Sequential Capacitor Defibrillator Waveform Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current external defibrillators are often bulky and heavy, making them difficult to transport and use quickly in emergency situations, which can lead to delayed treatment and reduced survival rates for individuals experiencing Ventricular Fibrillation (VF).
Innovation Solution
An external defibrillator design that delivers a waveform with two or more peaks, where the second peak has greater amplitude than the first, using a discharge circuit and energy storage module with switchable capacitance configurations, allowing for effective defibrillation therapy in a smaller and lighter form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional external defibrillators are designed to deliver effective defibrillation shocks, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but device size and weight increase making them difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The defibrillator uses multiple separate capacitors (first capacitor and second capacitor) instead of a single large capacitor. These capacitors can be connected in different configurations (series or parallel) to deliver different energy levels, enabling effective defibrillation while keeping individual capacitor sizes smaller and the overall device more portable.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit includes switching elements that dynamically reconfigure the capacitor connections between series and parallel configurations based on the required energy level. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the device to deliver both high-energy shocks when needed and maintain a compact form factor for portability.
2Reliability
If traditional external defibrillators are designed to deliver effective defibrillation shocks, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but device volume increases making them difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The defibrillator uses multiple separate capacitors (first capacitor and second capacitor) instead of a single large capacitor. These capacitors can be connected in different configurations (series or parallel) to deliver different energy levels, enabling effective defibrillation while keeping individual capacitor sizes smaller and the overall device more portable.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit includes switching elements that dynamically reconfigure the capacitor connections between series and parallel configurations based on the required energy level. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the device to deliver both high-energy shocks when needed and maintain a compact form factor for portability.
3Weight of moving object
If defibrillation treatment is delayed, then device portability is less critical, but survival rate decreases by 10% for each minute of delay
Solution Approach 1:
The defibrillator uses multiple separate capacitors (first capacitor and second capacitor) instead of a single large capacitor. These capacitors can be connected in different configurations (series or parallel) to deliver different energy levels, enabling effective defibrillation while keeping individual capacitor sizes smaller and the overall device more portable.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit includes switching elements that dynamically reconfigure the capacitor connections between series and parallel configurations based on the required energy level. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the device to deliver both high-energy shocks when needed and maintain a compact form factor for portability.
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 design enables a defibrillator that is physically smaller and lighter without compromising therapeutic effectiveness, facilitating quicker and more portable treatment of VF, potentially improving survival rates by allowing for faster administration of defibrillation shocks.
Implementation Method 1
The energy storage module includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor configured to be coupled together in a first manner having a first capacitance
Implementation Method 2
the first capacitor and the second capacitor are configured to discharge in the first manner to a patient via the discharge circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device such as an external defibrillator delivers electrical therapy using a special ascending, biphasic waveform. The special waveform is characterized by a set of at least two peaks. The amplitude of the second peak is greater than the amplitude of the first peak. The waveform is generated by switching capacitance configuration in the defibrillator from a parallel configuration to a series configuration while the defibrillator is delivering the defibrillation shock to the patient. Because of the switching capacitances and/or the waveform, the external defibrillator can be made physically smaller and weigh less, without sacrificing the therapeutic effect of a larger external defibrillator that would deliver a defibrillation shock of higher energy. As such, the defibrillator is easier to configure for transporting, handling, and even wearing.