Multi-Sensor Cardiac Patch for Safe PFA Pulse Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac ablation systems lack robust sensor configurations for safe delivery of pulsed field ablation (PFA) by not addressing vulnerable periods in the heartbeat cycle, potentially compromising patient safety, and integrating sensing into ablation catheters limits complexity.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensor patch with electrocardiogram, photoplethysmogram, and accelerometer sensors, along with a signal analyzer, cross-checks heartbeat phases to ensure safe delivery of PFA by disabling pulses during vulnerable periods, using redundancy to enhance safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor types are integrated into the patch, then measurement precision and reliability of heartbeat phase detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (ECG electrodes, PPG sensors, accelerometers, and microphones) into a single integrated patch device. This merging approach allows the system to achieve high measurement precision through multi-sensor redundancy while managing device complexity by consolidating all sensors in one location rather than distributing them across multiple separate devices or catheters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch is designed as a universal platform that can perform multiple functions: ECG monitoring, PPG oxygen saturation measurement, acceleration detection, and acoustic heart sound capture. This multi-functionality allows one device to provide comprehensive cardiac monitoring capabilities, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If sensing is integrated into ablation catheters, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and limited sensor configuration options occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides sensing functions into two separate components: a dedicated multi-sensor patch for comprehensive cardiac monitoring and a separate ablation catheter for pulse delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the patch can have complex multi-sensor configurations without limiting catheter design options, while maintaining ease of operation through coordinated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch acts as an intermediary device that provides comprehensive sensor data to the ablation system, enabling safe pulse delivery timing without integrating sensors directly into the catheter. This intermediary approach maintains operational ease by providing all necessary sensing information externally while avoiding the complexity and design limitations of integrated catheter sensors.
3Reliability
If redundant sensor data cross-checking is implemented, then reliability of safe pulse delivery is improved, but processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors and pre-processes sensor data in real-time, identifying safe and unsafe windows for pulse delivery before the actual ablation procedure begins. By performing this analysis continuously and preliminarily, the system builds up reliable decision-making data without adding significant processing delays during critical moments, as the redundancy cross-checking is already underway.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data from multiple sources is constantly cross-checked and fed back into the decision-making process. This feedback mechanism ensures reliability by continuously validating assumptions about heartbeat phase detection, while the system optimizes processing efficiency by only performing additional verification when anomalies or uncertainties are detected, rather than uniformly processing all data at maximum intensity.
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
Ensures safe cardiac ablation by accurately identifying safe phases in the heartbeat cycle through redundant sensor data analysis, thereby improving patient safety and reliability of PFA delivery.
Implementation Method 1
one or more electrocardiogram electrodes
Implementation Method 2
one or more photoplethysmogram sensors
Implementation Method 3
one or more accelerometers
Implementation Method 4
one or more pulse field ablation return electrodes that are coupled electrically to the pulse generator
Data Source
AI summary
A system that enables safe cardiac pulsed field ablation by using multiple types of sensors on a patch to detect and cross-check that the heartbeat is in a safe phase to receive an ablation pulse. The patch may contain for example any or all of ECG electrodes, PPG sensors, accelerometers, and microphones. The patch may also contain one or more pulse return electrodes for unipolar ablation. A signal analyzer coupled to a pulse generator may receive sensor data from the patch and may analyze this data to determine the heartbeat phase. If data from different sensors are inconsistent, then pulse generation may be disabled as a safety feature. Otherwise, pulses may be enabled when the heartbeat is in a safe phase; for example, pulses may be excluded during the T wave.