Heart Failure Indicator Through Segmental Impedance Fluid Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring pulmonary congestion in heart failure are invasive, unreliable, and fail to detect extravascular interstitial fluid accurately, leading to inadequate treatment and high readmission rates due to re-accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive system using electrodes to measure impedance across body segments, determining fluid level indicators and changes, and calculating a heart failure indicator based on ratios of extracellular fluid levels to total body water, allowing for early detection of heart failure through impedance spectroscopy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive methods are used to monitor pulmonary congestion, then measurement precision may be improved, but ease of operation and reliability deteriorate due to patient discomfort and procedural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical monitoring procedures with non-invasive electrical impedance measurements. By using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to detect fluid levels in the lungs, the system eliminates the need for invasive catheters or procedures while maintaining measurement capability through electrical properties of tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electrical impedance as an intermediary parameter to indirectly measure pulmonary congestion. Instead of directly measuring fluid volume or pressure in the lungs, the system measures electrical impedance changes in the thoracic region, which correlate with fluid accumulation, providing an indirect but reliable monitoring method.
2Device complexity
If current monitoring methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to detect extravascular interstitial fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from simple weight or basic fluid markers to electrical impedance, which is sensitive to changes in extracellular fluid volume. By measuring impedance at different frequencies and analyzing the ratio of extracellular to total body water, the system can specifically detect pulmonary congestion even with relatively simple equipment.
3Productivity
If diuretic therapy is increased to remove fluid, then fluid removal effectiveness is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to re-accumulation and inadequate detection of extravascular fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of fluid levels through impedance measurements, providing real-time feedback on the effectiveness of diuretic therapy. This allows clinicians to adjust treatment based on actual fluid status rather than relying on weight alone, preventing both under-treatment and over-treatment, and reducing re-accumulation of fluid.
4Ease of operation
If weight monitoring is used to assess fluid status, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of specificity for pulmonary congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the body into different compartments (thoracic, abdominal, total body) and measures impedance in each region separately. By comparing thoracic impedance changes to total body water changes, the system can specifically identify pulmonary congestion rather than just general fluid retention, maintaining simplicity while improving precision.
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 accurate, non-invasive monitoring of extravascular fluid levels, detecting the onset or worsening of heart failure before clinical symptoms appear, facilitating timely intervention and reducing hospital readmissions.
Implementation Method 1
A non-invasive system using electrodes to measure impedance across body segments
Implementation Method 2
determining fluid level indicators and changes, and calculating a heart failure indicator based on ratios of extracellular fluid levels to total body water, allowing for early detection of heart failure through impedance spectroscopy
Data Source
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AI summary
System for determining heart failure indicator indicative of a heart failure disease state in a subject, including processing device(s) that at least in part control signal generator(s) and receives an indication of a measured response signal from sensor(s) allowing first and second impedance measurement(s) to be performed across at least one body segment, determines a first fluid level indicator using first impedance value(s) obtained by performing the first impedance measurement(s), the first fluid indicator being indicative of a first ratio of ECF to TBW at a first time, determines a second fluid level indicator using second impedance value(s) obtained by performing the second impedance measurement(s), the second fluid indicator being indicative of a second ratio of ECF to TBW at a second time, determines a fluid level change using a difference in the first and second fluid level indicators, and, determines the heart failure indicator using the fluid level change.