External Wearable Sensing for Implantable Stimulation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices face challenges with continuous sensing that require significant energy allocation, leading to battery drain and difficulty in detecting small amplitude biometric signals due to patient movement, which can overwhelm implanted sensors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating external electronic devices, such as wearable or bedside devices, to supplement or replace implanted sensors, allowing for energy-efficient data collection and improved sensor accuracy through redundant sensing and wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous sensing is performed by implantable medical devices, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing function is segmented between the implantable medical device and an external wearable device. The IMD performs sensing during wake periods, while the external device continues monitoring during sleep periods, dividing the continuous monitoring task into discrete operational segments that reduce overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
An external wearable device acts as an intermediary to perform sensing functions that would otherwise require continuous power consumption from the implantable device. The wearable device collects sensor data during low-power periods and transmits it to the IMD, allowing the IMD to maintain monitoring accuracy without continuous energy expenditure.
2Reliability
If implanted sensors continuously monitor biometric signals, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by having the implantable device wake from a low-power state at predetermined intervals to receive sensor data from the external wearable device. This periodic communication allows the IMD to maintain treatment effectiveness through continuous monitoring while dramatically reducing battery consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The external wearable device creates a copy of the sensing function, allowing the implantable device to rely on this external copy during low-power periods. The wearable device replicates the biometric monitoring capability, enabling the IMD to maintain treatment effectiveness without requiring continuous power for its own sensing operations.
3Productivity
If implanted IMUs continuously detect patient movement, then activity monitoring is improved, but small amplitude biometric signals become difficult to detect
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by using different sensing approaches for different functions. The external wearable device uses optical sensors that are less sensitive to motion artifacts for continuous biometric monitoring, while the implantable IMU focuses on detecting larger movement events. This differentiation allows both functions to operate at optimal performance levels without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The external wearable device serves as an intermediary that performs continuous biometric monitoring with high precision for small amplitude signals. This external sensing layer mediates between the implantable device and the patient, providing accurate continuous data without the motion artifact problems that plague implanted IMUs.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to stimulation systems, comprising, e.g., an implantable pulse generator or pump, biometric sensors incorporated therein, and one or more external sensors which may optionally be incorporated into one or more electronic devices (e.g., a wearable, portable, or stationary device). In some aspects, the one or more electronic devices may be configured to control one or more parameters of the stimulation systems.