Parasternal Respiration Sensor with Muscle Signal Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respiration implant systems face challenges in accurately detecting respiration cycles due to cross-contamination of EMG signals from nearby muscles, such as the pectoralis muscle, which interferes with the detection of parasternal muscle activity, leading to reduced effectiveness in phase-matching and synchronization of stimulation with the patient's breathing patterns.
Innovation Solution
A respiration sensor system with a sensor body made of electrically insulating material is configured to fit between the pectoralis and parasternal muscles, featuring parasternal and pectoralis sensor electrodes that minimize cross-contamination by isolating and subtracting the pectoralis EMG signal from the parasternal EMG signal, allowing for precise generation of a respiration pacing signal for stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a respiration sensor is placed in the parasternal muscle to detect respiration cycles, then respiration detection capability is improved, but cross-contamination from pectoralis muscle EMG signals worsens measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor body is divided into distinct electrode regions: parasternal electrodes positioned to detect parasternal muscle EMG signals and pectoralis electrodes positioned to detect pectoralis muscle EMG signals. This segmentation allows separate detection and subsequent subtraction of the interfering pectoralis signal from the parasternal signal, resolving the cross-contamination issue while maintaining respiration detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrically insulating sensor body acts as an intermediary structure that enables precise positioning of electrodes relative to both parasternal and pectoralis muscles. The insulating material isolates the electrodes electrically while maintaining mechanical positioning, allowing the system to capture both parasternal and pectoralis EMG signals separately for processing.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor body is positioned between the pectoralis and parasternal muscles, then cross-contamination is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical insulation for signal isolation, mechanical positioning between muscles, structural support for multiple electrodes, and a platform for signal processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved signal isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The parasternal and pectoralis electrodes are merged into a single integrated sensor body rather than being separate devices. This combination allows simultaneous detection of both muscle signals within one implantable unit, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining the ability to isolate and process signals separately.
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 enables more accurate detection of respiration cycles, improving phase-locking and synchronization of stimulation with the patient's breathing, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of respiration implant systems for treating impaired breathing and sleep apnea.
Implementation Method 1
At least one parasternal sensor electrode is located on the bottom surface of the sensor body and is configured to cooperate with the electrically insulating material of the sensor body to sense a parasternal electromyography (EMG) signal representing electrical activity of the adjacent parasternal muscle
Implementation Method 2
A pectoralis sensor electrode is located on the top surface of the electrode body opposite the at least one parasternal sensor electrode and configured to cooperate with the electrically insulating material of the sensor body to sense a pectoralis EMG signal representing electrical activity of the adjacent pectoralis muscle
Implementation Method 3
the pacing processor configured to subtract the pectoralis EMG signal from the parasternal EMG signal in order to generate a respiration pacing signal for delivery to a simulating electrode
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A respiration sensor is described of a respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing. A sensor body is made of electrically insulating material and is configured to fit between two adjacent ribs and between the pectoralis muscle and the parasternal muscle of the implanted patient, with the bottom surface adjacent to an superficial surface of the parasternal muscle and the top surface adjacent to a profound surface of the pectoralis muscle. At least one parasternal sensor electrode is located on the bottom surface of the sensor body and is configured to cooperate with the electrically insulating material of the sensor body to sense a parasternal electromyography (EMG) signal representing electrical activity of the adjacent parasternal muscle with minimal influence by electrical activity of the nearby pectoralis muscle.