Multimodal Cardioversion Pacing With Compression and Acoustic Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transthoracic cardioversion and pacing techniques for patients with perfusing rhythms are often ineffective, leading to significant failure rates and the need for sedation or emergency interventions, despite efforts to improve electrical waveforms and electrode placement.
Innovation Solution
A multimodal device and method integrating mechanical, pneumatic, acoustic, and electrophysiologic capabilities with electrical countershock or pacing, utilizing systems like self-adhesive gel electrode pads, increased contact pressure, synchronization with ventilation, vibrational or acoustic energy, and vagal stimulation to enhance efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical cardioversion or pacing is applied, then the procedure can be performed with standard equipment, but the success rate is low and additional sedation or emergency interventions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple therapeutic modalities (mechanical compression, acoustic energy, and electrical therapy) into a single integrated system. The device applies mechanical compression to the chest wall simultaneously with acoustic energy delivery and electrical cardioversion, creating a synergistic effect that improves success rates while reducing the need for additional interventions
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a composite approach by integrating multiple energy delivery mechanisms (mechanical, acoustic, and electrical) through a unified system architecture. This composite therapy delivery method allows the device to overcome the limitations of traditional single-modality approaches
2Reliability
If electrical therapy is delivered through the thorax, then cardiac rhythm can be converted, but impedance reduces current flow efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates acoustic energy delivery that creates mechanical vibration and compression of the thoracic structures. This mechanical action temporarily reduces tissue impedance during the therapy delivery window, allowing improved current flow through the heart during electrical cardioversion or pacing
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies mechanical compression and acoustic energy before and during the electrical therapy delivery. This preliminary mechanical preparation reduces impedance in advance, optimizing the conditions for subsequent electrical current flow through the myocardium
3Reliability
If multiple interventions are coordinated, then therapy efficacy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a multi-functional system that can deliver mechanical compression, acoustic energy, and electrical therapy through an integrated platform. This universal design allows multiple therapeutic functions to be coordinated simultaneously while sharing common control and delivery infrastructure, managing complexity through functional integration
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 significantly increases the probability of successful cardioversion or pacing by optimizing subsystems through computer-controlled sequences and feedback, reducing impedance, and synchronizing interventions for improved cardiac therapy outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
application of a sequence of interventions including... mechanical... means to enhance countershock or pacing
Implementation Method 2
Both cardioversion and pacing can work by delivering an electric shock through the thorax of a patient, also referred to as transthoracic cardioversion or pacing
Implementation Method 3
synchronization with ventilation... to enhance efficacy
Implementation Method 4
vibrational or acoustic energy... to enhance efficacy
Implementation Method 5
vibrational or acoustic energy... to enhance efficacy
Data Source
AI summary
The invention disclosed here relates in general to the field of medical devices. In particular, to devices and methods for improving the clinical outcome of patients suffering from cardiac dysrhythmias without cardiac arrest. This method and/or device integrates mechanical, pneumatic, acoustic and/or electrophysiologic capabilities with electrical countershock or pacing capabilities such that the probability of successful cardioversion or pacing is increased. The sequence, forces, and electrical properties of the subsystems can be computer controlled and adjusted in response to biomarker inputs.