Implantable Lead Motion Detection for Cardiac Contraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ambulatory medical devices face challenges in accurately detecting cardiac mechanical contractions due to noise, myopotentials, and abnormal electrical activity, which can lead to false negatives in therapy effectiveness and cardiovascular health monitoring, particularly in conditions like myocardial ischemia and congestive heart failure.
Innovation Solution
An implantable medical device (IMD) with a receiver circuit and processor circuit that uses mechanical information from an implantable lead's movement to determine cardiac mechanical contractions, without the need for dedicated mechanical sensors, by analyzing electrical parameters and adjusting therapy parameters based on this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cardiac electrical activity is monitored to detect cardiac contractions, then therapy effectiveness can be assessed, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to noise, myopotentials, and abnormal electrical activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces lead motion as an intermediary indicator to indirectly detect cardiac contractions. Instead of directly measuring electrical activity which is contaminated by noise and myopotentials, the system uses the mechanical movement of the lead through cable microphonics as a mediator that reflects cardiac motion without being affected by electrical interference, thereby resolving the contradiction between monitoring capability and detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the electrical sensing system with a mechanical sensing approach. By using cable microphonics to detect lead motion, the system replaces the vulnerable electrical measurement with a mechanical one that is immune to electrical noise and myopotentials, directly addressing the detection accuracy problem while maintaining the ability to assess therapy effectiveness
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrical signals are used to detect cardiac contractions, then monitoring is possible, but false negatives increase in conditions like myocardial ischemia and congestive heart failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lead motion as an intermediary that provides a more reliable indicator of cardiac contractions in pathological conditions. The mechanical motion detection through cable microphonics serves as a mediator that bypasses the electrical signal limitations in conditions like myocardial ischemia and congestive heart failure, reducing false negatives while maintaining broad monitoring capability across different cardiac states
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from electrical activity to mechanical motion. By transitioning from measuring electrical signals to measuring lead position changes via cable microphonics, the system adapts to different cardiac conditions including ischemia and heart failure, where electrical signals may be abnormal or unrepresentative, thereby reducing false negatives while preserving monitoring versatility
3Measurement precision
If dedicated mechanical sensors are added to detect cardiac contractions, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing lead serve multiple functions: it continues to deliver therapy and sense electrical activity while simultaneously acting as a mechanical sensor through cable microphonics. This multi-functionality allows the lead to detect cardiac contractions without adding dedicated sensors, thereby improving measurement precision while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from integrating separate mechanical sensing components
4Reliability
If lead motion is used to detect cardiac contractions, then detection accuracy improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lead assembly with cable microphonics, combining the existing lead structure with the sensing capability. This integration allows the lead to function as both a therapy delivery conduit and a mechanical sensor, improving detection accuracy while avoiding the manufacturing complexity that would arise from assembling separate dedicated sensors with the lead
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
Enhances the accuracy of detecting cardiac mechanical contractions and monitoring cardiovascular health, improving the effectiveness of therapies and reducing false negatives, especially in conditions like myocardial ischemia and congestive heart failure.
Implementation Method 1
obtain information indicative of a movement of the implantable lead due at least in part to a motion of a heart
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for cardiac contraction detection using information indicative of lead motion are described. In an example, an implantable medical device can include a receiver circuit configured to be electrically coupled to conductor comprising a portion of an implantable lead and be configured to obtain information indicative of a movement of the implantable lead due at least in part to a motion of a heart. The device can include a processor circuit configured to determine whether a cardiac mechanical contraction occurred during a specified interval included in the obtained information indicative of the movement of the implantable lead. The processor circuit can be configured to determine information about the cardiac mechanical contraction using the obtained information indicative of the movement of the implantable lead.