ICD Capacitor Switching After Electrode Short Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) face challenges in delivering effective high-voltage therapy due to insulation defects in electrodes, which trigger short-circuit protection, rendering high-voltage therapy ineffective and potentially preventing necessary treatment for life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an implantable medical device with an energy storage system using at least two capacitors and a short-circuit protection mechanism that switches from a series to a parallel connection in the event of a detected short circuit, allowing for the delivery of a reduced voltage current pulse to maintain therapeutic efficacy while minimizing the risk of high-voltage flashovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-voltage therapy is delivered through an electrode with insulation defect, then the probability of high-voltage flashover increases, but the therapeutic effect is lost due to short-circuit protection triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter by delivering a reduced-voltage current pulse (e.g., 500V instead of 1000V) after short-circuit protection triggers. This parameter modification allows therapy to continue at lower voltage that is less likely to cause flashover through the insulation defect while still providing therapeutic benefit for terminating ventricular tachyarrhythmia
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares a reduced-voltage therapy option in advance as a backup plan. When the insulation defect is detected and short-circuit protection triggers, the system immediately switches to the pre-prepared reduced-voltage current pulse delivery mode, cushioning against the complete loss of therapeutic effectiveness
2Strength
If short-circuit protection is triggered to prevent device damage, then component damage is prevented, but high-voltage therapy becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the therapy voltage dynamic rather than fixed. The system initially delivers high-voltage therapy, and when short-circuit protection triggers, it dynamically transitions to delivering reduced-voltage therapy. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain both component protection and continued therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of short-circuit protection triggering (which normally terminates therapy) into a beneficial signal to switch to reduced-voltage therapy mode. The short-circuit protection event, which would normally be purely harmful by stopping therapy, becomes an opportunity to adapt the therapy parameters and continue treatment with modified voltage
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
This approach enables continued delivery of high-voltage therapy with a reduced voltage, increasing the probability of successful defibrillation even with electrode defects, ensuring effective treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias while minimizing device component damage.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage device comprising at least two capacitors for providing a voltage
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrode for delivering an electric current pulse by means of the voltage
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an implantable medical device (1) for defibrillating a patient's heart, comprising: an energy storage device (Cl, C2) for providing a voltage, and at least one electrode (100) for generating an electric current pulse using the voltage. According to the invention, the energy storage device for providing the voltage comprises at least two capacitors (Cl, C2), and the medical device (1) is configured to deliver a further electric current pulse in the event of a short circuit by means of a reduced voltage from a parallel connection (420) of the at least two capacitors (Cl, C2). The invention further relates to a method for controlling an implantable medical device (1).