Local Field Stimulation for Cardiac Cell Transmembrane Potential Modulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac therapies, including pharmaceuticals and implantable cardiac rhythm management systems, are often inadequate for patients with conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias, particularly those with damaged myocardial pathways, necessitating a more effective method to regulate heart rate and restore coordinated cardiac contractions.
Innovation Solution
The application of local field stimulation (LFS) to alter the transmembrane potential of cardiac cells, allowing for sub-threshold modulation of ion channel function and pacing independent of cell type, using a system comprising an electrode and energy source to apply a controlled energy signal that modifies the rate of depolarization without generating an action potential.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pharmaceutical therapies are used to treat cardiac conduction abnormalities, then some cardiac output improvement may be achieved, but the therapy is often ineffective or inadequate for patients with damaged myocardial pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional pharmaceutical chemical therapy with a physical/electrical field-based approach. Local field stimulation uses controlled electrical fields to directly modulate ion channel function and cellular depolarization rates, substituting chemical pharmacologic treatment with a physics-based electrical stimulation mechanism that acts directly on cardiac cell membranes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of cardiac cell function by applying local field stimulation at specific intensities and frequencies. By controlling the electrical field parameters (strength, duration, frequency), the system can modulate transmembrane potential and depolarization rates to restore coordinated cardiac contractions and improve cardiac output in patients with conduction abnormalities.
2Reliability
If implantable cardiac rhythm management systems are used to regulate heart rate, then heart rate control is achieved, but the systems are inadequate for patients with conduction abnormalities and may cause tissue trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local field stimulation to specific targeted regions of cardiac tissue rather than generalized pacing. By delivering electrical fields locally to affected myocardial pathways, the system provides precise control over specific conduction abnormalities while minimizing widespread tissue stimulation and reducing the risk of tissue trauma associated with conventional implantable rhythm management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses sub-threshold local field stimulation that partially modulates ion channel function without fully depolarizing all cardiac cells. This partial action approach allows for fine-tuned control of depolarization rates in affected pathways while avoiding the excessive stimulation and associated tissue trauma that can result from conventional threshold-based pacing methods.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If local field stimulation is applied to modulate transmembrane potential, then effective pacing therapy is achieved with minimal tissue trauma, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local field stimulation system as an intermediary between conventional pacing methods and cardiac tissue. This intermediary uses controlled electrical fields to indirectly modulate ion channel function and depolarization processes, providing effective pacing therapy while reducing direct mechanical and electrical trauma to cardiac tissue that characterizes conventional lead-based implantable systems.
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
This approach enables effective pacing therapy by increasing or decreasing the heart rate as needed, improving cardiac output and coordination, potentially reducing the progression of cardiac disease and arrhythmias, while minimizing tissue trauma and immune response.
Implementation Method 1
applying a local field stimulation (LFS) to alter a transmembrane potential of one or more cells
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for stimulating one or more cells, wherein the stimulation is sub-threshold and may alter a transmembrane potential of the one or more cells. For some populations of cells it may be possible to affect the transmembrane potential to gain a therapeutic benefit. Cells of the sino-atrial node spontaneously depolarize predominantly due to the slow depolarization of transmembrane potential. The present system may provide sino-atrial cells with a local field stimulation that while not eliciting an action potential may nonetheless alter local transmembrane potential. Such alteration of transmembrane potential may permit an increase or decrease in a rate of depolarization, and hence modify heart rate.