Implantable Plethysmography Sensor for Myocardial Infarction Prediction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively detect and prevent myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) in asymptomatic patients with undetected or untreated coronary artery disease, leading to severe consequences including heart failure and arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
Implantable sensors monitor changes in arterial blood volume using plethysmography signals, determining metrics such as the area under the curve and number of inflections to predict impending myocardial infarctions, triggering alerts and therapies as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implantable sensors are used to monitor arterial blood volume changes continuously, then early detection of impending myocardial infarction is improved, but device complexity and surgical implantation requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an implantable sensor as an intermediary device that indirectly measures arterial blood volume changes through plethysmography signals. This mediator approach allows detection of coronary artery disease progression without directly invading the coronary arteries, thereby improving early detection capability while limiting the complexity to a single sensor implantation rather than multiple invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of arterial blood volume changes to detect signs of impending myocardial infarction before the actual event occurs. By continuously tracking the area under the curve and number of inflections in plethysmography signals, the system enables preventive intervention, improving reliability by catching the condition in its early stages
2Measurement precision
If plethysmography signal analysis with multiple metrics is performed, then measurement precision for detecting impending MI is improved, but computational requirements and processing complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the plethysmography signal analysis into distinct measurable metrics: area under the curve and number of inflections. By dividing the complex signal into these separable components, the system achieves high measurement precision for detecting coronary artery disease progression while keeping the computational processing manageable through focused analysis of specific signal characteristics rather than attempting to process the entire signal simultaneously
3Reliability
If early intervention therapy is administered, then patient outcomes and survival rates are improved, but treatment costs and healthcare resource utilization worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables preliminary detection of impending myocardial infarction through continuous monitoring of arterial blood volume changes, allowing intervention before the actual heart attack occurs. This preliminary action improves patient survival rates by preventing the catastrophic event, while the resource utilization is concentrated in the monitoring phase rather than requiring intensive post-event care, potentially reducing overall healthcare burden
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a protective monitoring system that cushions patients against the full impact of myocardial infarction by detecting early signs of coronary artery disease progression. This beforehand cushioning approach improves reliability by preventing the severe event, while the resource investment is made in advance through implantable sensor placement and continuous monitoring rather than through expensive emergency interventions
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 and prevention of myocardial infarctions, reducing the risk of heart failure and arrhythmias, and potentially saving lives by intervening before a heart attack occurs.
Implementation Method 1
the signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume can be a photo plethysmography signal
Implementation Method 2
the signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume can be an impedance plethysmography signal
Data Source
AI summary
Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, are provided for monitoring for an impending myocardial infarction. A signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume is obtained. Such a signal can be a photoplethysmography signal or an impedance plethysmography signal. For each of a plurality of periods of time, a metric indicative of the areas under the curve of the signal or number of inflections in the signal is determined. An impending myocardial infarction is monitored for based on changes in the metric indicative of the area under the curve of the signal or number of inflections in the signal, and an alert and/or therapy is triggered in response to an impending myocardial infarction being predicted.