Leadless Pacemaker ATP Activation for Coordinated Shock Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable cardiac devices face challenges in providing coordinated and efficient delivery of anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) and shock therapies due to energy consumption, communication vulnerabilities, and the need for multiple devices, which can lead to patient discomfort and battery longevity issues.
Innovation Solution
An implantable leadless pacemaker with a processor and receiver that delivers ATP therapy upon receiving a confirmation signal, coordinating with a subcutaneous defibrillator to ensure synchronized therapy delivery without additional communication interfaces, using electrical signals for coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple implantable devices are used to provide coordinated ATP and shock therapies, then therapy reliability is improved, but device complexity and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ATP delivery function into a leadless pacemaker that can work with a subcutaneous defibrillator, merging pacing and defibrillation capabilities into a coordinated system. The leadless pacemaker housing includes a pacing electrode that can deliver ATP, while the defibrillator provides shock therapy, creating an integrated therapy system without requiring multiple separate implantable devices with full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The leadless pacemaker is designed with multi-functionality, capable of delivering both standard pacing therapy and anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to terminate ventricular tachycardia. This universal design allows a single device to perform multiple therapeutic functions that previously required separate dedicated devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining therapy reliability.
2Reliability
If additional communication interfaces are added for coordination between devices, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing electrical signals from the defibrillator shocks as a natural communication trigger for the leadless pacemaker. When the defibrillator delivers a shock, the electrical signal itself serves as the communication signal that triggers ATP delivery by the pacemaker, eliminating the need for separate communication interfaces and reducing energy consumption while maintaining coordination reliability.
3Reliability
If leadless pacemaker delivers ATP therapy, then pacing therapy effectiveness is improved, but battery capacity is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The leadless pacemaker is designed to deliver ATP therapy periodically and on-demand rather than continuously, using burst pacing patterns to terminate tachycardia episodes. This periodic action allows the battery to be recharged between episodes through normal pacemaker activity and body motion, extending battery longevity while maintaining ATP therapy effectiveness when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A pacing device, a system comprising the pacing device and a method for operation of the pacing device, wherein the pacing device comprises a housing, a processor and a receiver electrically connected to the processor, wherein the processor is adapted todeliver signals for electric stimulation of a patient's heart according to at least one first stimulation mode anddeliver signals for electric stimulation of the patient's heart according to an antitachycardiac pacing mode (ATP mode), wherein the ATP mode is initially deactivated and/or is to be upgraded,wherein the receiver is adapted to receive an ATP confirmation signal transmitted by an external device or produced by operation of an actuator accommodated at the housing of the pacing device,wherein the processor is adapted to upgrade the ATP mode and/or to activate the ATP mode only if the ATP confirmation signal comprises a pre-defined confirmation information.