Heart Failure Monitoring via Heartbeat Variability State Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices lack the capability to accurately and continuously monitor changes in heart failure status between clinician visits, leading to delayed detection of adverse medical events such as acute decompensation and hospitalization.
Innovation Solution
A medical device system that uses heart beat variability (HBV) metrics to determine a patient's heart failure status by comparing values obtained during inactive and active states, allowing for early detection of changes in cardiac function and enabling timely medical interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical devices monitor physiological parameters continuously, then detection of adverse medical events is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function by dividing it into discrete physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure) that can be measured and evaluated independently. This allows the system to monitor multiple aspects of patient health without requiring a single overly complex device, as each parameter can be assessed separately against its own threshold criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system that can evaluate multiple different physiological parameters using a single integrated device. The system is designed to monitor various signs of heart failure (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure) and other medical conditions through one multi-functional platform, reducing the need for multiple separate monitoring devices.
2Loss of time
If medical devices evaluate physiological parameter values frequently, then changes in medical conditions are detected earlier, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic evaluation of physiological parameters at scheduled intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The system evaluates parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure at defined time points, allowing sufficient time for meaningful changes to occur between measurements while avoiding the excessive energy consumption of continuous real-time monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically evaluates physiological parameters and compares them against predetermined thresholds without requiring constant manual intervention or complex real-time processing. The device performs self-assessment by collecting data, comparing it to established criteria, and determining whether intervention is needed, reducing the energy burden of continuous active monitoring and analysis.
3Measurement precision
If medical devices use multiple sensors to monitor patient parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor functions into a single integrated medical device that can measure heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure simultaneously. By merging these sensing capabilities into one device rather than using separate devices for each parameter, the system achieves comprehensive multi-parameter monitoring while reducing overall system complexity and improving coordination between measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, determining a heart failure status using a medical device comprising one or more sensors includes determining a first value of a heart beat variability metric of a patient while an activity state of a patient satisfies an inactivity criterion based on a signal received from the one or more sensors, and determining, within a predetermined period of time after further determining that the activity state of the patient no longer satisfies the inactivity criterion, a second value of the heart beat variability metric while the activity state of the patient no longer satisfies the inactivity criterion based on the signal. A difference between the first value of the heart beat variability metric and the second value of the heart beat variability metric may be determined and the heart failure status of the patient may be determined based on the difference.