Implantable Device Crosstalk Mitigation via Dynamic Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Implantable medical devices face interference issues, known as crosstalk, between electrical stimulation therapy delivered by neurostimulators and cardiac rhythm management therapy provided by cardiac devices, leading to mischaracterization of signals and inappropriate therapy delivery.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of techniques to determine whether a therapy module is delivering electrical stimulation, and adjusting sensing modes and therapy parameter values to minimize interference, including modifying stimulation signals and switching therapy programs to reduce crosstalk and ensure accurate signal detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical stimulation therapy is delivered by neurostimulators, then therapeutic effect on nonmyocardial tissue is achieved, but crosstalk interference occurs that causes mischaracterization of signals by cardiac devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of signal detectionVSAvoidcrosstalk interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of crosstalk between neurostimulator and cardiac device before delivering electrical stimulation therapy. By assessing the degree of interference in advance through sensing electrical signals and determining if they result from stimulation delivery, the system can prevent mischaracterization of signals and inappropriate therapy delivery, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving therapeutic effect and avoiding interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring electrical signals sensed by the cardiac device and evaluating whether these signals result from neurostimulator delivery. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts operation to minimize crosstalk and ensure accurate signal detection, thereby maintaining both therapeutic effectiveness and signal accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If sensing is performed in a fixed mode, then device operation is simple, but accurate detection of cardiac signals cannot be achieved when crosstalk is present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of arrhythmia detectionVSAvoidsensing mode management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between first and second sensing modes based on whether electrical stimulation is being delivered. When stimulation is detected, the system switches to the second sensing mode that is optimized for detecting cardiac signals during stimulation, and returns to the first sensing mode when stimulation is not present. This dynamic adaptation enables accurate arrhythmia detection while managing sensing complexity through automated mode selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8611996B2Implantable medical device crosstalk evaluation and mitigation

Publication Date: 2013.12.17 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.