ECG Belt Systems for Noninvasive Pacing Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for configuring cardiac therapy require invasive procedures and equipment, such as implantable devices and leads, which can be cumbersome and require skilled personnel, limiting their accessibility and efficiency for cardiac evaluation and optimization.
Innovation Solution
A portable diagnostic system using external electrodes and a portable computing apparatus that noninvasively monitors electrical activity to optimize pacing parameters and determine cardiac synchrony, allowing for autonomous configuration of implantable pacing devices without the need for invasive leads or sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive procedures and implantable devices with leads are used for cardiac evaluation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cardiac monitoring function from invasive implantable devices and leads, and relocates it to external body surface electrodes. This allows the system to maintain the ability to monitor cardiac electrical activity while eliminating the complexity of invasive procedures, implantable hardware, and skilled personnel requirements for lead placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a noninvasive copy of the cardiac monitoring function using external electrodes that replicate the electrical signal detection capability of invasive leads without requiring physical insertion into the heart. The external electrodes capture surface ECG signals that provide sufficient information for cardiac evaluation without the complexity of intracardiac leads.
2Measurement precision
If invasive procedures and skilled personnel are required for cardiac evaluation, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirement for skilled personnel and invasive procedures by using external body surface electrodes that can be applied by less trained individuals. The system maintains accurate cardiac monitoring while making the procedure accessible to a broader range of users without requiring expertise in invasive lead placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the system to perform cardiac evaluation autonomously without requiring skilled personnel to place invasive leads. The external electrode system can be self-applied or applied by minimal training, allowing the system to serve itself in terms of ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision through the external ECG signal capture.
3Ease of operation
If portable external electrodes are used for cardiac monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses external body surface electrodes to create a copy of the cardiac electrical signals that, while measured at the body surface rather than within the heart, provide sufficient precision for cardiac evaluation. The external ECG signals replicate the essential cardiac electrical characteristics needed for diagnosis and monitoring without requiring invasive measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the body surface as an intermediary medium between the heart's electrical activity and the measurement device. The external electrodes detect electrical signals through the body surface, which act as a mediator that transmits cardiac electrical information without requiring direct intracardiac contact, thus maintaining both portability and measurement precision.
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
Enables efficient, noninvasive cardiac therapy configuration and monitoring, improving accessibility and reducing the need for skilled personnel, while providing real-time data for optimizing pacing parameters and detecting cardiac dyssynchrony.
Implementation Method 1
monitor electrical activity from tissue of a patient using the plurality of external electrodes to generate a plurality of electrical signals over time
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode apparatus includes a portable amplifier and a plurality of external electrodes to be disposed proximate a patient's skin. A portable computing apparatus is operably coupled to the electrode apparatus. The portable computing apparatus is configured to monitor electrical activity from tissue of a patient using the plurality of external electrodes to generate a plurality of electrical signals over time. The portable computing apparatus is configured to perform at least one of optimizing at least one parameter of the of the implantable pacing device based on the plurality of electrical signals and determining cardiac synchrony based on the plurality of electrical signals.