Implantable Device Data Retention via Priority Buffer Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Implanted medical devices face limitations in memory capacity and battery life, leading to the loss of important physiologic data due to insufficient memory allocation management, particularly in FIFO buffers where older data is discarded when new data exceeds storage limits, regardless of its importance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data storage system with a first data structure, such as a circular buffer, and a second data structure, like a priority buffer, where data records are stored based on a priority index that considers the severity level of physiologic events, ensuring that critical data is retained and reported to clinicians, and allowing for selective storage and reporting of physiologic data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a FIFO buffer is used for data storage, then the device can continuously store new physiologic data, but older data is discarded when memory is full regardless of its importance
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is segmented into multiple regions with different retention policies. Critical data is stored in a protected region that prevents overwriting, while non-critical data is stored in a FIFO region that can be overwritten. This segmentation allows the system to maintain continuous storage capability while protecting important information from being lost.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the memory are assigned different qualities or priorities. Critical physiologic data is assigned high priority and stored in a protected buffer region where it cannot be overwritten, while non-critical data is assigned low priority and stored in a FIFO region. This local differentiation of quality ensures that important data is retained while allowing the system to continue operating.
2Loss of information
If memory capacity is increased to retain all physiologic data, then data completeness is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and identifies only the critical portions of physiologic data that require permanent retention, separating them from non-critical data. By taking out only the essential information and storing it in a protected buffer, the system achieves complete retention of important data without requiring excessive memory capacity for all data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data priority assignment dynamically. By evaluating physiologic events and assigning priority levels based on clinical significance, the system optimizes memory utilization. Critical events trigger high-priority storage that prevents overwriting, while normal conditions allow standard FIFO operation, thereby reducing the total memory capacity needed.
3Loss of information
If a priority-based storage system is implemented, then critical data is retained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of physiologic data into critical and non-critical categories before storage. By pre-assigning priority levels based on event characteristics, the system simplifies subsequent memory management operations. The preliminary action of categorization enables straightforward buffer selection without requiring complex real-time decisions during data storage.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for storing data records associated with a medical monitoring event in a data structure. An implanted device obtains data and stores the data in the data record in a first data structure that is age-based. Before an oldest data record is lost, the oldest data record may be stored in a second data structure that is priority index-based. The priority index may be determined by a severity level and may be further determined by associated factors. The implanted device may organize, off-load, report, and/or display a plurality of data records based on an associated priority index. Additionally, the implanted device may select a subset or composite of physiologic channels from the available physiologic channels based on a selection criterion.