Surface ECG Serial Comparison for Pacemaker Lack of Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack the ability to accurately diagnose pacemaker lack of capture in patients without specialized equipment, complicating the treatment of heart failure symptoms and potentially leading to inappropriate diagnoses.
Innovation Solution
A system using high-frequency ECG monitoring and serial comparison of ECG signals to detect biventricular pacing and identify potential pacemaker malfunctions, such as lack of capture, by analyzing changes in QRS morphology and axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If proprietary interrogating equipment is used to diagnose pacemaker malfunction, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the proprietary interrogation system using standard ECG equipment. By analyzing ECG signal morphology and comparing it against stored baseline patterns, the system replicates the diagnostic capabilities of expensive specialized equipment using readily available tools, thereby maintaining measurement precision while eliminating device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ECG signals as an intermediary medium to bridge the gap between pacemaker function assessment and diagnostic capability. Instead of directly interrogating the pacemaker with specialized equipment, the system uses ECG signals captured by standard electrodes as an intermediary to infer pacemaker performance and detect malfunctions, thus avoiding the need for complex proprietary devices
2Reliability
If specialized equipment is required for pacemaker diagnosis, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the ECG monitoring system to perform self-diagnosis of pacemaker function. The system automatically captures ECG signals, compares them against stored baselines, detects morphology changes indicating malfunction, and generates alerts without requiring operator expertise with specialized equipment. This self-service approach maintains diagnostic reliability while dramatically improving ease of operation for clinical staff
3Ease of operation
If standard ECG equipment is used without specialized analysis, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by storing baseline ECG patterns captured when the pacemaker is known to be functioning correctly. These pre-stored baselines serve as reference templates that enable automatic comparison with future ECG signals, allowing the system to maintain high measurement precision using standard equipment by having the diagnostic framework prepared in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where ECG signals are continuously monitored, compared against baselines, and used to generate diagnostic feedback about pacemaker function. This automated feedback loop enables standard ECG equipment to achieve specialized-level detection accuracy by systematically analyzing signal morphology changes and providing actionable diagnostic information to clinicians
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems are provided for detecting potential pacemaker lack of capture in surface electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. In one example, a system includes a plurality of electrodes (RA, LA, RL, LL, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6) configured to measure electrical potential generated at a skin of a patient, an electrode monitor (10) configured to generate an ECG signal from the electric potential, an interface (434), a memory (406) storing instructions, and at least one processor (404) configured to execute the instructions to: obtain (504) a baseline ECG signal of the patient, obtain (702) a current ECG signal of the patient from the electrode monitor, determine, based on the baseline ECG signal and/or the current ECG signal, that the patient has an electronic implant carrying out biventricular pacing, compare (712, 714), based on the determination, the baseline ECG signal to the current ECG signal of the patient, and indicate (722), through the interface, a degradation condition of the electronic implant based on the comparing and the determination.