms of the bridge that is proportional to the applied acceleration.
These accelerometers can be made more sensitive with the use of semiconductor gauges and stiffer springs, yielding higher frequency response and output signal amplitude. Unlike other types of accelerometers, strain gauge accelerometers respond to steady-state accelerations.
In a capacitive accelerometer a change in acceleration causes a change in the space between the moving and fixed electrodes of a capacitive accelerometer. The moving electrode is typically a diaphragm-supported seismic mass or a flexure-supported, disk-shaped seismic mass. The element can act as the capacitor in the LC or RC portion of an oscillator circuit. The resulting output frequency is proportional to the applied acceleration.
In a vibrating element accelerometer, a very small displacement of the seismic mass varies the tension of a tungsten wire in a permanent magnetic field. A current through the wire in the presence of the magnetic field causes the wire to vibrate at its resonant frequency (like a guitar string). The circuitry then outputs a frequency modulation (deviation from a center frequency) that is proportional to the applied acceleration. Although the precision of such a device is high, it is quite sensitive to temperature variations and is relatively expensive.
Thus, those of skill in the art will recognize that while the present invention has been described herein in the context of specific embodiments, it is recognized that numerous variations of these embodiments may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. The descriptions provided herein are thus intended to be exemplary, not limiting, with regard to the following claims.
For example, the methods according to the present invention may be performed automatically by a programmable IPG or ICD or may be performed acutely in a clinical setting. The methods are inherently susceptible of implementation by a microprocessor-controlled apparatus and, as such, may comprise executable instructions stored upon a computer readable medium and the like. In addition to the use of the motion sensors 11,60 disclosed herein, said motion sensors 11,60 may be used for arrthymia detection, capture detection for any paced chamber of the heart, and/or providing a rate responsive capability to an IPG or ICD by deriving an activity signal for a patient.
In one form of the present invention long-term trend information regarding septal wall motion may be derived during periods of time when CRT or other heart failure pacing therapy is not provided (e.g., during delivery of an atrial-based pacing therapy regime such as AAI, ADI, AAI/R, ADI/R and the like—with back-up mode switching in the event of loss of AV conduction, etc.). As a result, the potentially curative effects of such therapy can be gauged. One example of this form of the present invention utilizes a mechanically derived aspect of septal wall motion to determine whether reverse modeling of a previously failing heart (e.g., a heart suffering from effects of dilated cardiomyopathy) has reached a level wherein CRT may cease or be applied only periodically. One advantage of this form of the present invention relates simply to reduction in duty cycle of a CRT pacing engine (e.g., from a triple chamber pacing regime to a single or double chamber pacing regime). According to this form of the present invention, from time-to-time when CRT or other bi-ventricular pacing is not being delivered septal motion data is collected and stored. Thereafter, the past-trend of septal motion can be compared to current septal wall motion activity to derive an indication whether or not the positive effects of reverse remodeling are occurring. In a very simple form of this embodiment of the invention, periodically the bi-ventricular pacing therapy is switched to an atrial-based pacing therapy and the septal natural, or intrinsic, wall motion measured. If said wall motion exceeds a preset threshold, then the bi-ventricular therapy is again applied. If not, then the bi-ventricular therapy may be terminated until such time as uncoordinated ventricular motion is again detected.
In the case of arrthymia detection, atrial flutter/fibrillation (AF) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are readily distinguishable via manual or machine inspection of the output from a motion sensor 11,60. Similarly, in the case of capture detection the output from a motion sensor 11,60 according to the present invention provides a reliable means of ascertaining whether delivery of pacing therapy provides an evoked response. That is, within a very short period of time following delivery of pacing therapy to a chamber of a heart (e.g., within about five to 50 ms) the output signal from a motion sensor 11,60 will either provide a corresponding deflection as the evoked depolarization wavefront passes the sensor 11,60 or when an actual physical contraction of cardiac myocytes occurs. In this regard, same- and cross-chamber capture detection readily and accurately reflects whether an adequate amount of energy from the pacing therapy is being delivered to a chamber of the heart. Thus the present invention enables pacing (energy) threshold testing and, perhaps more directly, the respective temporal disposition between delivery of pacing therapy and the refractory/non-refractory portions of a cardiac cycle for both the atria and ventricles. Since a motion sensor 11,60 useable in conjunction with the present invention can continuously provide a motion signal even if co-located with a pacing (or cardioversion/defibrillation) electrode this aspect of the present invention provides benefit over other modalities for optimizing CRT, or halting delivery of CRT (or other bi-ventricular pacing therapy) in the event that septal wall motion decreases below a threshold, for maximum pumping efficiency with minimal deleterious septal wall motion in a variety of pacing modes.
