Negative Sensitivity Electrode Configuration for Thoracic Fluid Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting pulmonary edema, often caused by heart failure, are often late in detection, leading to costly and urgent hospitalizations, as they rely on physical manifestations rather than early fluid accumulation indicators.
Innovation Solution
The use of electrode configurations with negative sensitivity regions within the thoracic region to monitor fluid build-up by delivering a constant test voltage and measuring resulting voltage changes, allowing for timely detection of fluid accumulation without the need for constant current sources or impedance calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional impedance-based methods are used to detect pulmonary edema, then detection can be performed, but detection timing is delayed until physical manifestations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using electrode configurations that detect fluid accumulation before physical manifestations of pulmonary edema occur. The negative sensitivity region electrodes are positioned to detect changes in electrical properties of thoracic tissues in advance, enabling early intervention before the condition becomes critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific regions of negative sensitivity through strategic electrode placement. The electrodes are configured to generate lead fields with negative sensitivity specifically in the pulmonary region, allowing localized detection of fluid accumulation with high precision in the target area while maintaining overall system simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If constant current sources and impedance calculations are used for fluid monitoring, then measurement can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the need for constant current sources and complex impedance calculations from the monitoring system. Instead, it uses a simplified voltage-based measurement approach with specifically configured electrode placements that inherently provide fluid accumulation detection through their negative sensitivity regions, eliminating unnecessary circuitry and computational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the traditional approach: rather than using constant current sources and calculating impedance, the system uses voltage-based measurements with electrodes configured to produce negative sensitivity regions. This inverted methodology achieves equivalent or superior detection capability with reduced system complexity.
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 early detection of pulmonary edema and heart failure, reducing hospitalization needs and healthcare costs by providing a more sensitive and cost-effective monitoring system for fluid build-up in the thoracic region.
Implementation Method 1
delivering a constant test voltage and measuring resulting voltage changes, allowing for timely detection of fluid accumulation
Data Source
AI summary
An amount of fluid in a thoracic or other region of a subject may be monitored by internally injecting an electrical energy stimulus (e.g., constant voltage source) through the region, detecting voltage resulting from the electrical energy stimulus, and calculating a fluid volume indicative signal. The injected energy stimulus creates a first lead field. The responsive voltage is detected using an electrode configuration that defines a second lead field, which is arranged in a negative sensitivity configuration with respect to the first lead field at the region being monitored.