Leadless Pacemaker Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pacemakers, including both transvenous and leadless types, face issues such as infection, blood clots, lead breakage, and limited lifespan due to the inability to wirelessly charge leadless pacemakers and the difficulty in retrieving them when the energy storage device depletes.
Innovation Solution
The development of an energy-harvesting leadless pacemaker that incorporates a piezoelectric device on its outer surface, which generates electrical energy in response to pressure changes in the heart, allowing for partial recharging of the energy storage device and extending the pacemaker's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a leadless pacemaker is implanted without wireless charging capability, then the device can be made smaller and simpler, but the operational lifespan is limited and the device must be replaced when energy depletes
Solution Approach 1:
The pacemaker harvests mechanical energy from heartbeats through the piezoelectric device to self-recharge its energy storage device, eliminating the need for external wireless charging and extending operational lifespan without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for external wireless charging systems with a mechanical energy harvesting system using piezoelectric materials that convert mechanical pressure from heartbeats into electrical energy for recharging
2Ease of manufacture
If a leadless pacemaker is designed without retrieval capability, then the device can be simplified and reduced in size, but the device cannot be retrieved when energy storage depletes
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains the energy storage device, supports the piezoelectric energy harvesting components, and incorporates features for both implantation and retrieval, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms
3Device complexity
If conventional pacemakers are used, then the device structure can be simplified, but infections and blood clots can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes leads from the pacemaker system, extracting the source of infection and blood clot risks while maintaining the essential pacing function through a leadless design with electrodes that contact the heart chamber directly
4Reliability
If leadless pacemakers are implanted, then lead breakage is eliminated, but the pacemaker cannot be retrieved when energy depletes
Solution Approach 1:
The pacemaker incorporates active retrieval mechanisms including movable components and positioning features that allow the device to be actively retrieved from the heart chamber after implantation, maintaining reliability while adding retrieval capability
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 integration of a piezoelectric device enables the leadless pacemaker to generate sufficient electrical energy to extend its operational lifespan by one year or more, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing surgical interventions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one piezoelectric device disposed on at least a portion of the at least one outer surface of the housing. The at least one piezoelectric device is electrically coupled to the at least one energy storage device. The at least one piezoelectric device is configured to generate electrical energy responsive to pressure changes in the heart
Data Source
AI summary
An example leadless pacemaker includes a housing including at least one outer surface and at least one energy storage device. The leadless pacemaker also includes at least one electrode coupled to the at least one energy storage device and configured to generate electrical pulses that are delivered to one or more chambers of the heat. The leadless pacemaker further includes at least one piezoelectric device disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing. The piezoelectric device is electrically coupled to the energy storage device. The piezoelectric device is configured to be generate electrical energy responsive to pressure changes in the heart.