Multi-AIMD Therapy Coordination to Mitigate Neural Stimulation Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) in therapy systems often interfere with each other's operations, compromising their efficacy and potentially causing damage, especially when multiple devices are implanted in the same patient to treat complex conditions.
Innovation Solution
A multi-AIMD therapy system is designed with coordination methods to mitigate interference by scheduling device activities, using a tracking device to monitor a shared medium, and adjusting the timing of activities to minimize interference, such as through hand-off signals or self-regulation based on detected interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple active implantable medical devices are implanted in the same patient to treat complex conditions, then the therapeutic capability and versatility are improved, but the interference between devices worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator device as an intermediary component that manages communication and scheduling between multiple AIMDs. This coordinator receives activity requests from various devices, determines optimal timing to avoid interference, and schedules activities sequentially, thereby mediating the interaction between devices to prevent harmful interference while maintaining therapeutic versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic scheduling where the timing and sequencing of device activities are adjusted in real-time based on the current state of the shared medium and the specific requirements of each device. This dynamic coordination allows the system to adaptively manage multiple devices, optimizing their operation to avoid interference while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
2Reliability
If device activities are scheduled sequentially to avoid interference, then the reliability and safety are improved, but the productivity and efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic scheduling where device activities are organized into structured time slots and cycles. The coordinator divides operation time into periodic intervals, assigning specific activities to specific time slots, which ensures reliable sequential execution while maintaining predictable and efficient system operation through regular patterns rather than ad-hoc scheduling
3Measurement precision
If the timing of device activities is adjusted to minimize interference, then the measurement precision and therapeutic effectiveness are improved, but the device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where each AIMD includes built-in timing adjustment capabilities and interference detection functions. Devices can autonomously adjust their own activity timing based on feedback from the shared medium and coordination signals, reducing the need for complex external control while maintaining precise measurement capabilities and therapeutic effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-active-implantable-medical-device therapy system is disclosed, comprising a closed-loop neural stimulation (CLNS) device and a second active medical device. The CLNS device is configured to repeatedly execute a first activity, which involves delivering neural stimuli according to a stimulus parameter, measuring the intensities of responses evoked by the stimuli, and adjusting the stimulus parameter value to maintain the measured evoked response intensity at or near a target value. The second active medical device is configured to repeatedly execute a second activity. The system also includes a tracking device in communication with the CLNS device, which is configured to monitor a shared medium of the system to estimate the timing of the second activity. Based on the timing of the second activity, the CLNS device adjusts the timing of the first activity to mitigate interference from the second activity, thereby ensuring the effective execution of the first activity according to the adjusted timing.