External Detector Arterial Stimulation for Heart Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for congestive heart failure, diastolic heart failure, hypertension, and related conditions often fail to effectively manage symptoms and improve quality of life, as they do not adequately address the underlying physiological imbalances in heart function and blood pressure regulation.
Innovation Solution
The use of an external device to detect physiological factors associated with these conditions, which generates signals to stimulate electrodes implanted at specific sites on the vagus nerve or aorta, reducing ventricular and aortic pressures, sympathetic tone, and increasing parasympathetic tone, thereby improving heart function and blood flow regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional treatments (lifestyle changes and medication) are used for heart failure and hypertension, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but therapeutic effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device automatically detects physiological parameters (blood pressure, heart rate) and delivers electrical stimulation without requiring external control or patient intervention. The device self-regulates therapy delivery based on real-time physiological feedback, eliminating the need for complex external control systems while maintaining high therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional pharmacological treatments (chemical-based) with electrical stimulation therapy. The implantable device uses electrical fields to directly modulate autonomic nervous system activity, substituting chemical medication with a physical (electrical) mechanism to achieve superior therapeutic control.
2Reliability
If continuous electrical stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve or aorta, then therapeutic benefits (pressure reduction, improved heart function) are achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device delivers electrical stimulation in periodic bursts rather than continuous delivery. Stimulation is applied during specific cardiac cycles or physiological events detected by the device's sensors, allowing energy conservation during non-stimulation periods while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through strategically timed interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable device continuously monitors physiological parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust stimulation delivery. When physiological targets are achieved or physiological conditions change, the device reduces or pauses stimulation, optimizing energy usage based on real-time therapeutic need rather than operating at fixed power levels.
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 approach leads to reduced ventricular and aortic pressures, increased aortic compliance, decreased sympathetic tone, and increased parasympathetic tone, resulting in improved heart function and reduced symptoms of heart failure and hypertension.
Implementation Method 1
an external device to detect physiological factors associated with these conditions
Implementation Method 2
The subject is treated by driving a current into the electrode implantation site. The effects of driving the current into the implantation site typically include ventricular and aortic pressure reduction, an increase in aortic compliance, a decrease in sympathetic tone
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus is provided, including (1) an external device, configured for placement outside of a body of a subject and to sense a factor of the subject, and to generate a signal in response to the sensed factor, and (2) an implant, which comprises a wireless receiver for receiving the signal, and at least one electrode, the implant configured to drive the electrode to apply current to an aortic and/or vagal site of the subject in response to the signal.