ECG-Guided Defibrillator Shock Amplitude for pVT

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current defibrillation methods for pulseless ventricular tachyarrhythmia (pVT) often require multiple high-energy shocks, causing tissue damage and psychological distress, with existing strategies either repeating identical shocks or increasing amplitude, which is inefficient and harmful.

Innovation Solution

An optimized defibrillation method that adjusts shock amplitude based on electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, specifically the non-regularity index (I_IR) and fibrillation frequency (f), to determine the appropriate energy level for each shock, reducing the number of defibrillation attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high-energy shocks are delivered repeatedly to terminate pVT, then arrhythmia termination is achieved, but tissue damage accumulates and heart function deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrhythmia terminationVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of shock amplitude dynamically based on ECG analysis. Instead of delivering fixed high-energy shocks, the system adjusts shock amplitude according to the detected arrhythmia characteristics (regular vs. irregular, fast vs. slow), thereby achieving termination with lower cumulative energy and reduced tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the ECG signal to characterize the arrhythmia type before delivering shocks. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-determine the appropriate shock amplitude, avoiding unnecessary high-energy shocks and reducing tissue damage from the outset

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple defibrillation attempts are made, then arrhythmia termination is achieved, but psychological suffering increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrhythmia terminationVSAvoidpsychological suffering

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from real-time ECG monitoring to adaptively adjust shock parameters. By continuously analyzing arrhythmia characteristics and adjusting the shock amplitude accordingly, the system reduces the number of attempts needed, thereby reducing psychological suffering associated with multiple shock deliveries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If fixed amplitude shocks are delivered, then device operation is simple, but defibrillation efficiency is low requiring multiple attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedefibrillation protocolVSAvoiddefibrillation success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The defibrillator performs self-adjustment by automatically analyzing the patient's ECG signal and determining the optimal shock amplitude. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual parameter adjustment while achieving high defibrillation success rates, thus maintaining ease of operation without sacrificing productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4631567A1Defibrillator unit setting an amplitude of defibrillation shock

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 DPZ DEUT PRIMATENZENTRUM GMBH

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AI summary

A method for setting an amplitude of defibrillation shock as a function of parameters of an electrocardiogram (ECG) of a patient is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining an index of non-regularity of fibrillation and the frequency of the fibrillating heart, and setting the amplitude for shock defibrillation to a stored maximum energy (Emax) in case that the index of non-regularity (IIR) is equal or above a given threshold value (θIR) or setting the amplitude for shock defibrillation to a value determined by a function of the frequency of the fibrillating heart (f) and the index of non-regularity (IIR).