Seismocardiography Monitoring for Heart Valve Dysfunction Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing valvular heart disease (VHD) and prosthetic heart valve (PHV) dysfunction are costly, time-consuming, and operator-dependent, lacking non-invasive alternatives for continuous monitoring outside clinical settings.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing seismocardiography (SCG) signals, processed by implantable medical devices (IMDs) with accelerometers, segments heart sound data to identify pathologies by comparing against templates, generating alerts for potential VHD or PHV dysfunction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are used to diagnose valvular heart disease, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex imaging systems (echocardiography, CT, MRI) with a simplified seismocardiography system using accelerometers to detect heart vibrations. This mechanical sensing approach provides sufficient diagnostic information for valve dysfunction detection without the time and resource overhead of imaging modalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified model of heart valve function by using seismocardiographic signals that capture the essential mechanical vibrations of the heart. This copying approach replicates the diagnostic value of complex imaging by focusing on the characteristic vibration patterns of healthy versus dysfunctional valves.
2Measurement precision
If echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are used to diagnose valvular heart disease, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but operator dependence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated analysis algorithms that independently process seismocardiographic signals to detect valve dysfunction. The system self-evaluates the heart sounds and vibrations without requiring operator interpretation, eliminating the expertise dependency inherent in manual echocardiography reading while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the human operator's interpretive role with automated signal processing and pattern recognition algorithms. This substitution transforms the diagnostic process from an operator-dependent art to an automated scientific measurement system.
3Productivity
If implantable medical devices with accelerometers are used for continuous monitoring, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the accelerometer into existing implantable medical devices that already contain processors and memory for other cardiac monitoring functions. This multi-functional approach allows the same device to perform both its original functions and new seismocardiographic monitoring without requiring a completely new device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the seismocardiography monitoring capability with existing implantable cardiac devices by integrating the accelerometer sensor and signal processing algorithms into the device's existing architecture. This merging approach consolidates multiple monitoring functions into a single unified system.
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
Provides continuous, low-cost, and less operator-dependent monitoring of heart valve operations, enabling timely intervention and treatment for VHD and PHV issues without requiring medical personnel.
Implementation Method 1
a technique called Seismocardiography (SCG) can be used to measure the vibrations produced by the beating heart using an accelerometer
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for monitoring heart valve operation using signals detected by a heart sound sensor includes memory to store program instructions and one or more processors that, when executing the program instructions receive seismocardiography (SCG) signals detected by a heart sound sensor along an axis. The SCG signals include heart sound signals for a series of heartbeats over a first time period. The SCG signals are segmented into SCG segments for corresponding heartbeats within the series of heartbeats over the first time period. A template is calculated based on a first subset of the SCG segments. At least a portion of a second subset of the SCG segments are compared to the template to determine matching scores, and an alert is generated in response to a select number of the second subset of SCG segments having the matching scores that satisfy a matching threshold.