Claims:CLAIMS:
I / We Claim:
1. A process of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device, comprising:
designing devices or necessary circuits;
simulating each block of said devices or circuits using power reduction techniques;
implementing 7 nm technology node to said simulated devices or circuits;
utilizing mathematical modelling to obtain a compact model with ultra-low power and high-performance devices or circuits; and
fabricating a circuit board with said obtained compact model,
whereby said process provides a pacemaker device with low power consumption while simultaneously maintaining small size of the components.
2. The process of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device as recited in claim 1, wherein said fabricated circuit board provides reduced drain current, reduced die area, and operates at deep sub threshold region of operation.
3. The process of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device as recited in claim 1, wherein said power reduction techniques utilized to simulate each block of said devices or circuits include either ultra-low power techniques or leakage power reduction techniques.
4. The process of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device as recited in claim 1, wherein said fabricated circuit board is further simulated to test for durability and reliability.
5. The process of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device as recited in claim 1, wherein said fabricated circuit board is validated using a 180 nm model after it is simulated. , Description:DESCRIPTION:
Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of pacemaker devices, and in specific relates to a durable ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device that is cost-effective, has long battery life and is designed to operate on ultra-low power.
Background of the invention:
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
The human heart is a small fist sized muscle in the chest
cavity. It is an organ found in all animal species. The heart can
be explained from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’
circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the
veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before
pumping it into the various arteries [1]. From an electrical
perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole
whose magnitude and direction varies in a cyclic manner [2].
This description makes it clear that the heart is self excitable
electrical stimulator. Two regions in the heart which act as the
natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial
Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is
first generated from the SA, then propagates down through
intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of
the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart
ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of
the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower
ventricles. This is the natural functioning of a heart muscle
(Fig. 1) [3]. Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused
by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main
problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block.
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60bpm and
failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can
result in sinus bradycardia [4]. AV block occurs when there is
a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the
ventricles [4]. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent
artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing
natural heart pacemaker.
[0002] A Human heart can be viewed from a mechanical perspective as the bodies’ circulatory pump that takes in deoxygenated blood through the veins and delivers it to the lungs for oxygenation before pumping it into various arteries. Similarly, from an electrical perspective, the heart can be described as an electric dipole whose magnitude and direction vary in a cyclic manner. Thus, the heart is a self-excitable electrical stimulator.

[0003] Two regions in the heart which act as the natural electric stimulator or pacemaker are the Sino arterial Node (SA) and the Atrioventricular Node (AV). The signal is first generated from the SA, then propagates down through intermodal pathways to the AV. This node acts as a damper of the current before it’s allowed to reach deep inside the heart ventricles. This delay assures the correct order of contraction of the upper heart chambers called atriums before the lower ventricles.

[0004] Any malfunction in this rhythmic activity is caused by the disturbance of this natural electric stimulation. The main problems are Sinus Bradycardia and AV heart block. Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute (bpm) and failure in the sinus node to generate a cardiac impulse can result in sinus bradycardia. AV block occurs when there is a delay or a failure of the atrial impulse to conduct to the ventricle. Such cardiac malfunctions require permanent artificial pacemaker systems to replace the already failing natural heart pacemaker.

[0005] A cardiac pacemaker is a device that periodically delivers electroshock to a cardiac patient's heart so as to enable the normal function of the heart. The pacemaker uses electrical impulses to regulate the heart rhythm or to reproduce that rhythm. Pacemakers are classified either as an extracorporeal type which gives an electric signal from outside the patient's body or as an implantable type which is implanted into the patient.

[0006] One of the main design challenges with a pacemaker, ICD and CRT devices today is to design a system with competitive longevity and in the same time have a device capable of delivering many kinds of therapies and supporting different kinds of sensors and other functionalities like radio communications to external equipment. The only power source of today's pacemakers/ICD is the battery.

[0007] In existing technology, a pulse generating implantable medical device that comprises a power source, a control unit, a plurality of switching units, a timing unit, a pulse generating unit is adapted to generate one or more stimulation pulses to be applied to human or animal tissue via one or more stimulation electrodes. The device comprises a coupling capacitor in series with each stimulation electrode. A stimulation pulse is applied during a stimulation pulse timing cycle that includes a stimulation phase and a recharge phase. The timing of the stimulation pulse timing cycle is controlled by the control unit via the timing unit and the switching units. The implantable medical device further comprises an energy storage unit and that, during the recharge phase, one or more of the switching units is adapted to establish an electrical connection between the stimulation electrodes and the energy storage unit in order to collect and store energy from applied stimulation pulses.

[0008] In general, battery size is limited due to the continuous endeavour to make the device smaller. This puts a lot of pressure on making everything in a pacemaker/ICD system as power-efficient as possible, which require that the electronics in the pacemaker/ICD is operated with less power. One of the largest power consumers in such a device is the stimulation pulses delivered to the patient. In order to stimulate the heart muscle, the stimulation pulse needs to contain a certain amount of energy. The power consumed by pacing stimulations is often more than 50% of total power utilization for pacemakers and CRTs. There exist no small-sized pacemaker devices that consume less power.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for a durable ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device with long battery life and is designed to operate on ultra-low power. A cost-effective pacemaker with smaller size components and the smaller overall size is required. A pacemaker device with reduced power consumption in the circuit board is the need of the hour. It is necessary to improve the battery life of existing pacemakers. There is a need for a cardiac pacemaker device with enhanced battery life besides reduced size. There exists a need for a cost-effective circuit board for cardiac pacemaker with reduced power consumption.
Objectives of the invention:
[00010] The primary objective of the invention is to provide a durable ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device with long battery life and is designed to operate on ultra-low power.

[00011] Another objective of the invention is to provide a cost-effective pacemaker with a circuit board equipped with small-sized components which in turn reduce the size of the circuit board.

