Multi-site Cardiac Stimulation Vector Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multi-site cardiac stimulation methods for treating congestive heart failure are complex and inefficient, requiring more energy and posing challenges in identifying suitable patients and determining optimal stimulation vectors, timing, and intensity parameters.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses physiological signals to determine stimulation vectors and therapy modes for multi-site cardiac stimulation, including chronological order and timing offsets, to deliver effective electrostimulation to multiple sites within the heart, improving cardiac performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multi-site stimulation is applied to treat congestive heart failure, then cardiac performance is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecardiac performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters including timing offsets between sites, stimulation intensity, and chronological ordering of multi-site deliveries based on sensed physiological signals to optimize cardiac performance while minimizing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system senses physiological signals from the heart and uses this feedback to determine optimal stimulation vectors and therapy modes, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts stimulation parameters to actual cardiac response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If multi-site stimulation is used to stimulate multiple cardiac sites, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the cardiac chamber into multiple discrete stimulation sites with separate electrodes, allowing independent control of each site while maintaining overall system manageability through modular electrode design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects and switches between different stimulation vectors and therapy modes based on real-time physiological sensing, allowing the complexity to be managed through adaptive algorithms rather than fixed complex wiring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If multiple stimulation vectors are employed for multi-site stimulation, then cardiac performance improvement is enhanced, but difficulty in determining optimal parameters increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecardiac performance improvementVSAvoidparameter optimization difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses physiological signal feedback to automatically determine optimal stimulation vectors and timing parameters, replacing manual trial-and-error optimization with automated sensing and decision algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-optimization by sensing its own stimulation effects and automatically adjusting parameters to achieve optimal cardiac performance without requiring extensive external programming or adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If timing offsets and chronological order are controlled for multi-site stimulation, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines and adjusts timing offsets and chronological order of stimulations based on sensed physiological signals, eliminating the need for manual programming of complex timing parameters while maintaining therapeutic efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 system enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of multi-site cardiac stimulation, improving patient outcomes by optimizing stimulation parameters and reducing energy consumption, while simplifying system design and operation.

Implementation Method 1

The electrodes may be electrically coupled to an electronics unit such as a pulse generator, such as via a lead, and may be used to deliver one or more electro stimulations to the heart

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Implementation Method 2

The system may sense a physiological signal including during electrostimulation of the heart, use the physiological signal to determine at least a first stimulation vector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical signal detection: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Data Source

PatentEP3463564B1Systems for multi-site stimulation
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC
  • EP3463564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3463564B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3463564B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Systems and methods for multi-site cardiac stimulation are disclosed. The system includes an electrostimulation circuit to deliver electrostimulation to one or more candidate sites of at least one heart chamber. The system may sense a physiological signal including during electrostimulation of the heart, use the physiological signal to determine a first stimulation vector for electrostimulation at a first left ventricular (LV) site and a second stimulation vector for electrostimulation at a different second LV site, and determine a therapy mode including a first chronological order and a first timing offset between stimulations delivered according to the first and second stimulation vectors. The electrostimulation circuit may deliver electrostimulation to the heart in accordance with the first and second stimulation vectors and the therapy mode.