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|Device for characterizing the cardiac status of a patient equipped with a biventricular pacing active implant
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|Sep 30, 2004
|Proteus Biomedical, Inc., A Delaware Corporation
|Method and system for monitoring and treating hemodynamic parameters
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|Schechter Stuart O.
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|Sep 5, 2003
|Mar 10, 2005
|Steve Koh
|Determination of respiratory characteristics from AV conduction intervals
|Dec 3, 2004
|Jul 7, 2005
|Edward Chinchoy
|Method and apparatus for determining an efficacious atrioventricular delay interval
|Jun 4, 2004
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|Schecter Stuart O.
|Optimization of impedance signals for closed loop programming of cardiac resynchronization therapy devices
|Mar 12, 2004
|Sep 15, 2005
|Sameh Sowelam
|Real-time optimization of right to left ventricular timing sequence in bi-ventircular pacing of heart failure patients
|Dec 29, 2005
|Jul 20, 2006
|Todd Thompson
|Implantable accelerometer-based cardiac wall position detector
|Dec 23, 2005
|Aug 10, 2006
|Dobak John D Iii
|Devices and methods for accelerometer-based characterization of cardiac function and identification of LV target pacing zones
|Apr 27, 2006
|Oct 19, 2006
|Schecter Stuart O
|Method and apparatus for automatically programming CRT devices
|Jan 11, 2006
|Nov 30, 2006
|Ritter Rogers C
|Navigation using sensed physiological data as feedback
|Jun 21, 2006
|Dec 28, 2006
|Ela Medical S.A.S.
|Active implantable medical device with biventricular pacing and automatic optimization of pacing configuration
|May 23, 2008
|Dec 4, 2008
|Assaf Govari
|Cardiac mechanical assessment using ultrasound
|Sep 2, 2010
|Sweeney Michael O
|System and method for conditional biventricular pacing
|Feb 28, 2013
|Jens Kirchner
|Comparison of right-ventricular and left-ventricular contraction using an accelerometer in an artery close to the heart
|Sep 30, 2013
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|Sorin Crm S.A.S.
|Device for assessment and therapy of the temporal ventricular desynchronization
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|Intrakardiale Elektrodenleitung und Herzstimulator
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|Aug 20, 2008
|St. Jude Medical AB
|Implantable cardiac stimulator, device and method for monitoring the heart cycle in a human heart
|Nov 30, 2005
|May 5, 2010
|St Jude Medical
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|Dec 21, 2006
|Sep 17, 2008
|Physical Logic AG
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|Jun 3, 2009
|BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG
|Intracardial electrode line and cardiac stimulator
|Nov 19, 2008
|Jun 17, 2009
|Ela Medical
|Medical device for characterising the cardiac condition of a patient fitted with an active implant for biventricular stimulation
|Jul 5, 2010
|Apr 20, 2011
|Sorin CRM SAS
|Medical implantable cardiac pacemaker with automatic interventricular and atrioventricular intervals optimization
|Jul 27, 2012
|Feb 27, 2013
|BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
|Comparison of right-ventricular and left-ventricular contraction using an accelerometer in an artery close to the heart
|Sep 24, 2013
|Apr 2, 2014
|Sorin CRM SAS
|Device for assessing temporal ventricular dyssynchrony
|Oct 3, 2006
|Apr 19, 2007
|Medtronic Inc
|Method and apparatus for monitoring and optimizing atrial function
|Oct 5, 2006
|Apr 19, 2007
|Medtronic Inc
|Interventricular delay as a prognostic marker for reverse remodeling outcome from cardiac resynchronization therapy
|U.S. Classification
|607/9, 607/122
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jul 30, 2003
Owner name: MEDTRONIC, INC., MINNESOTA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NEHLS, ROBERT J.;SHELDON, TODD J.;REEL/FRAME:014356/0380
Effective date: 20030730
|Jan 22, 2010
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Feb 17, 2014
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Category: Monitoring & Testing ×
Subcategory: Wind Monitoring ×
Location: Europe ×
Location: Albania ×
BEI Sensors
based in Goleta, CALIFORNIA (USA)
BEI Sensors specializes in speed and position sensors for extreme applications. Serving the industrial, military, aerospace and off-highway markets, BEI Sensors provides an extensive range of products from standard off-the-shelf to completely customized solutions for any challenging application. Backed by decades of experience, BEI designs sensors that offer ...
