AV Delay Calculation for Intraventricular Conduction Defects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cardiac rhythm or function management devices face challenges in accurately determining atrioventricular (AV) delays, particularly in subjects with intraventricular conduction defects such as left or right bundle branch blocks, which can lead to inefficient heart contractions and reduced cardiac output.

Innovation Solution

An implantable medical device system that includes atrial, left ventricular, and right ventricular sensing channels, using processor-configured relationships between intrinsic cardiac intervals and ventricular depolarization durations to calculate tailored AV delays based on detected conduction defects, such as through coefficients derived from clinical data, to optimize ventricular synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single fixed AV delay is used for all patients, then the device is simple to operate, but it cannot optimize cardiac output for patients with intraventricular conduction defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecardiac outputVSAvoidAV delay calculation system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the AV delay parameter based on detected intraventricular conduction defects. The system calculates different AV delay values (first AV delay for LBBB or no defect, second AV delay for RBBB) using different relationships involving intrinsic cardiac intervals and ventricular depolarization durations. This allows optimization of cardiac output for each patient's specific conduction pattern without requiring manual programming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically detecting intraventricular conduction defects and calculating appropriate AV delays without requiring external intervention. The processor autonomously analyzes intrinsic cardiac information from sensing channels, determines the presence of LBBB or RBBB, and selects the appropriate AV delay calculation relationship, enabling the device to self-optimize for each patient's hemodynamic needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If AV delay is customized for each conduction defect type, then cardiac output is optimized, but the device requires complex detection and calculation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventricular synchronizationVSAvoidintraventricular conduction defect detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing multiple AV delay calculation relationships tailored to different conduction defect types. The system has predetermined the first relationship (for LBBB or no defect) and the second relationship (for RBBB), which are ready to be applied once the defect type is detected. This preliminary preparation ensures reliable ventricular synchronization can be quickly achieved without complex real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring intrinsic cardiac intervals from the sensing channels and using this information to detect conduction defects and adjust AV delay settings. The processor analyzes the relationship between atrial activation, ventricular activation, and QRS duration to provide feedback on the patient's conduction status, enabling automatic adaptation of pacing parameters to maintain optimal ventricular synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2231270B1AV delay features
Publication Date: 2013.09.25 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC
  • EP2231270B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2231270B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2231270B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

At least one of a left intraventricular conduction defect, a right intraventricular conduction defect, or no intraventricular conduction defect can be detected using received intrinsic cardiac information from a subject, and a first atrioventricular (AV) delay can be calculated using a first relationship if the left intraventricular conduction defect or no intraventricular conduction defect is detected, or a second AV delay can be calculated using a second relationship if the right intraventricular conduction defect is detected.