Cardiac Support Device Synchronization with Heart Strain Profile
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac support devices struggle to accurately control mechanical synchrony in diseased or damaged hearts, often leading to inefficient blood pumping and potential tissue fatigue due to binary operation and lack of synchronization with the heart's natural rhythm.
Innovation Solution
A control system that calculates an optimal strain profile for a healthy heart and dynamically adjusts external forces applied by a cardiac support device to match the heart's ventricular strain profile, using strain gauges or scans, to achieve proper rhythm and mechanical synchrony through feedback loops and drive profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cardiac support device mechanically compresses or expands the heart to aid pump function, then cardiac pumping efficiency is improved, but the device operates in binary on/off mode which fails to synchronize with the heart's natural mechanical synchrony, potentially causing tissue fatigue and reduced effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The cardiac support device transitions from static binary operation to dynamic operation by continuously adjusting its mechanical compression and expansion forces to match the heart's natural mechanical synchrony patterns. The system uses sensors to detect real-time heart contraction patterns and dynamically modifies device output to maintain synchronization, preventing tissue fatigue while optimizing pumping efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where sensors continuously monitor the heart's mechanical contraction patterns and electrical activity (via ECG). This feedback information is processed to determine the optimal timing and magnitude of device intervention, allowing the device to synchronize its assistance with the heart's natural rhythm and adjust in real-time to changing cardiac conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hemodynamic feedback is used to control the cardiac support device, then some complex contractions of the heart can be mimicked, but the device remains out of synchronization with natural heart contractions in certain places at certain times
Solution Approach 1:
The control system divides the heart into multiple regions of interest and independently monitors and controls mechanical support for each region. By segmenting the cardiac support function, the device can address regional dyssynchrony and provide location-specific assistance that matches the complex contraction patterns of different heart regions, achieving higher synchronization accuracy across the entire organ.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different mechanical support characteristics to different regions of the heart based on local needs. Rather than uniform compression or expansion, the device modulates force magnitude, timing, and duration locally to match the specific mechanical synchrony requirements of each cardiac region, thereby accurately mimicking the heart's complex natural contraction patterns.
3Device complexity
If the cardiac support device operates independently of the heart's natural rhythm, then device control is simplified, but the heart may fight the naturalcontractions in certain places at certain times, further fatiguing heart tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The cardiac support device enables the heart to serve itself by detecting and amplifying the heart's own mechanical contraction signals. Rather than imposing an external rhythm, the system uses the heart's intrinsic mechanical synchrony as the control reference, allowing the heart to maintain its natural rhythm while receiving supplemental support. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external pacing while preventing tissue fatigue.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a cardiac support device and the method of supporting the functionality and synchronized contraction of a heart. An optimal strain profile is calculated for a healthy heart. The cardiac support device is attached to the heart and a true ventricular strain profile is measured. The cardiac support device applies external forces to the heart, therein altering said ventricular strain profile of said heart to be closer to the optimal strain profile. The cardiac support device is dynamically controlled to synchronize with the beating rhythm of the heart. The external forces have an applied strain profile. The applied strain profile has a peak strain, a time to peak strain, and a cycle time. These variables can be adjusted either individually or in combinations to fine tune the cardiac support device and cause the altered strain profile of the heart to be closer to the optimal strain profile.