Intravascular Sensor Interface Digital Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular diagnostic systems rely on analog circuitry for signal processing, which limits flexibility, adaptability, and performance compared to digital signal processing systems.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic system that utilizes an intravascular device with sensing devices for flow, pressure, and temperature measurements, and includes a patient interface module with an analog-to-digital converter for quadrature sampling and digital baseband conversion of sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If analog circuitry is used for signal processing, then the system structure is simpler to implement, but flexibility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog circuitry with a digital signal processing system. The analog-to-digital converter converts sensor signals to digital form, enabling software-based signal processing that provides superior flexibility and adaptability compared to fixed analog circuitry, while the programmable nature of digital systems allows easy reconfiguration for different processing needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements digital signal processing with adjustable sampling rates, filter parameters, and processing algorithms that can be dynamically changed through software. This allows the system to adapt to different sensor types, signal frequencies, and diagnostic requirements without hardware modifications, fundamentally improving flexibility over analog systems.
2Reliability
If analog circuitry is used for signal processing, then the implementation is more straightforward, but performance and stability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes analog signal processing circuitry with a digital signal processing system that includes an analog-to-digital converter and digital processing unit. This replacement provides enhanced stability through consistent digital processing, improved performance via sophisticated algorithms, and better noise immunity, while the modular digital architecture manages complexity effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an analog-to-digital converter as an intermediary component that bridges the analog sensor output and the digital processing system. This converter enables the system to leverage the simplicity of analog sensing while achieving the stability and performance benefits of digital processing, effectively resolving the trade-off between simplicity and reliability.
3Productivity
If multiple separate systems are used for different sensing modalities, then each system can be optimized independently, but the cath lab becomes cluttered and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (pressure, flow, temperature) into a single integrated intravascular device with a unified digital signal processing system. This consolidation reduces the number of separate systems needed in the cath lab, decreases clutter, and improves workflow efficiency while maintaining the ability to process each modality's data through specialized digital algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal digital signal processing platform that can handle multiple types of sensor data through software configuration. The system uses a common analog-to-digital converter and processing architecture that can be programmed to process pressure, flow, temperature, or other sensor modalities, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate dedicated systems for each sensing type.
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
The system achieves improved performance, flexibility, and adaptability in processing vascular data, enabling more accurate assessments of blockages and stenosis in blood vessels, while reducing power consumption and system complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an analog-to-digital converter operable to sample the analog flow sensor data according to a quadrature sampling rate to produce digital flow sensor data
Implementation Method 2
a signal processing resource operable to perform a baseband conversion on the digital flow sensor data to produce baseband flow sensor data
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel. In some particular embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a stenosis in the coronary arteries by monitoring fluid flow. In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure receive analog sensor data that includes fluid flow data and digitizes the analog sensor data according to a quadrature sampling rate. A weighted accumulator performs a baseband conversion on the digitized sensor data and may perform other signal processing steps. The processed data is then provided for use in any one of a number of diagnostic assessments.