Flexible Subcutaneous Defibrillator Wireless Recharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators face challenges in differentiating between true cardiac electrical activity and extra-cardiac oversensing, leading to inappropriate shocks and failure to deliver shocks when needed, due to lower signal-to-noise ratio and the need for higher energy delivery for effective therapy, which increases device size and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A flexible rechargeable subcutaneous cardioverter defibrillator with a symmetric, tubular device body that integrates all components, including a power source and high voltage capacitor, allowing for wireless recharging and reduced battery size, minimizing invasiveness and patient discomfort, and featuring a unitary design with detachable leads for versatile placement and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator delivers higher energy for effective therapy, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but device size and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components including a rechargeable battery module, capacitor module, and electronic circuit module. This segmentation allows optimization of each component's energy density and overall device size, enabling effective therapy delivery without excessive device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a rechargeable lithium-ion battery system that changes the energy storage parameters from disposable to rechargeable, allowing multiple charge cycles. This parameter change enables the device to deliver higher energy doses repeatedly without increasing size, as the same physical components are reused through wireless recharging.
2Duration of action of moving object
If subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator uses traditional non-rechargeable battery, then device simplicity is maintained, but device lifespan is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a wireless power transfer system that allows the implanted device to recharge itself through the patient's skin using external electromagnetic fields. This self-service capability extends device lifespan without requiring surgical intervention or increasing structural complexity significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The rechargeable battery system serves multiple functions: extending device lifespan, enabling higher energy delivery, and providing a sustainable power source. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity of the rechargeable system versus traditional non-rechargeable batteries.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator is placed subcutaneously, then surgical invasiveness is reduced, but signal differentiation between cardiac and extra-cardiac activity becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates sophisticated signal processing algorithms that use feedback from multiple sensing electrodes to differentiate between cardiac and extra-cardiac signals. The system continuously analyzes signal characteristics and adjusts its interpretation based on patterns, enabling accurate detection despite the subcutaneous location that reduces signal-to-noise ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple sensing electrodes arranged in different spatial dimensions around the heart. By analyzing signals from multiple dimensions and positions, the system can triangulate and differentiate cardiac signals from extra-cardiac noise, overcoming the limitations of subcutaneous placement.
4Ease of operation
If flexible rechargeable subcutaneous cardioverter defibrillator integrates all components in unitary design, then device flexibility and comfort are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the final device appears as a flexible unitary structure, it is manufactured using segmented modular components that are assembled together. This approach maintains the flexibility and comfort of a integrated design while simplifying manufacturing through modular assembly of standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functional components (battery, capacitor, electronics, electrodes) into a single flexible integrated unit that conforms to the patient's anatomy. This merging improves ease of operation and comfort while the modular manufacturing approach mitigates the increase in manufacturing complexity.
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
The flexible subcutaneous cardioverter defibrillator provides effective and comfortable cardiac rhythm management with reduced surgical invasiveness, longer device lifespan, and improved differentiation between cardiac and extra-cardiac signals, minimizing unnecessary shocks and enhancing patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
a power source, such as a battery
Implementation Method 2
at least one high voltage capacitor
Implementation Method 3
improved differentiation between cardiac and extra-cardiac signals
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~4B
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Flexible implantable subcutaneous heart device (HD) structure, including a flexible device body, at least one flexible lead and at least one respective transition unit, the transition unit for respectively coupling each flexible lead to the flexible device body, the flexible device body including a plurality of inner components and a respective plurality of hollow outer units, the hollow outer units for encasing and protecting the inner components, each one of the hollow outer units including at least one hollow rigid element and a hollow flexible element, the hollow flexible element coupled with the hollow rigid element for enabling the outer unit a degree of flexibility, wherein the hollow flexible element is covered with a covering and wherein the flexible device body is covered with a polymer.