based in Caracal, ROMANIA
Development and Implementation of Wind Energy Projects in Romania, Wind Monitoring Systems by 80, 67, 60 or 50 meters. Full Services.
FT Technologies Ltd.
based in Middlesex, UNITED KINGDOM
FT Technologies specialises in the supply of high performance Acoustic Resonance air flow sensors to demanding applications. All our sensors incorporate our own patented Acu-Res technology which delivers reliable speed and direction data from compact sensors that will operate in the toughest conditions. We pride ourselves on the thoroughness of our engineering and the ...
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Enercorp Instruments ltd is a Canadian manufacturer of Humidity, Temperature and Pressure Instrumentation. Our products are used in a wide range of applications with emphasis on Energy Management, Food Processing and Climate Monitoring. With installations in more than 20 countries on six continents and the experience of 25 years in business we are ready to supply and ...
based in Victoria, BRITISH COLUMBIA (CANADA)
FTS is a leading manufacturer of remote environmental monitoring systems, instrumentation and communications technology. We focus on hydrology, fire weather and specialized meteorological applications. Our equipment forms the backbone of some of the world`s most sophisticated and demanding environment monitoring networks. For over 3 decades, FTS weather and water ...
RSK Group plc
based in Helsby, UNITED KINGDOM
RSK is a fully integrated, environmental, health, safety and engineering services company employing over 920 technical staff in offices across the UK and worldwide. The company has a turnover in excess of £50m and was recently voted one of the top six environmental consultancies by the ENDS Market Consultancy Guide 2007. RSK has a diverse client base but mainly services ...
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Kintech Engineering has been involved in wind assessment since 1999, manufacturing high quality equipment (incl. wind data loggers, remote communication modules, sensors etc.) for wind assessment campaigns. Our user friendly, reliable data loggers are applied by wind developers, wind farm operators and research institutes worldwide. In mid 2011 we received the Innovation ...
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based in Sidney, BRITISH COLUMBIA (CANADA)
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Delta-T Devices Ltd
based in Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM
Delta-T offers a wide range of data loggers and sensors able to measure and record hydrological, meteorological and other environmental parameters. Our products provide direct measurements of the forces and effects that renewable energy and other environmental technologies attempt to harness, control or monitor.


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text:
A consistently pro-life ethic should include gun control (COMMENTARY)
(RNS) My rights don't matter as much as another person's life.
(RNS) My rights don't matter as much as another person's life.
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Throngs of anti-abortion activists gathered on the National Mall Friday (Jan. 25) for a rally marking the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion. After speeches by new March for Life President Jeanne Monahan and political and religious leaders, they marched to the steps of the high court.
(RNS) When thousands of abortion opponents gather Friday to protest 40 years of Roe v. Wade, they will be divided in how to stir people to join their cause: shock them with graphic images of aborted fetuses, or convince them with affecting ultrasounds and reasonable arguments.


text:
Company Overview of The Glenmorangie Company Limited
Executive Profile
Iain L. Hamilton
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Finance Director and Director, The Glenmorangie Company Limited
|Total Calculated Compensation
|This person is connected to 1 Board Members in 1 different organizations across 1 different industries.
See Board Relationships
Mr. Iain L. Hamilton has been a Director of Glenmorangie PLC since January 1997 and serves as its Finance Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, appointed to the Board in January 1997 from SCI Europe where Mr. Hamilton held the posts of UK Finance Director and European Financial Controller. He has extensive experience within the electronics and consumer goods industries and previous exposure to the whisky industry gained in professional practice. In addition to ...
