Implantable High Frequency Electrogram Analysis for Ischemia Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electrocardiogram (ECG) devices struggle to reliably measure and analyze high-frequency components, as they are often masked by noise and require extensive signal processing, which is challenging for detecting myocardial ischemia, especially in implantable devices where power conservation is crucial.

Innovation Solution

An implantable device that selectively measures and analyzes high-frequency electrogram signals during specific segments of the cardiac cycle or breathing cycle, using electrodes placed strategically within the body to enhance signal quality and reduce noise, allowing for more efficient detection of myocardial ischemia and other cardiac events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high frequency components are measured in ECG signals, then detection precision of myocardial ischemia is improved, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates and measurement reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection precision of myocardial ischemiaVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cardiac cycle into specific phases (such as QRS complex, P wave, T wave) and selectively measures high frequency components only during these segments. This temporal segmentation allows the system to focus measurement efforts when the signal is most prominent, thereby improving detection precision while maintaining acceptable signal-to-noise ratio by avoiding measurement during low-signal periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary filtering and signal processing actions before high frequency measurement. By pre-processing the ECG signal to identify cardiac cycle segments and prepare the signal in advance, the system can more effectively isolate high frequency components during critical phases, improving measurement reliability and precision simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If continuous high frequency measurement is performed, then detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracy of cardiac conditionsVSAvoidpower consumption of implantable device

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic measurement by conducting high frequency analysis only during specific segments of the cardiac cycle rather than continuously. The system alternates between high frequency measurement during critical phases and low or no measurement during other phases, achieving detection accuracy through strategic sampling while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by measuring high frequency components only when necessary (during specific cardiac segments) rather than continuously. This selective measurement approach provides sufficient detection accuracy for identifying myocardial ischemia while consuming far less power than would be required for continuous high frequency monitoring throughout the entire cardiac cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If high frequency components are filtered out, then signal processing complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of cardiac abnormalities is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing complexityVSAvoidmeasurement precision of cardiac abnormalities

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic filtering strategies where the filtering characteristics are adjusted based on the current cardiac cycle phase and signal conditions. Rather than applying a fixed filter, the system dynamically modifies filtering parameters to optimize the balance between processing complexity and measurement precision, allowing high frequency components to be preserved when needed while simplifying processing when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different signal processing qualities to different segments of the ECG waveform. High frequency components are preserved and analyzed in specific local regions (such as QRS complex, P wave, T wave) where they are most diagnostically valuable, while other regions may undergo different processing. This localized approach maintains measurement precision for cardiac abnormalities without unnecessarily increasing overall processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9254094B2Detection and monitoring using high frequency electrogram analysis

Publication Date: 2016.02.09 BSP MEDICAL LTD

AI summary

An implantable device for analyzing a high frequency (HF) electrogram signal including an implantable electrode, a signal pickup configured to pick up an electrogram signal including a HF component, a signal filter connected to the signal pickup and configured to measure a HF component from the signal only during a specific portion of a cardiac cycle, and an analyzer for analyzing the HF component, wherein the signal pickup, the signal filter and the analyzer are included within an implantable container, and the analyzer is configured to analyze at least one time-varying parameter of the HF component, and the signal filter is configured to measure the signal by using a signal picked up from at least one electrode selected from a group consisting of (a) intracardiac, (b) subcutaneous, (c) a can of the implanted device, (d) a combination of two of the above. Related apparatus and methods are also described.