Leadless Pacemaker Adaptive Sampling for Posture-Driven Pacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cardiac pacemakers lack the ability to adapt their therapy delivery based on real-time positional and behavioral states of patients, such as posture and activity levels, which can affect heart function and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A leadless cardiac pacemaker equipped with multiple electrodes, sensors (like accelerometers), and a controller that adjusts sampling rates and pacing rates based on detected changes in behavioral states, switching between low and high power modes to optimize therapy delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the pacemaker continuously monitors patient behavioral states with high sampling rates, then therapy delivery accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebehavioral state detection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pacemaker dynamically adjusts the sampling rate of the accelerometer sensor based on detected behavioral state changes. During periods of stability, sampling occurs at lower rates to conserve power. When behavioral state changes are detected (such as posture transitions), the sampling rate automatically increases to capture the transition details, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring accuracy and power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (sampling rate) based on detected conditions. The controller monitors accelerometer data and adjusts the sampling frequency parameter in response to behavioral state changes, enabling high-precision monitoring only when necessary and reducing power consumption during stable periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the pacemaker adjusts pacing rate in response to behavioral state changes, then heart function efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheart function efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pacemaker implements a feedback loop where the controller continuously monitors accelerometer sensor data for behavioral state changes, processes this information, and adjusts the pacing rate accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables automatic adaptation to patient needs based on real-time behavioral state detection, improving heart function efficiency while managing device complexity through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The pacemaker system performs self-adjustment of pacing rates based on its own sensor measurements of patient behavioral states. The device autonomously detects posture changes and activity levels through the accelerometer and automatically modifies therapy delivery without external intervention, enabling the system to serve itself in optimizing heart function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 effectively adjusts pacing rates and sampling frequencies in response to changes in patient posture and activity, improving heart function by reducing orthostatic tension and enhancing therapy delivery efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor may be an accelerometer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP3341076B1Systems and methods for behaviorally responsive signal detection and therapy delivery
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC
  • EP3341076B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3341076B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3341076B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting functionality of an implantable medical device based on posture are disclosed. In some instances, a method for operating a leadless cardiac pacemaker implanted into a patient, where the patient has two or more predefined behavioral states, may include detecting a change in the behavioral state of the patient, and in response, changing a sampling rate of a sensor signal generated by a sensor of the leadless cardiac pacemaker. In some embodiments, the method may further include using the sampled sensor signal to determine an updated pacing rate of the leadless cardiac pacemaker and providing pacing to the patient at the updated pacing rate.