Analyte Estimation via Cardiac Electrogram Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laboratory tests for measuring analyte concentrations in biological systems require invasive procedures and continuous monitoring, which can be burdensome for patients and clinicians, and may not provide accurate or timely data for disease state management.
Innovation Solution
A medical device system with an electrochemical sensor and an implantable medical device that senses cardiac electrograms, allowing for continuous monitoring of analyte concentrations by establishing patient-specific relationships between electrochemical sensor signals and cardiac EGM data, enabling estimated analyte concentrations without the need for continuous sensor wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring with electrochemical sensors is implemented, then analyte concentration data availability is improved, but patient burden and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cardiac EGM signals as an intermediary to estimate analyte concentrations. Instead of directly measuring multiple analytes continuously with complex electrochemical sensors, the system measures cardiac electrical activity (which is easier to obtain continuously) and uses machine learning models to infer analyte levels from these intermediary signals, thereby reducing direct sensor complexity while maintaining data availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a computational copy or model of analyte concentration behavior by training machine learning algorithms on correlated signals (cardiac EGMs). This computational model replicates the information that would otherwise require direct physical measurement, allowing continuous monitoring without the full complexity of direct continuous chemical sensing
2Duration of action of moving object
If electrochemical sensors are worn continuously for monitoring, then monitoring duration is improved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable cardiac monitor serves multiple functions: it directly measures cardiac EGMs for cardiac monitoring and simultaneously provides the signal basis for estimating analyte concentrations. This multi-functionality allows continuous monitoring (improving duration) without adding separate wearable sensor systems (preserving patient comfort), as one implantable device accomplishes both monitoring goals
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the patient's own cardiac electrical signals, which are continuously generated by the body, as the measurement source. This eliminates the need for external power sources or additional wearable components that would reduce comfort, while the implanted device provides continuous monitoring capability indefinitely (improving duration)
3Loss of information
If multiple analytes are measured simultaneously, then information completeness is improved, but measurement precision and reliability may deteriorate due to signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cardiac EGM signals as an intermediary measurement that indirectly provides information about multiple analytes. Instead of measuring multiple analytes directly (which causes signal interference), the system measures one intermediary signal (cardiac activity) that correlates with multiple analyte levels, then uses machine learning to decode information about multiple analytes from this single interference-free source
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts information about multiple analytes from a single cardiac EGM signal source. Rather than having multiple separate measurement channels that could interfere with each other, the system takes out or extracts multiple analyte concentration estimates from one clean electrical signal through computational analysis, thereby maintaining precision while achieving information completeness
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
This system facilitates continuous or near-continuous monitoring of multiple analyte concentrations, reducing patient and clinician burden, improving accuracy, and enabling early detection of comorbidities such as heart and kidney failure, thereby enhancing patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
an electrochemical sensor configured to sense the concentration of a plurality of analytes present in a biological system. Each respective work electrode of a plurality of respective work electrodes of the electrochemical sensor may produce a respective signal indicative of a concentration of a respective analyte
Implementation Method 2
an implantable medical device configured to sense a cardiac electrogram (EGM), e.g., an electrocardiogram (ECG), of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for measuring an analyte in a biological system. A system may include a medical device with an electrochemical sensor configured to sense the concentration of a plurality of analytes present in a biological system. Processing circuitry of the system may retrieve, identify, and process a respective signal from a respective work electrode to determine the concentration of a respective analyte. The system may further include an implantable medical device configured to sense a cardiac electrogram (EGM). In some examples, the system may be configured to determine one or more patient-specific relationships between the respective signals of the electrochemical sensor and the cardiac EGM during a first period of time. Based on the patient-specific relationships, the system may estimate concentrations of the one or more analytes corresponding to the respective signals based on the cardiac EGM of the patient collected over a second period of time.