Progressive Compression Encoding for Implantable Device Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Active implantable medical devices face challenges in optimizing data transmission due to limited memory and power resources, leading to increased battery depletion and reduced service life, especially when transmitting large quantities of physiologic data.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where an external data retrieval apparatus receives a low-resolution version of a physiological signal from an implantable device, determines if it represents a clinically significant event, and only requests a full download when necessary, using progressive encoding to conserve memory and power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If large quantities of physiologic data are transmitted from the implantable device to external equipment, then complete patient monitoring data is available for analysis, but battery depletion rate increases and service life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysiologic data completenessVSAvoidbattery depletion rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments physiologic data into multiple compression levels (e.g., 4:1, 10:1, 20:1 compression ratios). The device first transmits data at lower compression levels which require less telemetry power, and only proceeds to higher compression levels if clinically significant events are detected in the preliminary data, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining data completeness when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of physiologic data at the implantable device level before transmission. The device identifies clinically significant events (such as arrhythmias or abnormal waveforms) and uses this information to determine which data requires full-resolution transmission versus which can be transmitted at lower resolution or omitted entirely, reducing unnecessary telemetry transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If data is stored in the implantable device until retrieval, then memory resources are utilized efficiently, but the device requires sufficient memory capacity to hold large quantities of data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage capacityVSAvoidmemory resource requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the compression parameter (compression ratio) dynamically based on clinical needs and available memory resources. By adjusting the compression ratio, the system can store the same amount of physiologic data in smaller memory capacity, or store more data in the same memory capacity, thereby reducing the memory resource requirements without sacrificing data availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If telemetry activity is increased to retrieve physiologic data often, then memory space onboard is reduced, but battery depletion rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveonboard memory spaceVSAvoidbattery depletion rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial data transmission where only the necessary portion of physiologic data is transmitted at full resolution. By using compression and selective transmission based on clinical significance, the system retrieves sufficient data to maintain small onboard memory usage without requiring full telemetry transmissions of all stored data, thus reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Loss of energy

If compression encoding is applied to physiologic waveform data, then data transmission efficiency is improved and energy consumption is reduced, but data resolution may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetelemetry energy consumptionVSAvoidwaveform data resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic compression where the compression ratio is adjusted in real-time based on the clinical significance of the physiologic data. During normal conditions, higher compression ratios are used to save energy. When clinically significant events are detected, the system switches to lower compression ratios or full-resolution transmission to preserve measurement precision when it matters most.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11813035B2Use of a progressive compression encoding of physiologic waveform data in an implantable device to support discontinuing transmission of low-value data

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 NEUROPACE INC

AI summary

An external data retrieval apparatus receives a low resolution version of a physiological signal from an active implantable medical device and determines if the physiological signal represents a clinically significant event. The apparatus provides an indication of such determination to the implantable medical device. If the physiological signal does represent a clinically significant event, the apparatus receives a full download of the physiological signal from the implantable device.