Vascular Sensor Integrating Pressure and ECG Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interpreting blood pressure data without correlating it with cardiac rhythm is challenging, especially in diagnosing conditions like arrhythmia or pulsus alternans, as it requires simultaneous sensing of blood pressure and cardiac electrical activity for accurate interpretation.
Innovation Solution
An implantable vascular sensor with electrocardiogram electrodes and a pressure sensor that senses blood pressure and cardiac electrical activity, processing this data to generate waveforms and detect events or conditions within the body, and wirelessly transmitting this information for further analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a vascular pressure sensor is implanted to sense blood pressure data, then blood pressure measurement capability is improved, but the ability to accurately interpret blood pressure data is limited without simultaneous cardiac rhythm correlation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a pressure sensor and ECG electrodes into a single implantable vascular sensor device. The pressure sensor measures blood pressure while the ECG electrodes simultaneously record cardiac electrical activity, merging two separate measurement functions into one integrated device that captures both hemodynamic and electrical cardiac data for comprehensive analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable vascular sensor serves multiple functions: it acts as both a pressure sensor for blood pressure measurement and an ECG electrode array for cardiac electrical activity detection. This multi-functional device eliminates the need for separate implants, providing both pressure data and rhythm correlation capabilities from a single device
2Device complexity
If separate devices are used for pressure sensing and ECG monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but simultaneous sensing capability and data correlation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates pressure sensing elements and ECG electrodes within a single implantable housing, creating one unified device that simultaneously captures both pressure waveforms and electrical cardiac activity. This eliminates the need for multiple separate implants while ensuring precise temporal correlation between pressure and electrical events
3Loss of information
If multiple sensing functions are integrated into one device, then data correlation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device is divided into distinct functional modules: a pressure sensor module with sensing elements and a separate ECG electrode array, each optimized for its specific measurement function. These segmented modules are housed together in a single implantable unit, allowing independent optimization of each sensing system while maintaining integrated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor and ECG electrodes are nested within a common implantable housing structure. The smaller pressure sensing elements are positioned within the larger housing that also contains the ECG electrode contacts, creating a compact nested arrangement that integrates multiple functions in a space-efficient manner
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 accurate interpretation of blood pressure data by correlating it with cardiac rhythm, aiding in the diagnosis of cardiac conditions and events, and facilitating the detection of arrhythmias and other cardiac issues.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor disposed within an interior portion of the sensor module housing, the pressure sensor configured to sense blood pressure data within the blood vessel
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of electrocardiogram sensing electrodes coupled to an exterior portion of the sensor, the sensing electrodes configured to sense cardiac electrical data within the blood vessel
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for sensing cardiac electrical activity and blood pressure within a blood vessel are disclosed. A vascular sensor includes a fixation element configured to secure the vascular sensor within a blood vessel, a sensor module housing coupled to the fixation element, a pressure sensor disposed within an interior portion of the housing and configured to sense blood pressure within the vessel, and a number of electrocardiogram sensing electrodes exposed to tissue and blood within the blood vessel and configured to sense cardiac electrical data within the blood vessel. A controller module processes the sensed cardiac electrical data and blood pressure data and stores the data within a memory unit and/or transmits the data to a communicating device in wireless communication with the vascular sensor.