Wearable Defibrillator Machine Learning Tachyarrhythmia Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wearable automated external defibrillators (WAEDs) rely on conventional arrhythmia detection algorithms that analyze only recent electrocardiogram (ECG) data, failing to consider other types of sensor data and often resulting in inaccurate detections and unnecessary therapies.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a machine learning algorithm in a WAED system that uses a GPU and CPU architecture to probabilistically determine a patient's state by analyzing diverse data sources, including ECG signals and other physiological or environmental signals, allowing for more accurate detection of tachyarrhythmia and predictive capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional AED arrhythmia detection algorithms are used that analyze only recent ECG data, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is maintained, but the measurement precision of tachyarrhythmia detection is insufficient and false alarms occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetachyarrhythmia detection accuracyVSAvoidalgorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple data sources (ECG data, respiratory data, activity data) that were previously analyzed separately into a unified machine learning model. This integration allows the system to consider diverse physiological and environmental factors simultaneously, improving detection accuracy while managing complexity through consolidated processing architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The machine learning algorithm is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting tachyarrhythmia, distinguishing cardiac events from noise, and analyzing various sensor data types. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple specialized algorithms with a single versatile system that improves measurement precision across different detection scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional arrhythmia detection algorithms analyzing only seconds of ECG data are used, then the loss of information is minimal and processing speed is maintained, but the reliability of patient state determination is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient state determination accuracyVSAvoidsensor data utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from analyzing only temporal data (seconds of ECG) to incorporating multi-dimensional data sources including respiratory patterns, activity levels, and environmental factors. This dimensional expansion provides a more comprehensive view of patient state, improving reliability by considering physiological and environmental context beyond cardiac electrical activity alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the machine learning algorithm continuously processes incoming sensor data and updates patient state determinations. Historical sensor data is incorporated into the analysis, allowing the system to learn from patterns over time and improve reliability through cumulative information processing rather than isolated momentary assessments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If conventional AED algorithms are used that do not consider other sensor data, then the device complexity is low and power consumption is reduced, but the productivity of accurate tachyarrhythmia detection is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracy rateVSAvoidprocessing architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical signal processing algorithms with a machine learning-based computational system. This substitution enables the processing of diverse sensor data types and complex pattern recognition that would be impractical with conventional algorithms, thereby improving detection productivity through advanced computational methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of data analysis by incorporating multiple sensor modalities (ECG, respiratory, activity) and using machine learning models that can process variable data types. This parameter expansion allows the system to extract more information from the same hardware infrastructure, improving detection productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3829696B1Wearable defibrillation apparatus configured to apply a machine learning algorithm
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 MEDTRONIC INC
  • EP3829696B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3829696B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3829696B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed that is configured to be worn by a patient for cardiac defibrillation comprises sensing electrodes configured to sense a cardiac signal of the patient, defibrillation electrodes, therapy delivery circuitry configured to deliver defibrillation therapy to the patient via the defibrillation electrodes, communication circuitry configured to receive data of at least one physiological signal of the patient from at least one sensing device separate from the apparatus, a memory configured to store the data, the cardiac signal, and a machine learning algorithm, and processing circuitry configured to apply the machine learning algorithm to the data and the cardiac signal to probabilistically-determine at least one state of the patient and determine whether to control delivery of the defibrillation therapy based on the at least one probabilistically-determined patient state.