Auricular Nerve Field Stimulation With Trans-Auricular Electrode Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing percutaneous electrical stimulation devices for treating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and pain disorders are invasive, limiting their widespread application due to surgical implantation requirements.
Innovation Solution
Non-invasive auricular nerve field stimulation devices using percutaneous electrode-needle complexes or arrays, applied at specific frequencies, to target cranial nerves and neurovascular bundles for treating inflammation and pain disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, headaches, fibromyalgia, and functional abdominal pain disorders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If percutaneous electrical stimulation devices are used to treat pain and inflammation, then effective therapy can be provided to cranial nerves, but invasive surgical implantation is required which limits widespread application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the ear as an intermediary access point to reach cranial nerves. By placing electrodes in the ear canal or on the ear surface, the device provides a non-invasive pathway to stimulate cranial nerves (V, VII, IX, X) that would otherwise require direct surgical access to deep neural structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical surgical implantation process with a non-invasive electrical stimulation approach. Instead of mechanically implanting devices into the body through surgery, the system uses electrical signals delivered through ear-based electrodes to achieve therapeutic effects on cranial nerves.
2Reliability
If implanted bioelectric vagal nerve stimulation devices are used, then positive results for treating rheumatoid arthritis can be achieved, but invasive implantation procedure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the ear as an intermediary to access the vagus nerve and other cranial nerves. By delivering electrical stimulation through electrodes positioned in or on the ear, the system achieves vagal nerve modulation without requiring surgical implantation of devices into the chest or neck regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the delivery parameters of electrical stimulation by using the ear canal and ear surface as new pathways. This allows modification of current flow patterns, electrode positioning, and stimulation parameters to achieve therapeutic effects on the vagus nerve and other cranial nerves through a non-invasive route.
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 devices provide effective, non-invasive treatment for inflammation and pain disorders by modulating the immune system and neural responses, offering clinical improvements and reducing inflammation markers and pain symptoms without invasive surgery.
Implementation Method 1
electrical circuitry coupled to the first and second plurality of electrodes and configured to selectively apply electrical stimulation signals to at least one of the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes to cause a first set of trans-auricular currents to flow through the auricle
Data Source
AI summary
An auricular nerve field stimulation device may include a first plurality of electrodes arranged to contact a ventral aspect of an auricle, a second plurality of electrodes arranged to contact a dorsal aspect of the auricle, and electrical circuitry coupled to the electrodes and configured to selectively apply electrical stimulation signals to the electrodes to cause a first set of trans-auricular currents to flow through the auricle between the first plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes paired therewith according to a first pairing, and to cause a second set of trans-auricular currents to flow through the auricle between the first plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes paired therewith according to a second pairing different from the first pairing, the first and second sets of trans-auricular currents to stimulate at least one auricular nerve field within the auricle. Methods of utilizing nerve field stimulation device.