Arced Implant Unit Modulating Nerves via Flexible Carrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for sleep-related breathing disorders like obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, as well as conditions such as migraine headaches and hypertension, lack effective and minimally invasive methods for modulating nerves to address these conditions.
Innovation Solution
An implantable device with a flexible carrier unit and electrodes configured to modulate nerves through the delivery of energy, allowing for stimulation or inhibition of nerves to treat various physiological conditions, including sleep disorders, migraines, and hypertension, by being implanted near muscles and nerves involved in these conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional treatments for sleep-related breathing disorders are used, then patient compliance and effectiveness are improved, but invasiveness and complexity of the treatment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implant unit is divided into multiple independent components including a flexible carrier unit with electrodes, a separate antenna, and modular electrode pairs that can be independently positioned on different arms. This segmentation allows the device to be implanted in a less invasive manner while maintaining treatment effectiveness for sleep-related breathing disorders.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant unit is designed with multi-functional capabilities to treat various conditions including sleep-related breathing disorders, migraines, and hypertension. The flexible carrier unit with multiple electrode pairs can be configured to modulate different nerves depending on the treatment requirement, reducing the need for multiple separate devices and procedures.
2Reliability
If electrodes are positioned to effectively modulate nerves, then nerve modulation effectiveness is improved, but implantation complexity and precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible carrier unit is designed to be adaptable and flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to conform to the anatomical structures it contacts. This dynamic flexibility enables the electrode pairs to be positioned effectively on nerves while accommodating natural tissue movement and variation, reducing the need for extremely precise fixed positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for adjustable electrode configuration where electrode pairs can be positioned at different locations on the flexible carrier arms. The spacing and positioning of electrodes can be modified based on the specific anatomical requirements of each patient, optimizing nerve modulation effectiveness without requiring fixed precision manufacturing tolerances.
3Ease of operation
If the implant unit is designed to be flexible and adaptable, then ease of implantation is improved, but structural stability and positioning accuracy may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible carrier unit is designed with curved arms that can wrap around anatomical structures such as the genioglossus muscle. This curved configuration provides both flexibility for easy implantation and stability through conformal contact with the underlying tissue, preventing displacement while maintaining adaptability to individual anatomical variations.
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 device effectively modulates nerves to treat sleep-related breathing disorders, migraines, and hypertension by stimulating or inhibiting nerve activity, providing a minimally invasive solution for conditions that affect breathing, pain, and blood pressure regulation.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna, located on the central portion, configured to receive a signal
Implementation Method 2
at least one pair of electrodes arranged on a first elongated arm of the two elongated arms. The at least one pair of electrodes may be adapted to modulate a first nerve
Data Source
AI summary
An implant unit configured for implantation into a body of a subject is provided. The implant unit may include a flexible carrier unit including a central portion and two elongated arms extending from the central portion, an antenna, located on the central portion, configured to receive a signal, at least one pair of electrodes arranged on a first elongated arm of the two elongated arms. The at least one pair of electrodes may be adapted to modulate a first nerve. The elongated arms of the flexible carrier may be configured to form an open ended curvature around a muscle with the nerve to be stimulated within an arc of the curvature.