Extracorporeal Pressure Sensor for dp/dt Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and improving heart muscle function, particularly ventricular contractility, face challenges in accurately and minimally invasively measuring pressure/time rate-change (dp/dt) in arterial pressure, which is crucial for assessing heart function and optimizing electrode placement for pacing devices.
Innovation Solution
An extracorporeal pressure sensor positioned on the patient measures dp/dt during ventricular contractions, coupled with a biventricular pacemaker that stimulates the heart with an electrode placed on the epicardial surface, allowing for dynamic monitoring and optimization of electrode placement based on pressure measurements and patient-specific benchmarks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an intracardiac pressure sensor is used to measure dp/dt, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by placing the pressure sensor in the femoral artery (peripheral location) rather than directly in the heart (intracardiac location). The femoral artery serves as an intermediary conduit that transmits pressure changes from the aorta to the sensor, enabling accurate dp/dt measurement without requiring intracardiac sensor placement. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision while reducing device complexity and invasiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electrode locations are tested to optimize pacing, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where dp/dt measurements are continuously monitored during electrode placement and pacing optimization. The system provides real-time feedback on the effectiveness of each electrode location through pressure changes detected during ventricular contraction. This allows rapid identification of optimal electrode placements without requiring extensive trial-and-error testing, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary dp/dt measurements and heart function assessment before final electrode placement is determined. By pre-evaluating pressure dynamics and ventricular response characteristics, the system can predict optimal electrode locations in advance, reducing the time required for iterative electrode placement testing while maintaining the ability to adapt to individual patient needs.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system employs periodic action by measuring dp/dt at specific moments during ventricular contraction rather than continuously monitoring. The pressure sensor detects pressure changes only during the cardiac cycle when ventricular contraction occurs, which reduces energy consumption while maintaining reliable heart function assessment. The system captures essential hemodynamic information at critical time points without requiring continuous power consumption.
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
This system provides accurate, minimally invasive, and cost-effective monitoring and improvement of heart muscle function by optimizing electrode placement and assessing ventricular contractility through real-time dp/dt measurements, enhancing heart function evaluation and pacing efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
an extracorporeal pressure sensor positioned on the body of the patient to dynamically measure an arterial pressure... identify a pressure/time rate-change in arterial pressure (dp/dt)
Implementation Method 2
a biventricular pacemaker which can be used to electrically stimulate the patient's heart muscle function... an electrode that is adapted to be placed on the epicardial surface of the patient's heart
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring and evaluating the ventricular contractility of a heart muscle includes a device for electrically stimulating the heart muscle of a patient, and an extracorporeal blood pressure sensor. A record, responsive to stimulated ventricular contractions, is created by the pressure sensor. The response record is then evaluated to identify a pressure/time, rate-change in arterial pressure (dp/dt) that results within the time duration of a ventricular contraction in a cardiac cycle. In turn, dp/dt is evaluated as an indicator of ventricular contractility and the health of the patient's heart muscle.