Lead-Borne Device Impedance Modulation for Medical Lead Conductor Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of implantable medical leads, including the number of conductors, leads to issues such as increased size, decreased flexibility, and a higher propensity for fracture, which can result in lead failure, and also enlarges the header block of implantable medical devices, making them less suitable for implantation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a lead-borne device, such as a multiplexer (MUX), which modulates impedance to communicate with the medical device, allowing for digital communication by selectively presenting different impedance values across conductors, thereby reducing the number of proximal conductors needed and enhancing the flexibility and reliability of the lead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of conductors within leads is increased to accommodate more electrodes or sensors, then the functionality and complexity of the medical lead is improved, but the lead size increases, flexibility decreases, and the propensity for fracture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple conductor functions into a single communication conductor by implementing digital communication between the medical device and lead-borne devices. This allows the lead to support multiple electrodes and sensors without requiring proportional increases in conductor数量, as digital protocols enable multiple data channels over fewer physical conductors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces lead-borne devices (such as switches, multiplexers, or analog-to-digital converters) as intermediary components that reside within the lead. These devices process and manage signals locally, enabling complex lead functionalities with fewer proximal conductors by performing signal routing, conversion, and processing at the lead level rather than requiring direct conductor connections to the medical device for each function
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of conductors within leads is increased to accommodate more electrodes or sensors, then the functionality and complexity of the medical lead is improved, but the header block size of the implantable medical device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple conductor connections into a single communication channel by implementing digital communication protocols. This consolidation allows the medical device header block to interface with lead-borne devices through fewer conductors, reducing the header block size while maintaining support for multiple electrodes and sensors through digital multiplexing and communication protocols
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of conductors within leads is increased to accommodate more electrodes or sensors, then the functionality and complexity of the medical lead is improved, but the lead size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional conductors into a single communication conductor by implementing digital communication. This allows the lead to maintain support for multiple electrodes and sensors while reducing the overall lead size, as digital protocols enable efficient data transmission over fewer physical conductors, reducing the lead's cross-sectional area and length
4Ease of operation
If a lead MUX is placed relatively distally on the lead, then the proximal portion of the lead benefits from fewer conductors and improved flexibility, but communication between the MUX and the medical device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex communication mechanisms with simplified digital communication protocols. By implementing digital communication between the distally-located lead MUX and the medical device, the system reduces communication complexity despite the MUX's remote position, as digital protocols provide structured, reliable data transmission over the communication conductor
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 solution enables efficient digital communication between the lead-borne device and the medical device, allowing for multiple-bit data transmission while maintaining a thinner and more flexible lead, reducing the risk of failure and minimizing the size of the medical device's header block.
Implementation Method 1
The lead-borne device communicates with the medical device by modulating an impedance. The lead-borne device may communicate one or more bits of data to the medical device by selectively presenting either a first impedance or a second impedance to the medical device during one or more bit windows.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, the disclosure describes techniques for communication between at least one lead-borne device of an implantable lead and a medical device to which the lead is connected. The lead-borne device communicates with the medical device by modulating an impedance. The lead-borne device may communicate one or more bits of data to the medical device by selectively presenting either a first impedance or a second impedance to the medical device during one or more bit windows. The first and second impedance values may be respectively associated with first and second binary values, e.g., a high or one and low or zero.