Remote Cardiac Stimulation for Ischemic Tissue Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to effectively protect the heart from injuries associated with cardiac ischemic events, such as myocardial infarction, by not adequately addressing tissue damage caused by ischemia.
Innovation Solution
A stimulation system that delivers cardioprotective stimulation to sites remote from the ischemic region, using an implantable medical device with a cardioprotective stimulation module and controller, which initiates alternating stimulation and non-stimulation periods to elicit a protective effect against cardiac ischemia without causing myocardial contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct stimulation is applied to the ischemic region, then tissue protection may be achieved, but it causes myocardial contraction which is harmful during ischemia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by delivering stimulation to a remote non-ischemic region rather than directly to the ischemic myocardium. This remote conditioning acts as a mediator that triggers protective physiological responses (such as release of protective factors or activation of protective pathways) that then protect the ischemic tissue without causing direct harmful contraction in the affected area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the treatment approach by separating the stimulation site from the target protective site. The stimulation is applied to a distinct remote region (segment 1) while the protection is conferred on the ischemic region (segment 2), allowing independent optimization of each site's function without the harmful interactions that would occur with direct stimulation.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional ischemia treatment is used, then standard care is provided, but it fails to adequately protect tissue from ischemic damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by delivering conditioning stimulation before the actual ischemic event occurs or at the very onset of ischemia. This pre-conditioning of the tissue through remote stimulation activates protective mechanisms in advance, making the tissue more resistant to the upcoming ischemic insult and improving protection effectiveness compared to conventional reactive treatments.
Data Source
AI summary
A stimulation system delivers stimulation to protect an ischemic region of a body from tissue damage caused by ischemia. The stimulation is delivered to one or more stimulation sites remote from the ischemic region to elicit a physiological effect that protects the ischemic region from the tissue damage caused by ischemia. In one embodiment, the stimulation system delivers cardioprotective stimulation to one or more stimulation sites remote from the heart to protect the heart from injuries associated with cardiac ischemic events. In another embodiment, the stimulation system delivers remote conditioning stimulation to one or more stimulation sites in or on the heart to protect a non-cardiac region from injuries associated with non-cardiac ischemic events.