Low Profile Transvenous Electrode System for Emergency Dual Chamber Pacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current emergency pacing methods for heart block and bradycardia often result in reduced heart pumping efficiency due to lack of atrial-ventricular synchrony, and existing dual chamber pacing techniques are cumbersome and unreliable for immediate use.
Innovation Solution
A low profile transvenous electrode system with insulated, superelastic wires bundled in a flexible sheath for easy insertion, allowing simultaneous pacing and sensing of both atrial and ventricular chambers, utilizing pre-formed wire configurations to ensure secure contact and minimize trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single ventricular pacing lead is inserted, then ventricular pacing is achieved, but atrial-ventricular synchrony is lost and pumping efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pacing system is segmented into two independent leads: one for atrial pacing and one for ventricular pacing. Each lead can be independently positioned and controlled, allowing separate optimization of atrial and ventricular pacing functions while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines atrial and ventricular pacing capabilities into a unified dual-chamber pacing system. By integrating both atrial and ventricular leads with a single pacemaker unit, the system achieves coordinated atrial-ventricular sequencing that restores synchrony and improves pumping efficiency.
2Productivity
If a second atrial lead is inserted for dual chamber pacing, then atrial-ventricular synchrony is restored, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and cumbersome in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The atrial lead is pre-positioned in the atrium before ventricular pacing is initiated. This preliminary placement of the atrial lead allows for immediate dual-chamber pacing capability once the lead is inserted, eliminating the need for time-consuming sequential insertion and positioning of multiple leads during emergency situations.
3Ease of operation
If traditional atrial leads are used, then atrial pacing is possible, but reliable anchoring in the atrium is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the anchoring function from the traditional lead design and implements it through a specialized atrial lead configuration with extended contact surfaces and mechanical engagement features. This extracted anchoring mechanism provides reliable fixation in the atrial chamber while maintaining the lead's electrical pacing functionality.
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
Enables reliable, efficient dual chamber pacing and sensing, maintaining physiological heart rhythm with minimal trauma and ease of use in emergency situations, improving blood flow and reducing the risk of loss of consciousness or death.
Implementation Method 1
The leads which are the wire conductors and electrodes are manufactured in different lengths and curved resiliently as discussed above with approximate distances between the electrodes to create a configuration or pattern as shown in the drawing as established inside the ventricle
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of insulated electrical wires bundled together to form at least two in-line sets of leads
Data Source
AI summary
A low profile transvenous electrode system for use in an emergency to sequentially pace both the atrium and ventricle of the heart in a dual chamber mode that includes a plurality of pre-formed, pre-shaped resilient insulated electrical wires bundled together in a tubular, flexible retaining sheath that is used as a guide and delivery system during insertion and removal of the electrode system. When the sheath is retracted, it allows the wires to escape from the sheath and because of their pre-formed shape, each wire having memory, the wires spread out and contact the endocardial surfaces inside the ventricle and atrium chambers. Each of the wires have ball tips to provide high current density and sensitivity.