Variable Intensity Nerve Stimulation via Cardiac Phase Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nerve stimulation methods that limit stimulation to cardiac refractory periods may not provide sufficient nerve stimulation, as they restrict the intensity of nerve stimulation to avoid affecting the heart, potentially leading to inadequate treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A nerve stimulation apparatus that includes a stimulation signal output unit, a cardiac event detector, and a controller to output nerve stimulation signals with varying intensities based on cardiac event detection, allowing for lower intensity signals during non-refractory periods to avoid heart stimulation while maintaining higher intensities during refractory periods for effective nerve stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nerve stimulation is limited to cardiac refractory period only, then heart stimulation is avoided, but sufficient nerve stimulation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the stimulation intensity variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts stimulation intensity based on the cardiac cycle phase: using lower intensity during non-refractory periods to avoid heart stimulation, and higher intensity during refractory periods to ensure sufficient nerve stimulation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between avoiding heart stimulation and achieving sufficient nerve stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the stimulation intensity parameter according to the cardiac cycle phase. By detecting cardiac events and determining whether the current phase is refractory or non-refractory, the system adjusts the stimulation intensity parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows the system to avoid heart stimulation during vulnerable phases while ensuring adequate nerve stimulation during safe phases.
2Productivity
If higher intensity nerve stimulation signal is output during non-refractory period, then sufficient nerve stimulation is achieved, but heart stimulation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the stimulation intensity parameter based on cardiac phase detection. During non-refractory periods, the system uses lower intensity parameters to prevent heart stimulation while still providing some nerve stimulation. During refractory periods, higher intensity parameters are used to maximize nerve stimulation effectiveness. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between stimulation effectiveness and heart safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback through cardiac event detection to control stimulation intensity. The cardiac event detector continuously monitors cardiac activity, and the controller uses this feedback information to adjust stimulation intensity in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that high-intensity stimulation is only applied when safe (during refractory periods), thereby preventing heart stimulation while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
3Productivity
If continuous high intensity nerve stimulation is applied, then effective treatment is achieved, but adverse effects on heart may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing nerve stimulation with the periodic cardiac cycle. Instead of continuous high-intensity stimulation, the system delivers stimulation in periodic cycles that align with cardiac phases. High-intensity stimulation is delivered periodically during refractory periods when the heart is less susceptible to stimulation, thereby achieving effective treatment while minimizing adverse cardiac effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes stimulation intensity parameters based on the periodic cardiac cycle phases. The controller modulates the stimulation intensity parameter to be high during refractory periods and low during non-refractory periods. This periodic parameter modulation allows the system to achieve effective treatment through cumulative stimulation while avoiding adverse cardiac effects by never stimulating at high intensity during vulnerable phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A nerve stimulation apparatus performs nerve stimulation of a required level while reducing the adverse effect on the heart and on the detection of a cardiac event. Provided is a nerve stimulation apparatus that includes a stimulation signal output unit that outputs a nerve stimulation signal; a cardiac event detector that detects a cardiac event; and a controller that controls the stimulation signal output unit so as to output a nerve stimulation signal having a smaller intensity in a non-refractory period than that in a cardiac refractory period that is obtained on the basis of the cardiac event detected by the cardiac event detector.