Implantable Device Detecting Heart Failure via Ventricular Filling Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting heart failure, particularly those relying on ejection fraction, are inadequate for early detection, as they only become detectable when the condition has progressed significantly, allowing for late intervention.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device that detects heart failure by monitoring the onset of ventricular filling in the heart cycle, using electric signals and impedance measurements to determine a relative time parameter indicative of heart failure, allowing for earlier diagnosis before significant disease progression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ejection fraction-based detection methods are used, then measurement precision is improved, but detection timing is delayed until late disease progression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting ventricular filling onset before the ejection fraction becomes significantly reduced. The system monitors impedance changes during the cardiac cycle to identify the start of ventricular filling, which occurs early in the heart failure progression, allowing intervention before severe disease states develop.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/ejection fraction-based detection system with an electrical/impedance-based detection system. By measuring impedance changes during the cardiac cycle, particularly the onset of ventricular filling, the system can detect heart failure earlier than traditional mechanical ejection fraction measurements.
2Reliability
If traditional ejection fraction monitoring is used, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but early detection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of heart failure by monitoring ventricular filling onset timing. This early detection enables diagnostic accuracy to be maintained while catching the disease at an earlier stage, before compensatory mechanisms mask the ejection fraction decline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces impedance measurement as an intermediary parameter that bridges the gap between early heart failure physiology and traditional ejection fraction measurement. The impedance changes during ventricular filling provide a reliable early indicator that correlates with subsequent ejection fraction decline.
3Stability of the object's composition
If body compensatory mechanisms are allowed to operate, then ejection fraction is maintained, but disease progression is delayed detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection by monitoring ventricular filling onset before the ejection fraction decline becomes apparent. The compensatory mechanisms maintain ejection fraction for a while, but the timing of ventricular filling onset provides an early warning signal that precedes significant ejection fraction reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback by monitoring impedance changes during each cardiac cycle. This feedback mechanism allows detection of subtle changes in ventricular filling timing that occur before the ejection fraction becomes significantly reduced, enabling early intervention.
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 detection of heart failure at an earlier stage than traditional methods, allowing for timely intervention and improved treatment outcomes by identifying a shift in ventricular filling timing within the heart cycle.
Implementation Method 1
This event is preferably detected based on electric signals sensed from at least a portion of the heart
Implementation Method 2
The onset detector can be implemented for processing an impedance signal representative of the impedance measured over at least a portion of the heart
Data Source
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AI summary
An implantable medical device (100) comprises an event detector (110) for detecting a predefined cardiac event during a heart cycle of a subject (1). A reference time is assigned to this detected cardiac event. A detector (130) detects the onset of ventricular Filling of the subject's heart (10) during the heart cycle. The relative time of the detected filling onset is determined based on the assigned time reference. Increased risk of heart failure of the subject (1) is determined by the device (100) based on the determined relative time for the filling onset. Generally, a reduction in the relative time as determined at different time points indicates an increased heart failure risk or presence of a heart failure condition.