Wearable Limb Compression Synchronized with Cardiac Diastole
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Solution Overview
Problem
During periods of inactivity or immobility, the body struggles to maintain continuous circulation of oxygenated blood, which is essential for homeostatic functions, muscle recovery, and preventing conditions like thrombus formation, as the skeletal muscle pump is inactive, reducing cardiovascular efficiency and increasing the risk of edema and thrombosis.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with a compression apparatus embedded in a garment that applies external compression synchronized with the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle and muscle activity, using smart materials and sensors to ensure optimal blood flow assistance when muscles are relaxed, thereby enhancing venous return and arterial flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If external compression is applied continuously to assist blood flow, then venous return is improved, but arterial blood flow may be obstructed and muscle perfusion reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compression apparatus applies external compression in periodic cycles synchronized with the cardiac cycle, specifically during diastole when arterial flow is occurring. This periodic application allows arterial blood to flow freely during systole while providing venous return assistance during diastole, thus resolving the contradiction between improving venous return and preventing arterial obstruction
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect cardiac cycle phase and muscle activity in real-time, then adjusts compression timing and intensity accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures compression is applied only when physiologically appropriate (during diastole and muscle relaxation), preventing harmful arterial obstruction while maintaining effective venous return assistance
2Productivity
If compression is applied during muscle contraction, then venous return is enhanced, but muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies compression periodically during muscle relaxation phases rather than during contraction, synchronized with both the cardiac cycle and muscle activity cycles. This timing ensures that compression enhances venous return during low-demand periods while preserving muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery during contraction phases when muscles require maximum perfusion
Solution Approach 2:
Electromyography (EMG) sensors detect muscle contraction states in real-time, and the control system uses this feedback to inhibit compression during detected muscle contractions. This ensures compression is applied only during muscle relaxation when venous return assistance is needed without compromising muscle oxygen supply
3Productivity
If compression timing is not synchronized with cardiac cycle, then device complexity is reduced, but blood flow assistance efficiency is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect cardiac cycle phase (via ECG or pulse detection) and uses this feedback to trigger compression at the optimal moment during diastole. This feedback-based synchronization maximizes blood flow assistance efficiency by ensuring compression occurs when venous pressure is lowest and arterial flow is active, while the synchronization logic remains relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects cardiac cycle timing and muscle activity states without requiring external control or complex programming. The compression apparatus self-regulates its operation based on real-time physiological signals, simplifying the control architecture while maintaining high synchronization accuracy
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 device effectively increases blood flow and reduces the effort on the heart, aiding in muscle recovery, preventing thrombosis, and maintaining cardiovascular performance by synchronizing compression with the diastolic phase and muscle relaxation, thus enhancing circulation and reducing fatigue and edema.
Implementation Method 1
a compression apparatus embedded in the garment for applying an external compression according to a compression sequence to a muscle of a limb of a user
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to devices, systems and methods of assisting blood flow return to the heart from a limb. The device comprising a wearable garment (115) and a compression apparatus (110) embedded in the garment (115) for applying an external compression according to a compression sequence to a muscle of a limb of a user based on real-time measurements regarding a cardiac cycle having a diastolic phase and systolic of the user and real-time measurements of muscle activity. The compression sequence is synchronized to comment when both the local blood flow at the limb is in the diastolic phase and the muscle is in a non-contracted state.