Hemodynamic Status Analyzer Circuit for Atrial Fibrillation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems fail to provide timely and individualized evaluation of hemodynamic deterioration in patients experiencing atrial fibrillation (AF), which is crucial for effective treatment and prevention of its exacerbating effects on heart failure.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising an atrial tachyarrhythmia detection circuit, a hemodynamic sensor circuit, and a hemodynamic status analyzer circuit that categorizes patient hemodynamic status into stable or unstable levels using metrics such as heart sound signals, impedance, and respiration, enabling personalized assessment and therapy adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hemodynamic monitoring during AF episodes is implemented, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the monitoring function into distinct modules: an atrial tachyarrhythmia detection circuit that identifies AF episodes, a hemodynamic sensor circuit that measures physiological parameters, and a hemodynamic status analyzer circuit that processes the data. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one aspect of monitoring, improving overall detection reliability while managing complexity through functional decomposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hemodynamic status analyzer circuit acts as an intermediary that processes raw hemodynamic signals and correlates them with AF episode detection. It calculates signal metrics during AF episodes and compares them to reference values, serving as a mediator between the raw sensor data and the final hemodynamic status determination, thereby improving detection reliability without requiring direct complex integration of all sensor components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If individualized hemodynamic assessment is provided, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing reference hemodynamic values before AF episodes occur and during baseline conditions. These reference values are stored and used for comparison during subsequent AF episodes, enabling individualized assessment without requiring high-precision measurements during the actual AF event. The preliminary characterization of hemodynamic status provides a baseline for detecting deviations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors changes in hemodynamic parameters (such as heart rate, blood pressure, or other physiological signals) during AF episodes compared to baseline conditions. By focusing on parameter changes rather than absolute values, the system achieves effective individualized assessment while reducing the stringent precision requirements, as it detects relative deviations from the patient's own baseline rather than requiring absolute precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If real-time hemodynamic monitoring is implemented, then response time is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring by calculating hemodynamic signal metrics at specific intervals during AF episodes rather than continuously. The hemodynamic status analyzer circuit periodically compares current metrics to reference values and determines hemodynamic status at discrete time points. This periodic approach provides timely detection of hemodynamic deterioration while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous real-time monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3148422B1Evaluation of hemodynamic response to atrial fibrillation
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC
  • EP3148422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3148422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3148422B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for assessing hemodynamic status of a patient experiencing atrial tachyarrhythmia such as an atrial fibrillation (AF) episode are disclosed. A system can comprise an atrial tachyarrhythmia detection circuit configured to detect an AF episode, a hemodynamic sensor circuit configured to sense at least one hemodynamic signal, and a hemodynamic status analyzer circuit that can calculate one or more signal metrics using the sensed hemodynamic signal during the AF episode. The hemodynamic status analyzer circuit can categorize the hemodynamic status of the patient into one of two or more categorical hemodynamic status levels which indicate elevated hemodynamic impact of the detected AF episode. A user interface can provide to an end-user a presentation of the categorized hemodynamic status level during AF.