Intravascular Doppler Sensor for Hemodynamic Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hemodynamic monitoring methods are invasive, unreliable, and often fail to accurately predict fluid responsiveness and right ventricle dysfunction in critically ill patients, leading to potential harm from fluid overload or underload.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring device that combines measurements of intravascular blood flow velocities with respiratory cycle data to continuously and real-time monitor fluid responsiveness and right ventricle dysfunction, using sensors to measure superior vena cava blood flow velocity and central venous pressure, and processing this data to provide dynamic indicators of the patient's fluid-responsive state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional invasive hemodynamic monitoring methods are used, then measurement capability is achieved, but patient injury and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehemodynamic measurement capabilityVSAvoidpatient injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/invasive monitoring systems with optical Doppler ultrasound technology. The Doppler sensor uses acoustic waves to measure blood flow velocity non-invasively, eliminating the need for invasive catheters while maintaining measurement capability. This substitution of mechanical intrusion with acoustic field-based measurement directly resolves the contradiction between measurement precision and patient injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If static hemodynamic measurements are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but reliability of fluid responsiveness prediction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement simplicityVSAvoidfluid responsiveness prediction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static hemodynamic measurements to dynamic, time-varying measurements by continuously monitoring blood flow velocity throughout the respiratory cycle. The system captures dynamic changes in venous blood flow velocity during inspiration and expiration, providing reliable fluid responsiveness prediction while maintaining relative device simplicity through automated processing of the dynamic data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous real-time monitoring of blood flow velocity rather than intermittent static measurements. The Doppler sensor continuously tracks velocity changes throughout the respiratory cycle and cardiac cycles, providing ongoing assessment of fluid responsiveness. This continuous measurement approach significantly improves reliability compared to static measurements while the automated analysis maintains device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If continuous real-time monitoring is implemented, then reliability of fluid responsiveness assessment is improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid responsiveness assessment accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback-based automated analysis system that continuously processes Doppler velocity data and provides real-time assessment of fluid responsiveness. The system compares velocity measurements during inspiration and expiration, automatically determines fluid responsive state, and provides feedback to guide clinical decisions. This feedback mechanism improves reliability while managing data processing complexity through algorithmic automation rather than manual analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 accurate, continuous monitoring of fluid responsiveness and right ventricle dysfunction, reducing the risk of fluid overload and underload by offering real-time data that can guide therapeutic interventions more effectively than traditional static measurements.

Implementation Method 1

a Doppler sensor, such as an intravascular Doppler probe... The Doppler sensor provides a Doppler envelope waveform representative of velocity over time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10687781B2Hemodynamic monitoring device and methods of using same

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 NILUS MEDICAL

AI summary

Hemodynamic monitoring systems and methods are disclosed including a device comprising a first sensor configured to measure a velocity of blood flow in an adjacently-located portion of a superior vena cava of a mammalian patient using ultrasound waves; a second sensor configured to measure respiratory cycle data of the mammalian patient; and a computer configured to process the measured velocity of blood flow and the measured respiratory cycle data to provide hemodynamic parameters corresponding to the mammalian patient.