IMD Housing Acoustic Wave Bladder Fullness Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices fail to accurately determine physiological conditions such as bladder fullness in patients with urinary disorders, leading to ineffective therapy delivery and potential complications like kidney damage.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device (IMD) generates and detects pressure waves using a free wall of its housing to transmit and reflect energy through the body, allowing for the determination of anatomical structures and fluid states, enabling real-time adjustment of therapy parameters based on the patient's condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current medical devices are used to determine physiological conditions, then therapy delivery can be provided, but measurement precision of physiological conditions (such as bladder fullness) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electrical sensing mechanisms with acoustic wave-based detection. The IMD generates and detects acoustic waves that propagate through tissue and fluid, using the acoustic properties of the medium to determine physiological conditions such as bladder fullness, thereby achieving more precise measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium to transfer information about physiological conditions. The acoustic waves interact with tissue and fluid interfaces, and the reflected or transmitted wave patterns provide indirect but accurate information about the physiological state, enabling precise determination without direct contact.
2Adaptability or versatility
If therapy parameters are not adjusted based on physiological conditions, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to patient needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the IMD continuously monitors physiological conditions using acoustic wave detection and automatically adjusts therapy parameters accordingly. The system uses the detected acoustic signal characteristics to modulate stimulation intensity, frequency, or duration, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts therapy to real-time patient needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the therapy delivery system dynamic by allowing real-time adjustment of parameters based on detected physiological changes. The system transitions from static, fixed-parameter therapy to dynamic, adaptive therapy that responds to changing bladder fullness or other physiological states, improving versatility without requiring overly complex architecture.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring and adjustment of therapy is implemented, then treatment efficacy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic acoustic wave generation and detection cycles rather than continuous operation. The IMD alternates between monitoring phases (where acoustic waves are generated and detected) and therapy delivery phases, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective continuous monitoring through strategically timed periodic measurements that capture physiological state changes.
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 provides a closed-loop feedback system for delivering responsive therapy, improving treatment efficacy for urinary incontinence and retention disorders by accurately monitoring bladder fullness and adjusting stimulation parameters, thus reducing energy consumption and minimizing complications.
Implementation Method 1
an implantable medical device (IMD) produces and detects pressure waves with a portion of the IMD housing
Implementation Method 2
detect the pressure waves that were transmitted through tissue or fluid within the body
Implementation Method 3
detecting at least one reflected pressure wave with the housing portion
Data Source
AI summary
A physiological state of a patient is detected by at least producing and detecting pressure waves with a free wall of an implantable medical device (IMD) housing. An actuator element may contact the free wall, e.g., a portion of the IMD housing, and cause movement of the free wall that produces a pressure wave within the fluid and tissue of the patient. A detector element contacting the free wall may in turn detect reflected pressure waves received by the free wall. An acoustic module within the IMD may then determine a physiological condition of the patient, e.g., a bladder fullness state, based on the time delay between the transmitted and reflected pressure waves. In some examples in which the IMD also delivers stimulation therapy to the patient, e.g., incontinence therapy, the IMD may also automatically adjust stimulation therapy based on the determined physiological condition.