Adjustable Defibrillation Paddle for Flush Heart Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing defibrillation systems often cause tissue damage due to non-uniform contact and difficulty in maneuvering paddles to specific areas of the heart, leading to potential electrical burns and ineffective heart stimulation.

Innovation Solution

A defibrillation paddle assembly with a flexible connection between the handle and paddle head, allowing adjustable orientation to ensure flush contact with the heart muscle, reducing the risk of damage and improving effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed paddle structure is used, then the device is simple to manufacture, but it is difficult to maneuver to specific areas of the heart while maintaining flush contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaneuverability to specific heart areasVSAvoidpaddle structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The paddle assembly transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, adjustable structure. The handle can be selectively oriented relative to the paddle head, allowing the physician to maneuver the paddle to specific areas of the heart while maintaining flush contact. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the paddle surface area is decreased to reduce tissue damage, then the area of heart contact is reduced, but it becomes more difficult to maintain uniform flush contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue damage from electrical burnsVSAvoidability to maintain flush contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable handle orientation allows the physician to compensate for the smaller paddle surface area by precisely positioning the paddle at the desired angle and location on the heart. This dynamic adjustment ensures uniform flush contact is maintained despite the reduced paddle size, resolving the contradiction between reducing tissue damage and maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flexible connection enables precise orientation of the paddle head, minimizing tissue damage and enhancing the effectiveness of defibrillation by ensuring consistent contact with the heart muscle, thereby reducing the risk of burns and improving heart stimulation.

Implementation Method 1

The paddle head is connected to the handle by a connection, preferably a flexible connection, allowing the relative orientation between the handle and the paddle head to be adjusted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlexibility: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP1948305B1Defibrillation paddle structure
Publication Date: 2015.10.07 MARTENS ANDRE
  • EP1948305B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1948305B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1948305B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A defibrillation system that utilizes a unique defibrillator paddle assembly. The defibrillator paddle assembly has a handle and a paddle head. The paddle head contains the conductive surface that is used to contact the muscle tissue of the heart during a defibrillation attempt. The paddle head is connected to the handle by a flexible connection. The flexible connection enables the relative orientation between the handle and the paddle head to be selectively adjusted. Accordingly, a physician can selectively change the orientation of the paddle head in relation to the handle in order to more effectively utilize the paddle assembly during a specific circumstance. The flexible connection between the handle and the paddle head can be adjusted either by manual bending or by utilizing adjustment controls that are present on the handle of the paddle assembly.