Cardiac Stimulation Device for Hypertension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical stimulation technologies primarily focus on regulating heart rate or rhythm, failing to effectively modify blood pressure, which is a significant challenge in treating hypertension.
Innovation Solution
A dedicated device or integrated into a conventional pacemaker that uses electrical stimulation, along with pressure transducers, to deliver antihypertensive therapy by altering cardiac output and contractility, reducing blood pressure through targeted stimulation of the heart, either mechanically, ultrasonically, or using other energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pacemakers are used to regulate heart rate, then heart rhythm control is improved, but blood pressure control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single cardiac stimulation device. The device can perform both traditional heart rate regulation (pacing) and blood pressure control through the same implantable generator and leads. This is achieved by programming the device to deliver different stimulation patterns: standard pacing for heart rate control and modified stimulation patterns (such as burst pacing, varied pulse widths, or specific timing intervals) for blood pressure management. The single device thus serves universal purposes, eliminating the need for separate devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamic and adjustable stimulation parameters to achieve both heart rate and blood pressure control. The programmer allows clinicians to configure various stimulation modes, pulse amplitudes, widths, and timing intervals. The device can dynamically switch between different stimulation regimens based on detected physiological parameters (such as heart rate, rhythm, and inferred blood pressure status). This dynamic adaptability enables the same hardware to effectively address multiple physiological targets without requiring fixed, dedicated configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated blood pressure control devices are developed, then hypertension treatment capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing infrastructure of cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to provide blood pressure control. By utilizing the same implantable generator, leads, and sensing capabilities already present in these widely deployed devices, the invention avoids the need for entirely new dedicated hardware. The blood pressure control function is achieved through software programming and adjusted stimulation parameters, thereby adding therapeutic capability without proportionally increasing physical device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes its existing sensing and stimulation capabilities to self-regulate blood pressure without requiring additional dedicated sensors or actuators. The pacemaker/ICD already continuously monitors heart rate and rhythm; this same data, combined with adjusted stimulation delivery, serves dual purposes for both rhythm management and blood pressure control. The device essentially serves itself by repurposing its inherent functions for an additional therapeutic goal, minimizing the need for extra components.
3Reliability
If multiple separate devices are used for heart rate and blood pressure control, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of separate heart rate regulation and blood pressure control devices into a single integrated system. Instead of requiring one patient to manage multiple implanted devices or frequent external interventions, the invention combines these therapies into one programmable implantable device. This consolidation reduces the number of surgical procedures, minimizes the physical burden of multiple devices, simplifies patient lifestyle considerations, and streamlines follow-up care while maintaining the therapeutic effectiveness of both functions through coordinated stimulation delivery.
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 solution effectively reduces blood pressure by modifying cardiac output and contractility, providing a non-pharmacological approach that can be adjusted based on real-time blood pressure measurements, offering a complementary or alternative treatment for hypertension.
Implementation Method 1
A blood pressure transducer is provided on a lead
Implementation Method 2
electrical stimulation of the heart... stimulating the heart at times and locations to control the patient's blood pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A method that electrically stimulates a heart muscle to alter the ejection profile of the heart, to control the mechanical function of the heart and reduce the observed blood pressure of the patient. The therapy may be invoked by an implantable blood pressure sensor associated with a pacemaker like device. In some cases, where a measured pretreatment blood pressure exceeds a treatment threshold, a patient's heart may be stimulated with an electrical stimulus timed relative to the patient's cardiac ejection cycle. This is done to cause dyssynchrony between at least two cardiac chambers or within a cardiac chamber, which alters the patient's cardiac ejection profile from a pretreatment cardiac ejection profile. This has the effect of reducing the patient's blood pressure from the measured pretreatment blood pressure.