Corporate Headquarters
The CubePhone: 44 1316 038 888
Edinburgh, -- EH1 3AT
United Kingdom
Fax: 44 1315 245 255
Board Members Memberships
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Finance Director and Director
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Set on the idyllic Manda Island in the romantic Lamu archipelago on Kenya's Northern Coast, The Majlis is a luxury boutique hotel with the comfort, ambience and intimacy of a private home.
Deep sea fishing in the Lamu archipelago waters is famous worldwide both for its variety and for the quantity of sport fish caught, including Marlin (striped, black and blue), Sailfish, Tuna, Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Giant Trevally and Kingfish. The best fishing season is from October through to April and is a wonderful way to spend either a half or full day out on the Indian Ocean. Deep-sea fishing requires 24 hours notice.


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A new alternative to rock climbing at the usual New York City health club and Chelsea Piers has opened: a venue solely dedicated to indoor rock climbing. Brooklyn Boulders, an indoor rock climbing gym that is said to be a first for the borough, opened in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn on August 5 and is already a hit with locals.
The gym is co-owned by Jeremy Balboni, 26, and Steven Spaeth, 25, who did all of the construction of the walls and padded floors themselves along with employees of Spaeth's family's design marketing firm (that also happens to design Macy's holiday windows.) The 18,000-square-foot former Daily News warehouse at Degraw Street and Third Avenue has thirty-foot ceilings and tasteful graffiti art and cartoons decorating portions of the wall where there aren't nylon climbing grips. Climbing walls are tilted from just under vertical to totally horizontal for the most advanced. A scalable mock-up of a tower of the Brooklyn Bridge is a focal point in the gym.
Brooklyn Boulders is open to memberships. A day pass is $20/day with your own gear, or $30/day with provided gear and instruction. A yearly membership is $600 and a lifetime membership can be purchased for $5,000. It can be hard for gyms to survive on membership revenue alone, so to help Brooklyn Boulders survive, it's available for corporate team-building, private special events and birthday parties.
The hours are irregular as the finishing touches are being made. Brooklyn Boulders is currently open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays with classes taking place at a few different times. Visit www.brooklynboulders.com for more information.
Sangrit Malay
Latest posts by Sangrit Malay (see all)
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- Nederlander Sells Air Rights Above Neil Simon Theatre - August 23, 2015
- "An Act of God" Wraps Up Its Run - July 30, 2015
- "Amazing Grace" Begins Previews on Broadway - July 4, 2015


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Rugby Challenge
Snow Riders
Snowboarder XS
Tennis Ace
Tennis Grand Slam
Turkey Run
UFO Joe…
Winter Bow Master
Check out the Sunday fun days at Chelsea Psychic Garden!
Climb aboard a pirate ship, spot a giant sea-monster, scale the treetops all while mum and dad have a cup of tea and cake.
The National Trust looks after 309 acres of orchards, and this autumn, they're running apple-themed events at lots of their sites up and down the UK.
Fun Kids Radio


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"only through this deliberate blindness could goldstone conclude that the gaza police were a civilian agency. only this moral blindness could result in calling the hamas assembly building a civilian structure." Hamastan functions like any state. It has a military as well as a civilian side. The two often have overlaps, but they are distinct. The Hamas assembly is a civilian political body for administering Gaza, just like the Knesset. And just as MKs can threaten in the Knesset to destroy Gaza and IDF generals attend meetings in the Knesset and often get elected to it, and MKs have mostly served in the IDF, so there are links between the military and civilian sides of the Hamas state in Gaza. When targetting you have to distinguish between the two, just as anyone targetting Israel would have to do. Or would you regard the Knesset and MKs as totally legitimate targets? If so would you support the release of the PFLP team who assassinated that Israeli tourism minister?
