Active Implantable Medical Device Data Retrieval Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Active implantable medical devices face challenges in optimizing data retrieval, leading to energy consumption and data loss due to limited memory and battery depletion, as existing methods do not efficiently manage communication links and data transfer schedules.

Innovation Solution

A data retrieval apparatus that systematically assesses communication channel quality and adjusts transmission power to minimize energy usage, schedules data retrieval based on patient proximity and data type, and implements adaptive interrogation intervals to prevent data overwrite and battery depletion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If data retrieval is performed frequently to prevent data loss, then data completeness is improved, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of communication channel quality before initiating data retrieval. By evaluating signal strength and communication conditions in advance, the system determines whether data retrieval should be performed at all, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring data completeness when conditions are favorable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the data retrieval schedule based on real-time communication channel quality assessment. When signal strength is high, retrieval frequency increases to prevent data loss. When signal strength is low, retrieval frequency decreases to conserve energy. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between data completeness and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If communication link is established frequently to retrieve data, then data retrieval completeness is improved, but device battery longevity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval completenessVSAvoidbattery longevity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors communication channel quality and uses this feedback to adjust data retrieval scheduling. The assessment of signal strength provides feedback that informs whether to establish communication links, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes both data retrieval completeness and battery longevity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Before establishing a communication link for data retrieval, the system performs a preliminary assessment of communication channel quality. This preliminary action filters out unnecessary communications that would consume battery power without providing valuable data, thereby extending battery longevity while maintaining retrieval completeness when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If transmission power is increased to improve signal quality, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the transmission power parameter dynamically based on assessed communication channel quality. When signal strength is strong, the system uses lower transmission power to conserve energy. When signal strength is weak, the system increases transmission power to maintain communication reliability. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9782595B2Optimizing data retrieval from an active implantable medical device

Publication Date: 2017.10.10 NEUROPACE INC

AI summary

An external data retrieval apparatus includes a transceiver, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver. The processing system obtains a plurality of measures over a period of time. The measures relate to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device. The processing system determines a trend in the plurality of measures over the period of time, and then determines a preferred time during which to retrieve data based on the trend.