Integrated Electrode Catheter Blood Pump for Rapid Cardiac Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for addressing cardiac arrhythmia in critical care settings, such as defibrillation and pacing, are often delayed and can cause patient discomfort or injury due to the need for external application of high electrical charges.
Innovation Solution
Integrating an electrode with sensing and electrical charge delivery capabilities into a circulatory assist device, such as a blood pump, to provide real-time detection and response to heart function changes, enabling direct pacing and defibrillation within the heart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external defibrillation and pacing methods are used, then cardiac arrhythmia can be treated, but treatment delay occurs and patient injury risk increases due to high electrical charge requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the circulatory assist device with integrated electrodes that can detect EKG signals and deliver defibrillation/pacing shocks. This merging of diagnostic and therapeutic functions into a single device eliminates treatment delay by enabling immediate response to detected arrhythmias without requiring separate external equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrodes are pre-positioned within the heart during device implantation, and the system continuously monitors EKG signals in advance. When arrhythmia is detected, the device can immediately deliver therapeutic shocks without waiting for external equipment setup, achieving preliminary preparation for rapid treatment.
2Reliability
If external defibrillation and pacing methods are used, then cardiac arrhythmia can be treated, but patient discomfort and injury occur due to high electrical charge requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical charges locally at the site of arrhythmia within the heart chambers through integrated electrodes. This localized approach delivers therapeutic effect precisely where needed while minimizing the spread of high electrical charges through the body, thereby reducing patient discomfort and potential injury from external defibrillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blood pump device and its integrated electrodes serve as an intermediary between the external power source and the heart tissue. This intermediary delivers controlled electrical charges directly to the cardiac muscle, enabling effective defibrillation and pacing while reducing the need for high-voltage external shocks that cause patient injury.
3Reliability
If multiple separate devices are used for circulatory support, EKG monitoring, and defibrillation, then each function can be optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal device that performs multiple functions: circulatory support through blood pumping, EKG monitoring through integrated electrodes, and defibrillation/pacing through the same electrode system. This multi-functional design consolidates what would traditionally require separate devices, maintaining functional performance while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges the circulatory assist pump with EKG sensing and defibrillation capabilities into a single integrated system. The electrodes serve dual purposes for both monitoring and therapy delivery, eliminating the need for separate monitoring leads and defibrillation pads, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture.
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
Reduces treatment delay and minimizes patient injury by allowing immediate and efficient pacing or defibrillation through an internal electrode, reducing the need for external methods and minimizing electrical charge requirements.
Implementation Method 1
an electrode with sensing and electrical charge delivery capabilities
Implementation Method 2
enabling direct pacing and defibrillation within the heart
Data Source
AI summary
A blood pump system includes a catheter, a pump housing disposed distal of a distal end of the catheter, a rotor positioned at least partially in the pump housing, a controller, and an electrode coupled a distal region of the blood pump. The electrode can be used to sense electrocardiogram (EKG) signals and transmit the signals to a controller of the blood pump. The operation of the blood pump can be adjusted based on the EKG signal and on cardiac parameters derived from the EKG signal. Further, the controller can determine a need for defibrillation or pacing of the patient's heart based on the signal and can administer treatment with electrical shocks to the heart via the electrode coupled to the blood pump. The use of an electrode with a blood pump already in place in the heart allows for more efficient and safer treatment of serious cardiac conditions.