Respiratory Surrogate for Neurocardiogenic Syncope Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting neurocardiogenic syncope are ineffective in providing early recognition and diagnosis, particularly due to the impracticality of monitoring intracranial blood flow and systemic blood pressure in ambulatory individuals, leading to inconsistent and disappointing therapeutic outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing heart rate and ventilation sensors to detect an increase in minute ventilation driven by increased tidal volume, without a corresponding change in respiratory rate, to predict and diagnose impending syncope, which can be implemented using transthoracic impedance or direct measurement of exhaled volumes and respiratory rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If intracranial blood flow monitoring is implemented, then early detection of syncope is improved, but device complexity and practicality worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveearly detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses minute ventilation and respiratory rate as intermediary parameters that can be easily measured and that correlate with intracranial blood flow changes. Instead of directly monitoring intracranial blood flow, the system monitors respiratory patterns which serve as a practical surrogate marker for the same physiological state, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified copy or model of intracranial blood flow monitoring by using respiratory parameters. The minute ventilation and respiratory rate patterns replicate the information about cerebral perfusion status without requiring complex intracranial sensors, making the monitoring system practical for ambulatory use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If systemic blood pressure monitoring is implemented, then syncope diagnosis is improved, but ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesyncope diagnosis accuracyVSAvoidambulatory monitoring ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs minute ventilation and respiratory rate as intermediary measurements that are easier to obtain in ambulatory settings compared to continuous blood pressure monitoring. These respiratory parameters serve as practical surrogates that maintain diagnostic accuracy while significantly improving ease of operation for mobile patients

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If rate drop response algorithms are used, then neurocardiogenic syncope treatment is addressed, but therapeutic effectiveness worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesyncope therapy applicabilityVSAvoidtherapeutic outcome consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent detects changes in minute ventilation and respiratory rate that precede the actual heart rate drop and syncope event. By identifying these early respiratory precursors, the system enables preliminary intervention before the syncope occurs, improving therapeutic reliability by addressing the condition at an earlier, more treatable stage rather than reacting to the heart rate drop after it has already occurred

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables early detection of neurocardiogenic syncope, allowing for timely avoidance maneuvers or therapeutic interventions, and provides a reliable surrogate for decreased cerebral perfusion, applicable in various monitoring scenarios including aerospace and hyperbaric situations.

Implementation Method 1

The increase in minute ventilation may be determined to be the result of increased tidal volume, with a relatively fixed respiratory rate. The determination of baseline minute ventilation and is components, tidal volume and respiratory rate may be determined by measurement of transthoracic impedance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTransthoracic impedance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUSRE49122E1Method of detecting and predicting neurocardiogenic syncope

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 PHYSIOVOYANCE

AI summary

A method of detecting an early onset of neurocardiogenic syncope in a patient uses respiratory functions as a predictor of the syncope. According to the method, at least one sample of baseline minute ventilation, tidal volume and respiratory rate of the patient is obtained. The detection unit is set to detect an increase in tidal volume and in minute ventilation over a predetermined respiratory period. The detecting unit also detects any rate of change in respiratory rate and sends a signal to a microprocessor to determine whether the increase in minute ventilation is a sole function of increased tidal volume. The impending syncope is diagnosed if variance in respiratory rate is less than 25% in relation to the sampled baseline during the predetermined period of time.