Intracoronary Electrode High Frequency Signal Sampling for Ischemia Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrocardiogram (ECG) devices struggle to reliably measure and analyze high-frequency components, which are crucial for detecting myocardial ischemia, due to noise interference and limited signal strength from surface electrodes, and they often require continuous monitoring that drains battery power in implantable devices.
Innovation Solution
An implantable device with electrodes placed inside the body to gather and analyze high-frequency electrogram signals during specific segments of the cardiac cycle, using signal processing to detect changes in time-varying parameters and generate alerts for conditions like ischemia, while optimizing power usage by sampling during limited cardiac or breathing cycle segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high frequency components are measured using surface electrodes, then detection capability for myocardial ischemia is improved, but signal strength is insufficient and noise interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intracoronary electrodes as an intermediary between the heart muscle and the measurement device. These electrodes are positioned directly within the coronary artery, providing a closer and more reliable measurement interface to detect high frequency components of myocardial ischemia, thereby resolving the signal strength and noise issues associated with surface electrodes
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring is performed to detect ischemia, then detection reliability is improved, but battery power is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of electrogram signals at specific intervals during the cardiac cycle rather than continuous monitoring. The system samples high frequency components at predetermined time points (such as during the QRS complex) and compares them against baseline values, maintaining detection reliability while significantly reducing battery power consumption by keeping the sampling mechanism inactive between these discrete measurement points
3Measurement precision
If high frequency signals are sampled continuously, then detection accuracy is improved, but device operational duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cardiac cycle into different phases and selects specific segments (such as the QRS complex or T wave portions) for high frequency sampling. By dividing the continuous cardiac cycle into discrete measurable segments and only sampling during these critical phases, the system maintains detection accuracy for ischemia while extending device operational duration through reduced sampling frequency
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 enhances the detection of myocardial ischemia by improving signal quality and reducing noise, while extending the operational duration of implantable devices by selectively sampling high-frequency signals during specific cardiac or breathing cycle segments.
Implementation Method 1
A typical ECG device detects and amplifies tiny electrical changes on a subject's skin which are caused when a heart muscle depolarizes and subsequently repolarizes during each heartbeat
Data Source
AI summary
A method for analyzing a high frequency (HF) electrogram signal including (a) providing at least one electrogram signal from an electrode located within a subject's body, (b) measuring the electrogram signal at a high frequency during a specific segment of a cardiac cycle, generating a HF electrogram signal, and (c) having a computer measure at least one time-varying parameter of the HF electrogram signal. Related apparatus and methods are also described.