Apical Splenic Nerve Stimulation for Targeted Inflammation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrostimulation methods for treating inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis, often cause off-target effects due to stimulation of the vagus nerve, which innervates multiple tissues, and stimulation of the splenic artery nerve plexus can lead to arterial and pancreatic complications.
Innovation Solution
Reversible electrostimulation of the apical splenic nerve, a discrete terminal branch, modulates pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, reducing inflammation by increasing neural activity with minimal impact on arterial pressure and heart rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vagus nerve is stimulated to treat inflammatory disorders, then anti-inflammatory effects are achieved, but off-target effects occur due to innervation of multiple tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the splenic nerve into distinct components by identifying and stimulating only the apical branch that enters the superior pole of the spleen, separating it from other neural structures. This selective segmentation allows targeted anti-inflammatory effects while avoiding stimulation of nerves innervating other organs, thus resolving the contradiction between therapeutic efficacy and off-target effects.
2Reliability
If the splenic artery nerve plexus is stimulated, then inflammatory response is modulated, but arterial and pancreatic complications occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and isolates the apical splenic nerve branch from the complex splenic nerve plexus surrounding the splenic artery. By taking out only the specific apical branch that enters the superior pole of the spleen and excluding the arterial plexus components, the method achieves inflammatory modulation without causing arterial smooth muscle contraction or pancreatic stimulation, thereby resolving the contradiction between therapeutic effect and harmful side effects.
3Measurement precision
If a discrete terminal branch of the splenic nerve is stimulated, then specificity is improved, but identification and access difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs preliminary anatomical mapping and identification techniques to locate the apical splenic nerve branch before stimulation. By pre-identifying the nerve's course from the superior pole of the spleen and its relationship to surrounding structures, the method facilitates subsequent targeted stimulation while maintaining high specificity, thus resolving the contradiction between precise nerve identification and procedural difficulty.
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
The method effectively treats inflammatory disorders by restoring the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, reducing inflammation without significant side effects on basal body functions.
Implementation Method 1
reversible electrostimulation of an apical splenic nerve is capable of decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and increasing LPS-induced anti-inflammatory cytokine levels
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for the stimulation of neural signalling of an apical splenic nerve, the device having a transducer for placement on or around the apical splenic nerve, and a signal generator to generate a signal that stimulates or inhibits the neural activity of the apical splenic nerve to produce a physiological response. The transducer has at least one electrode, and the signal generator is a voltage or current source. The stimulation electrical signal has a frequency of between 1 Hz and 50 Hz.