[00012] The other objective of the invention is to reduce power consumption in the circuit board of the implantable cardiac pacemaker to improve battery life by maintaining short channel effects.

[00013] Yet another objective of the invention is to utilize 7nm technology node in manufacturing circuit board of the cardiac pacemaker device to enhance the battery life besides reducing the size of the circuit board.

[00014] Further objective of the invention is to develop a framework for the qualitative design that reduces the complexity of the electronic blocks and various passive components which in turn reduces the size of the motherboard.

[00015] Another objective of the invention is to provide a cost-effective circuit board for the cardiac pacemaker with reduced power consumption.
Summary of the invention:
[00016] The present disclosure proposes a durable ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device. The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[00017] In order to overcome the above deficiencies of the prior art, the present disclosure is to solve the technical problem to provide a durable ultra-low power cardiac pacemaker device that is cost-effective, has long battery life and is designed to operate on ultra-low power.

[00018] According to an aspect, the invention provides a process of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device. The process provides a pacemaker device with low power consumption while simultaneously maintaining the small size of the components. The process includes the steps comprising of designing devices or necessary circuits. Then, each block of the designed devices or circuits are simulated using power reduction techniques. The power reduction techniques utilized to simulate each block of the devices or circuits include either ultra-low-power techniques or leakage power reduction techniques.

[00019] Next, 7 nm technology node is implemented to the simulated devices or circuits. Late, mathematical modelling is utilized to obtain a compact model with ultra-low-power and high-performance devices or circuits. Finally, a circuit board is fabricated with the obtained compact model. In specific, the fabricated circuit board provides reduced drain current, reduced die area, and operates at deep sub threshold region of operation. The fabricated circuit board is further simulated to test for durability and reliability. Further, said fabricated circuit board is validated using a 180 nm model after it is simulated.

[00020] Further, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claims, and the attached drawings.
Detailed description of drawings:
[00021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

[00022] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary process of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[00023] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of various modules in the cardiac pacemaker device in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[00024] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device incorporated with a circuit board in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[00025] FIG. 4A depicts voltage vs time plot results of the circuit board in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[00026] FIG. 4B depicts simulation results of the circuit board in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
Detailed invention disclosure:
[00027] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps.

[00028] The present disclosure has been made with a view towards solving the problem with the prior art described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a durable ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device that is cost-effective, has long battery life and is designed to operate on ultra-low-power.

[00029] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 refers to a process 100 of designing a circuit board of an ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device. The process 100 provides a pacemaker device with low power consumption while simultaneously maintaining the small size of the components. The process 100 includes the steps comprising of designing devices or necessary circuits at step 101. Then, each block of the designed devices or circuits are simulated using power reduction techniques at step 102. The power reduction techniques utilized to simulate each block of the devices or circuits include either ultra-low-power techniques or leakage power reduction techniques.

[00030] Next at step 103, 7 nm technology node is implemented to the simulated devices or circuits. Late, mathematical modelling is utilized to obtain a compact model with ultra-low-power and high-performance devices or circuits at step 104. Later at step 105, a circuit board is fabricated with the obtained compact model. In specific, the fabricated circuit board provides reduced drain current, reduced die area, and operates at deep sub-threshold region of operation. Finally, the fabricated circuit board is further simulated to test for durability and reliability. Further, the fabricated circuit board is validated using a 180 nm model after it is simulated at step 106.

[00031] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 refers to an exemplary block diagram 200 of various modules in the circuit board of the cardiac pacemaker device. The various modules include electrode configuration switches 201, sensing and filtering amplifiers 202, analog to digital converters 203, programmable logic and timing control and therapy algorithms 204. The input from the physiological sensors 207 which monitor the heartbeat is sent to the programmable logic and timing control 204.

[00032] The programable logic and timing control 204 further utilizes memory 205 and telemetry coils 206 for storage and transmission of information. The battery power management system 208 is responsible to distribute power supply to the high voltage output pulse generator 212. The power supply passes from the battery power management system 208 to the high voltage output pulse generator 212 through the voltage and current reference generator 209, monitoring and measuring system and ADC 210, and finally reaches the output pulse generator 212 through the high voltage multiplier 211.

[00033] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 refers to an exemplary ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device 300 incorporated with a circuit board 303. The pacemaker device 300 comprises a casing 301 configured to house a battery 302 and a circuit board 303. The circuit board 303 is designed using 7 nm technology node to obtain an ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device 300 that can operate on ultra-low-power.

[00034] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B refer to various simulation results of the circuit board. In FIG. 4A various voltages are plotted against time to gauge write enable (WE), Data Input (DI), Bit line, and Bit line bar. Similarly, FIG. 4B depicts plots of energy per operation against supply voltage at various temperatures such as 80°C, 60°C and 40°C.

[00035] Numerous advantages of the present disclosure may be apparent from the discussion above. In accordance with the present disclosure, a durable ultra-low-power cardiac pacemaker device is provided with long battery life that is designed to operate on ultra-low power. The proposed device is a cost-effective pacemaker with a circuit board equipped with small-sized components which in turn reduce the size of the circuit board. The design process aids to reduce power consumption in the circuit board of the implantable cardiac pacemaker to improve battery life by maintaining short channel effects.

[00036] Further, the pacemaker device is designed by utilizing 7nm technology node in manufacturing circuit board of the cardiac pacemaker device to enhance the battery life besides reducing the size of the circuit board. The present disclosure develops a framework for the qualitative design that reduces the complexity of the electronic blocks and various passive components which in turn reduces the size of the motherboard. Further, the proposed design process provides a cost-effective circuit board for the cardiac pacemaker with reduced power consumption.

[00037] It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations can be made to the processes described in the foregoing examples without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.