Palestinian man suffers light wounds from rocks thrown by Jewish men in Jerusalem (Haaretz)
from the article: Investigating the IDF would be the real war crime


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Home » Self-Improvement » Coaching
To work as a certified driver on public roads or highways you'll need to undergo various relevant courses and endorsements. Some of the most important ones are often covered in class 1 driving school Calgary and to have a first hand over them; it is advisable to join some authentic and certified school offering best of training and practice. This will be helpful in getting you best of classroom theory and prop
From old times to the present, the designing has been the foundation of the instruction business that is sought after today. One of the zone's most ordinarily gathered by understudies is that designing courses are in awesome need and interest for building organizations today. This classification of science is to serve all businesses including biotechnology, PC, electrical, ecological, substance, common, and biotechnology. A designer can enhance conditions around an
Many of us think that a therapist and a coach do have the same job to do in treating their clients. In reality, they do not. Coaching is different from therapy. We make mistakes by just choosing the one who can help us. And by that, we can trigger things that shouldn't be triggered. . Today, you will find out that in the most shocking way, you will know what you need in your life. Might it be a coach or a therapist, it is best for you to know who can help you with it.


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Company Overview of Vestar Capital Partners, Inc.
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This building currently provides high quality office, luxury condo and upscale retail space. Great 24/7 community with an estimated 3,000,000 sq ft of new residential condos. High Traffic Wall St / Tourist Area. High ceiling height. Ideal for office or gallery, medical, dental school, gym, spa, library, photography, videography studio, rehearsal space. Adjacent neighbors include Hermes, Tiffany, BMW luxury condominium residences designed by Philippe Starck, foundations and non-profits. Newly built space in architecturally distinctive building. Energy efficient, green design throughout. This below grade space is accessible via one stop passenger elevators.This space is Divisible
High profile building in front of the New York Stock Exchange, which drives local and international foot traffic.Outstanding location at transportation hub with access to all boroughs and commuter lines. (1,2,3,4,5,N,R,J,M,W,Z, NJ Path & Staten Island Ferry)The Space is an immediate value with long term potential. The demographics have attracted new retailers: Tiffany, Hermes, BMW, etc.
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...I'm BACK...
This Day in GINGEROLOGY - October 8th
1937 (per IMDb, TCM): "Stage Door" was released by RKO Radio.2012: FMC aired "We're Not Married!"
Next GingerFilm(s) (on TCM - all times Eastern):
October 5, 2015 @ 9:30 P.M. Bachelor Mother (82 min)
October 6, 2015 @ 3:15 P.M. Finishing School (73 min)
October 15, 2015 @ 9:45 P.M. Gold Diggers of 1933 (97 min)
November 8, 2015 @ 8:00 P.M. Kitty Foyle (108 min)
November 9, 2015 @ 4:30 P.M. The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (93 min)
Next GingerFilm(s) (on FXM Retro - all times Eastern) - NOTE - the FXM Retro site is kinda 'cryptic' as far as specific times, so please check local listings for 'specific times':
September 29, 2015 @ 9:00 A.M. Dreamboat (83 min)
September 30, 2015 @ 7:00 A.M. Dreamboat (83 min)
October 1, 2015 @ 7:00 A.M. Tales of Manhattan (127 min)
October 2, 2015 @ 4:00 A.M. Tales of Manhattan (127 min)
Next GingerFilm(s) (on GetTV - all times Eastern):
None Currently Scheduled...
Thursday, August 20, 2015
...Odds and Ends...
HERE is a link to what is to be 'A London Celebration' course of study for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers!
I'm pretty sure Kat or someone else over on FB has rung this up, but The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has acquired what is described as "The Spectacular Dress worn by Ginger Rogers in the 1944 film Lady in the Dark" - which could ONLY be the 'Jenny Dress'... as well as one of Fred's original 'formal tail-suits'... the 'class' is also in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the release of the RKO film 'Top Hat'.
...Gingerologists in proximity of the Empire State can catch a new production of Lynette Barkley and Christopher McGovern's musical Backwards in High Heels, which will run from August 13 to September 20 at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, New York.
...for those susceptible to imbibing, HERE is the 'recipe' for the 'Ginger Rogers' cocktail, brought to you from...none other than DisneyParks! They've come quite a way from the juice and cookies set, for better or worse...
