Biostimulator Low-Polarization Electrode Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Leadless cardiac pacemakers face challenges in detecting chamber evoked responses due to polarization of pacemaker electrodes, which obscures the small amplitude of the atrial evoked response, leading to unreliable autocapture, especially in chambers with low evoked responses like the atria.

Innovation Solution

A biostimulator with an electrode coated by a low-polarization coating, such as titanium nitride or iridium oxide, is used to reduce polarization, allowing for effective detection of atrial evoked responses and automatic output regulation, enabling reliable autocapture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional pacemaker electrodes are used, then the device structure is simple, but electrode polarization obscures the chamber evoked response, leading to unreliable autocapture detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of chamber evoked responseVSAvoidelectrode polarization

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A low-polarization coating is applied to the pacemaker electrode to act as an intermediary layer between the electrode and the body tissue. This coating reduces the polarization effect at the electrode-tissue interface, thereby minimizing the obscuring of the chamber evoked response and enabling more reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the electrode surface by applying a low-polarization coating with specific properties (such as titanium nitride or iridium oxide). This modification alters the electrode's polarization characteristics, reducing the harmful polarization potential that obscures the evoked response signal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If complex signal discrimination techniques are used to detect evoked response despite polarization, then detection accuracy may improve, but processing power requirements increase, burdening battery current drain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of chamber evoked responseVSAvoidbattery current drain

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The low-polarization coating is applied in advance to the electrode before implantation. This preliminary action reduces the polarization effect at its source, thereby simplifying the subsequent signal detection process and reducing the need for complex, energy-intensive signal discrimination techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful polarization effect into a beneficial situation by using a low-polarization coating that minimizes polarization at its source. This transforms what would otherwise require complex energy-consuming signal processing into a simpler detection task with lower energy requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Volume of moving object

If leadless pacemaker size is minimized for intravenous delivery, then delivery capability is improved, but battery capacity is limited, reducing pacer longevity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleadless pacemaker sizeVSAvoidpacer longevity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The low-polarization coating converts the harmful polarization effect into a benefit by reducing the amplitude of polarization potentials. This allows for simpler, less energy-consuming signal detection methods, thereby reducing overall power consumption and extending battery life within the constrained small device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the electrode surface properties through low-polarization coating, the patent reduces the energy required for signal detection. This parameter change in the detection efficiency allows the device to operate more efficiently within the limited battery capacity imposed by the small device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 low-polarization coating significantly reduces electrode polarization, allowing for accurate detection of atrial evoked responses using simple signal processing techniques, thereby ensuring reliable autocapture and prolonged pacer longevity.

Implementation Method 1

polarization of the pacemaker electrodes during pacing can cause a decaying polarization potential that superimposes on and obscures the chamber evoked response

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentUS20240359019A1Biostimulator having low-polarization electrode(s)

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 PACESETTER INC

AI summary

A biostimulator, such as a leadless pacemaker, having electrode(s) coated with low-polarization coating(s), is described. A low-polarization coating including titanium nitride can be disposed on an anode, and a low-polarization coating including a first layer of titanium nitride and a second layer of platinum black can be disposed on a cathode. The anode can be an attachment feature used to transmit torque to the biostimulator. The cathode can be a fixation element used to affix the biostimulator to a target tissue. The low-polarization coating(s) impart low-polarization to the electrode(s) to enable an atrial evoked response to be detected and used to effect automatic output regulation of the biostimulator. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.