Temporary Pacemaker Guidance via Electromagnetic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for temporary cardiac pacing, such as transcutaneous and transvenous pacing, are often uncomfortable and painful for patients, and require conventional imaging procedures like fluoroscopy, which limits accessibility and expertise for placement and increases exposure to x-rays.
Innovation Solution
A temporary transvenous pacemaker system with a patient drape device featuring indicator lights and electromagnets or RF antennas to guide the positioning of a bipolar electrode pair without the need for fluoroscopy, allowing for percutaneous navigation and anchoring of the electrode wire within the vasculature, enabling pacing without x-ray exposure and broadening the range of clinicians who can perform the procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transcutaneous pacing is used, then pacing can be delivered without invasive procedures, but patient comfort deteriorates due to skeletal muscle contractions and pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical transcutaneous pacing approach with a transvenous pacing system that uses a catheter inserted through a vein to deliver pacing leads directly to the heart. This substitution eliminates the need for high-energy transcutaneous pacing, thereby reducing patient discomfort and pain while maintaining pacing functionality.
2Reliability
If transvenous pacing is performed using conventional methods, then pacing effectiveness is improved, but procedure complexity and resource requirements increase due to fluoroscopy and specialized expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the fluoroscopy imaging system from the pacing procedure. By using alternative guidance methods such as echocardiography or anatomical landmarks, the system achieves effective transvenous pacing without requiring fluoroscopy, thereby reducing procedure complexity and resource requirements while maintaining pacing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal pacing system that can be performed by clinicians with general cardiac knowledge rather than requiring specialized radiology expertise. The system incorporates multi-functional guidance capabilities that work across different clinical settings, making the procedure accessible to a broader range of healthcare providers without sacrificing pacing effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If fluoroscopy is used for transvenous pacing placement, then positioning accuracy is improved, but patient radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful radiation exposure associated with fluoroscopy into a beneficial alternative by using non-radiation-based guidance methods. Techniques such as echocardiographic imaging, anatomical landmarks, and real-time anatomical visualization provide sufficient positioning accuracy without exposing patients to ionizing radiation, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining the beneficial positioning capability.
4Reliability
If conventional transvenous pacing is performed, then pacing capability is achieved, but accessibility and clinician involvement are limited by technical expertise requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the skill parameter requirements by simplifying the procedural steps and removing the need for fluoroscopy expertise. The system incorporates intuitive guidance methods and real-time feedback mechanisms that enable clinicians with general cardiac training to perform transvenous pacing successfully, thereby expanding clinician accessibility while maintaining pacing capability through standardized, learnable procedures.
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 solution reduces patient discomfort, recovery times, and treatment costs by allowing for central access pacing without fluoroscopy, making it possible to perform temporary pacing in various settings and by a broader range of clinicians, while reducing x-ray exposure.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the indicator lights actuates to a lit condition in response to a magnetic field or radiofrequency (RF) emanating from within the patient
Implementation Method 2
Each of the indicator lights actuates to a lit condition in response to a magnetic field or radiofrequency (RF) emanating from within the patient
Implementation Method 3
The patient drape may also include one or more electromagnets attached to the flexible substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for the treatment of heart conditions, and other medical purposes, include cardiac pacing systems. For example, this document describes temporary transvenous endocardial pacemaker systems and devices for deploying such systems without the need for conventional imaging procedures.