...HERE's a neat deal... which makes me wonder... how many Rogers ARE in Missouri, and are related to 'Daddy John', thus Ginger?
......THIS... no, wait a minute... THIS is a very cool post or whatever, which includes an original newspaper ad for all ten of Ginger and Fred's films! Oh yes, I am 'borrowing' each of them for my GingerCache... Thanks, Immortal Ephemera, whoever the heck you are!!! ...and, BTW, the Scratch-and-Sniff Quack Attack tickets are interesting, at minimum...
ANOTHER GingerFilmFest... well, a weekly viewing of a different GingerFilm, at the Jackson County, Oregon, Library... it's in Talent, Oregon (apropos, as Ginger had an infinite supply of it), which is just south of Medford. The schedule: 9/2 - Swing Time; 9/9 - Stage Door; 9/16 - Bachelor Mother; 9/23 - The Major and The Minor; and 9/30 - Storm Warning. Hope some of the good folks in the Pacific Northwest can make it to some of these...
...well, that's all I got for now... I DO believe... ...but if not, I'll get back with y'all... PROMISE!
Until that time...
|Gingerology Meter...
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Gingerfilms...on Freddie's Day on TCM...
Well, TCM is dedicating this Wednesday - August 5, to Ginger's favorite dance partner, Fred Astaire!
...and with that, of course many Ginger and Fred films are being aired that day - in fact ALL of them, except for The Barkleys of Broadway... and not in 'chronological order'.
...so, it may be a good day to crank the DVR up and let it do it's thang all day... just see the schedule in the 'Ginger on TV' section above...
In addition to Ginger and Fred films, TCM is also airing quite a few of Fred's best 'non-Ginger' films as well, just after 'Shall We Dance' wraps up... "You Were Never Lovelier", with Ginger's VERY lovely distant cousin, Rita Hayworth... "The Band Wagon", with dynamo Cyd Charisse... "silk Stockings", again with Miss CC... and "Royal Wedding" with Jane Powell.
Hope all is well with everyone... I've been a bit busy catching up from work this week, since the vacation the week before... but it's getting 'stabilized' now... kids start back to school in a few weeks... ALWAYS something cooking around here, but... still wanting to pick up the GingerActivity here... as noted in the 'banner message' above, I didn't get to get to Ginger's birth house in Independence... the closest I can say is we stopped at a McDonald's in Independence on the way out for breakfast...
Until then,
KIG, y'all!!!
|Gingerology Meter...
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
....well, there's a few pics of GingerBirthday festivities out there, but none as 'unique' as this one... I'm still not sure whose head that is plastered atop the cake-wielding lady... but no matter, as long as Ginger's happy, right?
It's hard to believe it's been 4 years since GingerTennial, and my visit to Independence... getting to meet Kat and Baby (who is not a baby anymore!), and talking to the owner of the birth house... with that, guess what... I'm headed back to KC on Saturday!
My wife's Aunt and Uncle have moved near there - Overland Park, Kansas, and we are going to check out the new house they built... and while I'm in the area, I will most likely scoot over to 100 West Moore in Independence, Missouri to see how the old house is holding up... last I heard, the owner was wanting to sell, but that was probably a few years back, at least... I'll document what I can...
...but for the here and NOW, it's time to CELEBRATE GINGER!!! However you see fit... I am unfortunately in the midst of 'tying up loose ends' at work before we leave town, so working at home as well... but my plan is to get back to GingerFilms HEAVY post-KC, and get this blog back into shape...
...Keep It GINGERY!!!!
|Gingerology Meter...
Sunday, July 5, 2015
....SIX Years of Gingerology!!!
'Finding Ginger'... and even tho she only did the blog for one year, her general love for all things Ginger rubbed off on me MOST thoroughly... alas, her blog has been 'dormant' for 5 years now, and I'm not sure how much longer a dormant blog is allowed to exist... so I suggest you go check it out... it's a neat trip for me to be reminded of how the World of Ginger opened up to me without mercy, and how other folks had that same feeling! Here's a comment I placed on there where my blog becomes...Gingerology!!! :
Still think Beth's is the coolest blog EVER! Thanks, jwalker
KIG, y'all!!!
|Gingerology Meter...
