Leadless Dual-Chamber Pacing System Communication Architecture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cardiac pacing devices, particularly dual-chamber leadless pacing systems, face challenges with energy consumption, device size constraints, and compatibility issues due to the need for separate communication units and complex design considerations for atrial and ventricular implants.

Innovation Solution

A cardiac pacing device that includes a processing unit to detect intrinsic atrial events and control a pacing signal generator to produce different electrical signals based on the presence or absence of these events, reducing the need for separate communication units and optimizing energy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate communication units are provided in each pacing device for signal transmission, then the pacing rate can be adjusted between devices, but energy consumption increases and device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacing rate adjustment capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the communication function into a shared resource. The atrial pacing device includes a communication unit that can transmit signals to the ventricular pacing device, eliminating the need for a separate communication unit in the ventricular device. This merging of communication functions reduces overall energy consumption and device size while maintaining the capability to adjust pacing rates between chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate communication units are provided in each pacing device for signal transmission, then the pacing rate can be adjusted between devices, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacing rate adjustment capabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If VDD pacing mode is used with atrial contraction detection from ventricular implant, then ventricular pacing can be synchronized with intrinsic atrial timing, but detection reliability and accuracy decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventricular pacing synchronizationVSAvoidatrial contraction detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the atrial pacing device to detect intrinsic atrial contractions and then transmit this information to the ventricular pacing device. This intermediary (atrial device with detection capability) provides accurate atrial timing information to the ventricular device, enabling reliable VDD pacing mode operation with high detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If dual-chamber leadless pacing system is implemented, then comprehensive cardiac pacing is achieved, but device complexity and design challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual-chamber pacing capabilityVSAvoidsystem design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the dual-chamber pacing system into two independent but coordinated devices: an atrial pacing device and a ventricular pacing device. Each device is optimized for its specific chamber while maintaining compatibility through the shared communication protocol. This segmentation reduces individual device complexity compared to a single integrated dual-chamber device, while achieving comprehensive cardiac pacing coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250144430A1Cardiac pacing device and dual-chamber pacing system

Publication Date: 2025.05.08 BIOTRONIK SE & CO KG

AI summary

A cardiac pacing device for implantation in a patient's heart, wherein the cardiac pacing device comprises a processing unit for controlling a pacing signal generator and further comprises a detector configured to measure a time-dependent signal of an intrinsic atrial activity, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect a presence and absence of an intrinsic atrial event within a cardiac cycle based on the measured signal of the atrial activity within the respective cardiac cycle received from the detector, wherein the processing unit is configured to control the pacing signal generator to provide an electrical signal based on the presence and absence of an intrinsic atrial event. Further, a system comprising such first cardiac pacing device and a second cardiac pacing device is explained as well as respective operation methods.