Implantable Device Therapy Interruption via Patient Trigger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neural stimulation therapies for conditions like cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension often have chronic side effects that are intolerable or inconvenient, leading to long-term health consequences due to lack of patient control over therapy delivery.
Innovation Solution
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) equipped with a controller that allows patients to control neural stimulation therapy through detected triggers, enabling temporary suspension, adjustment, or resumption of therapy based on patient needs, with automatic restoration after a defined period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If neural stimulation therapy is delivered continuously for chronic conditions, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but side effects and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of neural stimulation therapy by allowing the therapy to transition between active and interrupted states based on real-time patient triggers. The controller monitors patient inputs and automatically adjusts therapy delivery, enabling the system to adapt its operation from continuous to intermittent modes, thereby reducing side effects while maintaining effectiveness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables patient self-service by allowing individuals to control their own therapy delivery through patient-controlled triggers. Patients can initiate, interrupt, or resume therapy based on their personal needs and tolerability, eliminating the need for clinician intervention and empowering patients to manage their own condition and side effects.
2Ease of operation
If therapy is interrupted to reduce side effects, then patient comfort is improved, but therapy compliance and effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors patient triggers and automatically adjusts therapy delivery accordingly. When patients experience intolerable side effects, their triggers provide feedback to the controller, which then interrupts therapy to improve comfort. The system maintains compliance by automatically restoring therapy after the trigger condition resolves, ensuring consistent treatment without requiring manual clinician intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts therapy delivery based on real-time patient needs, transitioning between continuous and interrupted modes as required. This dynamic control allows the therapy to be compliant and effective during acceptable tolerance windows while providing relief when side effects become intolerable, thereby maintaining both comfort and compliance through adaptive operation.
3Ease of operation
If patient control over therapy is added, then therapy acceptance and compliance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements patient self-service through simple patient-controlled triggers that allow individuals to manage their own therapy delivery. The interface is designed to be user-friendly, requiring minimal patient input while providing meaningful control over therapy timing and duration, thereby improving acceptance and compliance without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically interpret patient triggers and adjust therapy delivery accordingly. This automated feedback loop simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for complex manual control interfaces or clinician intervention, allowing patients to control therapy through simple triggers while the system handles the complexity of therapy management automatically.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments provide a method performed by an IMD to deliver a therapy to a patient. In some embodiments of the method, the therapy is delivered to the patient, and a trigger that is controlled by the patient is detected by the IMD. The therapy is automatically interrupted in response to the detected trigger, and is automatically restored after a defined period after the detected trigger. In some embodiments of the method, a trigger that is controlled by the patient is detected. The therapy is automatically initiated in response to the detected trigger, and is automatically stopped after a defined period after the detected trigger.