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Gingerology Changes...
...But I dig the new GingerPic a lot, and hope you do as well... just a neat 'profile pic' of Ginger in color...not sure of the time frame, but maybe mid-1940's, just after the 'dark hair' timeframe...it just seemed to be the 'right' one, although there aren't ANY wrong GingerPics, right?
Also, did some 're-designing' of the color scheme, albeit a bit subtle... and changed the font type as well - all of this will hopefully result in a better 'reading experience' for all.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend, and gearing up for Independence Day...
Until then,
|Gingerology Meter...
Awards...Thanks, Y'all!!!
It is my hope that I can continue to make 'G-ology' interesting and informative regarding the 'Beautiful Science' of VKM, which is SUCH a great topic!!! ...And remember, your comments are what make Gingerology click - so keep cranking them out!
Thanks again, JW


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OverviewPhysical activity and relaxation techniques can help reduce stress and anxiety. Proper nutrition can also help the body to handle stress better by keeping it running optimally. If stress becomes unmanageable, there are professional individuals such as licensed social workers and psychologists who are trained to help people deal with their stress and anxiety.
Update Date 11/23/2014
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.


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Autism Round Table: Perspectives from Fazli Azeem, Lars Perner PhD., and Dr. Stephen M. Shore
|Article Index
|Autism Round Table: Perspectives from Fazli Azeem, Lars Perner PhD., and Dr. Stephen M. Shore
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We welcome any and all comments from the autism community and its advocates as to how best to implement the ideas and concepts briefly discussed in the following article.
Fazli Azeem is a Graphic Designer, University lecturer, Autism Awareness Activist, Numerologist and Aspergian.
Fazli is Pakistan's only self advocate for Autism Spectrum disorders and is also an Autism awareness activist. His research papers on learning disabilities have been presented at International Conferences in the UK, India, Bangladesh and Qatar. Fazli is currently a permanent faculty member for Computer Graphics and Multimedia design at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi. His website is www.fazliazeem.com and he runs the non-profit www.autismpakistan.org
Lars Perner, an adult with asperger's syndrome, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Marketing at the Marshall School of Business, He currently teaches Marketing Fundamentals (BUAD 307),. His other teaching specializations are consumer behavior and international marketing.
Lars' current research focuses on consumer behavior, non-profit fundraising, and "win-win" deals. He also maintains an active interest in the autism spectrum and currently sits on the board of the Autism Society of America, as Secretary and PSA chair.
Stephen presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his books Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, and the critically acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies.
President emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England, Dr. Shore serves on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, for the advisory board of the Autism Society of America, Unlocking Autism, MAAP and the College Internship Program, USA.
Kathleen: Hello gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining me today. For those who may not be familiar with your history I would like to point out that the three of you share some things in common. You are all lecturers in institutions of higher learning, you advocate heavily for autism awareness and you all three share a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. Given these three commonalities I would like today's discussion to focus on:
What the three of you are currently working on
How being an adult with Asperger's Syndrome positively impacts your professional positions and
Autism Awareness concerns that are specific to your particular geographic area. Ending with possible autism community collaborations for these areas
Fazli is in Pakistan. Stephen is on the east coast of the U.S. and Lars is on the west coast.
Fazli beginning with you, could you please share what you are currently working on in Pakistan, and surrounding areas, that relate to autism awareness. I say surrounding areas because I know that India is often a place where you do advocacy work.
Fazli: My diagnosis later in life (age 25), and the lack of awareness in South Asia (a region of over a billion people), includes India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) compelled me to step out of my comfort zone and routine, and make a visible change.
I started by contacting international experts on Autism, with whom I am still in contact, they are aware of the advocacy and situation in south Asia. Many countries in europe have experts working on the ground in bangladesh and india, and american advocacy and special education groups are active in india and nepal. One of the largest such initiatives is Christopher Flint and his AACTION Autism non profit trainers from division TEACCH and the university of chicago. They conducted India's first structured teaching workshops in 2008 in multiple cities, banglore and dehli. I attended their first workshop, it was a day after the 2nd south Asian autism conference ended in jan 2008 at dehli, india.
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