Cardiac Evaluation Using External Electrodes for Therapy Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac evaluation systems rely on invasive methods using implantable devices and electrodes, which can be cumbersome and require complex procedures, limiting the ease and accuracy of cardiac therapy optimization.
Innovation Solution
Noninvasive systems and methods utilizing external electrodes attached to the patient's torso to measure cardiac signals, providing real-time feedback and graphical interfaces for evaluating cardiac therapy effectiveness, optimizing cardiac resynchronization therapy settings through metrics like SDAT and LVAT, and guiding lead placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If implantable devices and electrodes are used for cardiac evaluation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses external electrodes as an intermediary tool to obtain cardiac signals noninvasively. These external electrodes act as a mediator between the patient's heart and the evaluation system, allowing measurement of cardiac electrical activity without direct implantation into the heart tissue. This resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient measurement precision through the intermediary external electrodes while avoiding the complexity of implantable device procedures.
2Measurement precision
If implantable devices are used for cardiac evaluation, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
External electrodes serve as an intermediary that simplifies the evaluation procedure. Instead of requiring surgical implantation of electrodes directly on the heart, the external electrodes can be easily attached to the patient's skin surface, making the evaluation process noninvasive and much easier to perform while still providing adequate measurement precision for cardiac therapy optimization.
3Ease of operation
If noninvasive external electrodes are used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that use the signals from external electrodes to evaluate cardiac therapy effectiveness. By processing the electrical signals obtained from external electrodes and providing feedback on therapy optimization, the system achieves sufficient measurement precision for clinical decision-making while maintaining the ease of noninvasive operation. The feedback loop allows continuous monitoring and adjustment based on the external electrode measurements.
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
Facilitates efficient and accurate optimization of cardiac therapy settings without invasive procedures, enhancing cardiac synchronization and reducing the complexity of implantation processes.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of external electrodes attached to the skin of a patient about the patient's torso to measure a plurality of electrical signals from the heart of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, interfaces, and methods are described herein for evaluation and adjustment cardiac therapy. The systems, interfaces, and methods may utilize, or include, a graphical user interface to display various information with respect to a plurality of external electrodes and electrical activity monitored using such external electrodes and to allow a user to adjust what information to display.