External Electrode Cardiac Therapy Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac therapy evaluation methods, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), face challenges in determining optimal pacing locations and adjusting device parameters without invasive procedures, limiting their effectiveness in synchronizing heart ventricles.
Innovation Solution
The development of noninvasive systems and methods using external electrodes to monitor and compare baseline and therapy electrical activity, allowing for the determination of more effective pacing locations and adjustment of pacing vectors and timing delays, thereby improving cardiac therapy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive implantable devices are used to evaluate and adjust cardiac therapy, then measurement precision of pacing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and patient risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses noninvasive surface ECG electrodes to create an external copy representation of cardiac electrical activity, allowing evaluation of pacing effectiveness without requiring internal implantable sensors. The surface ECG signals serve as a proxy for intracardiac electrical activity, enabling therapy assessment through noninvasive measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/invasive implantable electrode system with a noninvasive surface electrode system. Instead of physically inserting sensors into the heart, the system uses external ECG electrodes to detect cardiac electrical signals through the body surface, substituting a less invasive measurement approach for the previously required invasive implantable devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pacing locations and vectors are tested to optimize therapy, then adaptability of cardiac therapy is improved, but loss of time for evaluation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors ECG signals during pacing therapy delivery, compares baseline versus therapy electrical activity, and provides real-time guidance on whether the current pacing location is effective. This feedback loop enables rapid assessment of multiple pacing options without requiring extensive manual testing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary evaluation by comparing baseline ECG signals with therapy ECG signals to determine pacing effectiveness before finalizing the pacing location. This preliminary comparison allows the system to identify effective pacing locations more quickly, reducing the time needed for thorough evaluation while maintaining adaptability.
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 the evaluation and optimization of cardiac therapy without implantable devices, improving cardiac synchronization and reducing invasive procedures, leading to enhanced patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring electrical activity using a plurality of external electrodes proximate tissue of a patient to generate baseline cardiac information representative of at least one of mechanical cardiac functionality and electrical cardiac functionality
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described herein for assisting a user in evaluation of cardiac therapy. The systems and methods may monitor electrical activity of a patient using external electrode apparatus to provide baseline cardiac information and therapy cardiac information and determine whether the cardiac pacing, or therapy, location is acceptable. If the cardiac pacing, or therapy, location is unacceptable, location information representative of a location that may more effective may be generated based on the therapy cardiac information.