MR-Compatible Defibrillator Using Piezoelectric Transformer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) procedures are at a higher risk of cardiac arrest due to the stressful nature of the procedure, and existing defibrillators cannot be used within the MR room, leading to significant delays in administering life-saving defibrillation shocks.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible cardiac defibrillator with an electrical circuit using a piezoelectric transformer and automatic control circuitry to determine cardiac arrest via ECG signals, allowing for immediate defibrillation without the need for patient transfer, featuring non-magnetic components to avoid interference with the MR scanner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional defibrillator is used, then it can deliver effective defibrillation shocks, but it cannot be brought into the MR room due to magnetic material interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all magnetic materials from the defibrillator construction, extracting the harmful magnetic properties while retaining the defibrillation function. This allows the device to be used in the MR room without interfering with or being interfered by the magnetic field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameters of the defibrillator by substituting magnetic materials with non-magnetic alternatives, fundamentally altering the device's magnetic properties to be compatible with the MR environment while maintaining electrical functionality.
2Reliability
If a patient undergoes cardiac arrest during MR procedure, then immediate defibrillation is critical for survival, but patient transfer from MR scanner to defibrillator location causes significant time delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the defibrillator into the MR room environment by making it MR-compatible, combining the previously separate functions of MR imaging and emergency defibrillation into the same spatial location, thereby eliminating the need for patient transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares the defibrillator in advance by positioning it within the MR room and ensuring its MR-compatibility, so that when cardiac arrest occurs, the device is already in position and ready for immediate use without requiring any transfer or setup delays.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-magnetic components are used in the defibrillator, then the device can be used within the MR room, but the charging circuit becomes more complex due to piezoelectric transformer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional electromagnetic transformer (which uses magnetic materials) with a piezoelectric transformer that uses mechanical vibration and electrostriction to achieve voltage transformation, substituting a mechanical/ electrostatic system for an electromagnetic one to eliminate magnetic material dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric transformer utilizes phase transitions in the piezoelectric material, converting electrical energy to mechanical vibration and back to electrical energy at a different voltage level, enabling MR-compatible voltage transformation without magnetic fields.
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 MR-compatible defibrillator reduces the delay in delivering cardiac defibrillation, increasing the chances of successful resuscitation and ensuring safety by being insensitive to magnetic fields, thus allowing for immediate use within the MR environment.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical circuit including an electrical storage element and a piezoelectric transformer arranged to charge the electrical storage element
Implementation Method 2
a piezoelectric transformer arranged to charge the electrical storage element
Implementation Method 3
the electrical circuit configured to discharge the electrical storage element across the electrical wires or terminals to deliver a cardiac defibrillation shock
Data Source
AI summary
A cardiac defibrillator comprises electrical wires or terminals (24) connected with or configured to connect with defibrillation electrode pads (22), and an electrical circuit (32, 32a, 32b) including an electrical storage element (52) and a piezoelectric transformer (50) arranged to charge the electrical storage element to a voltage effective for delivering a cardiac defibrillation shock. The electrical circuit is configured to discharge the electrical storage element across the electrical wires or terminals to deliver a cardiac defibrillation shock to the electrical wires or terminals.