Temporary Leadless Pacemaker With Automatic Lifetime Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temporary pacemakers requiring electrode leads and external stimulators necessitate hospitalization, are costly, and pose risks such as probe dislocation and endocarditis, limiting their effectiveness and patient comfort.
Innovation Solution
An implantable leadless pacemaker with a limited lifetime, equipped with a solid state battery, sensors, and control units for demand-driven stimulation, allowing easy implantation and removal via a catheter, reducing complications and hospitalization needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a temporary electrode lead and external cardiac pacemaker are used, then the patient can receive temporary heart stimulation, but the patient requires hospitalization and monitoring, increasing costs and limiting patient freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the pacemaker generator, battery, and control electronics into a single self-contained leadless device that is implanted directly into the heart chamber. This eliminates the need for separate external pacemaker and electrode lead components, allowing the patient to receive temporary stimulation without external equipment or hospitalization while maintaining reliable function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a leadless intermediate device that is implanted directly into the heart chamber to mediate between the need for electrical stimulation and the desire to avoid external equipment. This intermediary implantable device eliminates the need for external pacemaker systems while providing reliable temporary heart stimulation.
2Reliability
If a temporary electrode lead and external cardiac pacemaker are used, then heart stimulation can be provided, but complications such as probe dislocation, endocarditis, and incorrect manipulation occur
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all functional components into a single leadless implantable device, the invention eliminates the electrode lead that connects external pacemakers to the heart. This removal of the lead component eliminates risks of probe dislocation, endocarditis at lead insertion sites, and incorrect manipulation of external equipment, while maintaining effective heart stimulation through the integrated implantable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the external pacemaker and electrode lead components from the temporary heart stimulation system. By taking out these external components and replacing them with a self-contained implantable device, the patent eliminates the harmful factors associated with external equipment manipulation, lead insertion, and monitoring requirements.
3Ease of operation
If a leadless pacemaker with limited lifetime is used, then hospitalization and complications are reduced, but the device must be permanently switched off after a predetermined timespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the pacemaker's operational status through a control unit that automatically switches the device off after a predetermined timespan or upon detecting specific events. This dynamic time-limited operation allows the device to provide temporary heart stimulation effectively while eliminating the need for long-term implantation, reducing complications, and avoiding the need for complex retrieval mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a disposable short-lifetime leadless pacemaker designed for temporary use only. The device is engineered to function for a predetermined limited period and then automatically deactivate, eliminating the need for expensive permanent implants or complex retrieval procedures. This short-living design reduces hospitalization time and complications while providing effective temporary heart stimulation.
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 reliable temporary heart stimulation over days to weeks without hospitalization, minimizing complications and costs, while ensuring patient safety and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical energy source
Implementation Method 2
a sensor configured to sense an intracardiac potential (particularly the intracardiac QRS potential) of the heart
Implementation Method 3
an electrode pole for electrical stimulation and sensing intracardiac potentials
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable leadless pacemaker configured to provide antibradycardia pacing of a human or animal heart, comprising: an electrical energy source, a sensor configured to sense intracardiac potentials of the heart, a pulse generator configured to generate electrical pacing pulses, a control unit for controlling the pulse generator, wherein the control unit is configured to inhibit generation of an electrical pacing pulse when an intracardiac potential is sensed, wherein the control unit is further configured to permanently switch off the pulse generator after passing of a predetermined timespan and/or after a pre-defined event detected by the pacemaker, an electrode pole for electrical stimulation and sensing intracardiac potentials, at least one fastening element for fastening the pacemaker to heart tissue, wherein the implantable leadless pacemaker is adapted such that a lifetime of the implantable leadless pacemaker is smaller than one year, particularly smaller than one month, particularly smaller than two weeks.