Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation Avoiding Undesirable Activation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cardiac rhythm management devices face challenges in determining optimal energy parameters for therapeutic electrical stimulation, as they often result in either ineffective pacing due to low energy or undesirable activation due to high energy levels, affecting cardiac synchronization and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that measure and select energy parameters based on strength-duration relationships for both desired and undesirable activations, allowing for precise adjustment of pulse width and amplitude to achieve cardiac capture while avoiding unnecessary stimulation of other tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pace pulse energy is increased to ensure reliable cardiac capture, then the reliability of pacing is improved, but the risk of undesirable activation of other body structures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac capture reliabilityVSAvoidundesirable activation of other body structures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts pacing pulse energy parameters based on real-time measurement of strength-duration relationships. The device adapts the amplitude and duration of pacing pulses to maintain reliable cardiac capture while minimizing energy delivery, thereby reducing the risk of activating other body structures. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing energy delivery rather than using fixed high-energy pulses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the pacing stimulus by measuring strength-duration relationships and selecting optimal amplitude and duration values. By systematically varying and measuring the response to different parameter combinations, the device identifies the minimum energy parameters required for reliable capture, thus avoiding excessive energy delivery that could cause undesirable activation of adjacent structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the pace pulse energy is decreased to reduce energy consumption, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the reliability of cardiac capture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption of pacingVSAvoidcardiac capture reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces empirical, trial-and-error energy delivery with a systematic measurement and selection process based on strength-duration relationships. By measuring the actual threshold characteristics of the cardiac tissue and using this data to calculate optimal parameters, the device ensures reliable capture at minimum energy levels, eliminating the need for excessive safety margins that waste energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs self-measurement of the patient's specific strength-duration relationship and automatically selects optimal pacing parameters without requiring external intervention or guesswork. This self-characterization allows the device to deliver precisely the minimum energy needed for reliable capture, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining capture reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the strength-duration relationship measurement is performed for both desired and undesirable activation, then the precision of energy parameter selection is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy parameter selection precisionVSAvoidmeasurement and control circuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement process is segmented into distinct phases: measuring the strength-duration relationship for desired cardiac capture, separately measuring or estimating the relationship for undesirable activation, and then using both datasets to select optimal parameters. This segmentation allows the device to systematically gather necessary information without overwhelming complexity, as each measurement can be performed using standardized protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The strength-duration relationships for both desired and undesirable activation are measured in advance during device implantation or initial programming, before actual pacing therapy begins. This preliminary characterization eliminates the need for continuous complex measurements during therapy, reducing the ongoing computational and hardware complexity while maintaining high precision in parameter selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8209013B2Therapeutic electrical stimulation that avoids undesirable activation

Publication Date: 2012.06.26 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC

AI summary

Energy parameters for electrical stimulation pulses that produce a desired activation, and avoid an undesirable activation, are determined. A strength-duration relationship for at least one desired activation produced by therapeutic electrical stimulation is measured. A strength-duration relationship for at least one undesirable activation produced by the therapeutic electrical stimulation is provided. A medical device selects, based on the desired and undesirable strength-duration relationships, one or more energy parameters for the therapeutic electrical stimulation that produce the desired activation and avoid the undesirable activation.