Active Implantable Device Probe Recognition Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Active implantable medical devices that deliver both cardiac and peripheral therapies face a high risk of probe connection errors, which can lead to incorrect targeting of therapies, posing serious risks to patients, as they often use identical connectors for different probes without ensuring compatibility.

Innovation Solution

The device implements a system to verify and automatically configure the connection of probes before therapy initiation, using signal analysis to distinguish between cardiac and peripheral probes, ensuring correct coupling and inhibiting therapies if compatibility is not met, thereby preventing incorrect application of treatments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If identical connectors are used for both cardiac and peripheral probes, then device complexity and production costs are reduced, but the risk of probe connection errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector design complexityVSAvoidprobe connection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of probe type (cardiac or peripheral) during the connection phase, before therapy delivery begins. This preliminary identification allows the system to automatically configure the correct coupling between probes and therapy circuits, preventing connection errors while maintaining identical connectors for both probe types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor and verify probe connections. By detecting probe characteristics and providing feedback to the control unit, the system can automatically adjust the coupling configuration to ensure correct therapy delivery, thereby maintaining reliability despite using identical connectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual verification of probe connections is performed, then connection accuracy is improved, but the implantation procedure time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobe connection accuracyVSAvoidimplantation procedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-verification of probe connections through automatic detection and identification of probe types. The control unit autonomously determines the correct coupling configuration without requiring manual verification by the practitioner, thereby maintaining connection accuracy while significantly reducing implantation procedure time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical verification with electronic detection systems. By using electrical signal analysis and impedance measurement to identify probe types and verify connections, the system eliminates time-consuming manual checks while maintaining or improving connection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If probe connection errors occur, then therapy delivery continues, but patient safety is compromised due to incorrect therapy targeting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapy delivery continuityVSAvoidadverse effects from incorrect therapy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary anti-action by detecting and preventing probe connection errors before therapy delivery begins. Through automatic probe identification and verification, the system prevents incorrect therapy targeting, thereby eliminating the harmful effects that would result from delivering cardiac therapy to peripheral organs or vice versa.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor probe connections and therapy delivery parameters. When a connection error is detected, the feedback loop triggers an alarm and prevents therapy delivery, thereby protecting the patient from adverse effects while maintaining therapy delivery continuity under correct conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3023122B1Active implantable medical device for co-application of cardiac and peripheral therapies, provided with means for detection and automatic coupling of probes
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 SORIN CRM
  • EP3023122B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3023122B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3023122B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The device comprises a cardiac therapy circuit with a first terminal and a peripheral therapy circuit with a second terminal. These terminals can accept either a cardiac sensing/stimulation lead or a peripheral organ sensing/stimulation lead. Means (30) for lead recognition and automatic terminal configuration include discriminating means for identifying the terminal on which a cardiac signal is detected, and switching means for coupling the cardiac therapy circuit to the latter terminal and the peripheral therapy circuit to the other terminal.