Auricular Electrical Stimulation for Cerebral Blood Flow Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation are often ineffective, particularly in drug-resistant cases, due to limited access, side effects, and poor patient adherence, with a need for innovative methods to address underlying pathological mechanisms and improve cerebral blood flow.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive electrical stimulation device and method that applies specific electrical signals to the cutaneous sensory projections of cranial nerves in the outer ear to modulate cerebral blood flow, reducing arterial blood pressure and improving cardiac function, using transcutaneous or percutaneous electrodes with controlled electrical pulses and a controller to determine the stimulation signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pharmacological treatments are used to treat hypertension, then blood pressure can be reduced, but patient adherence is poor and side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological treatment (chemical system) with electrical stimulation of the auricle (physical/electrical system). The electrical stimulation device applies controlled electrical pulses to specific nerves in the ear region, thereby modulating blood pressure through neural pathways rather than through drug metabolism and side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - electrical stimulation of auricular nerves - between the treatment goal (blood pressure control) and the patient. This intermediary pathway allows blood pressure regulation through neural modulation rather than direct pharmacological intervention, improving adherence by avoiding drug-related side effects.
2Reliability
If multiple drugs are used to control blood pressure, then blood pressure reduction is achieved, but treatment complexity increases and compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical stimulation device performs multiple therapeutic functions through a single treatment mechanism. It can address hypertension, improve cerebral blood flow, and reduce cardiovascular risk factors simultaneously, replacing the need for multiple pharmacological agents and simplifying the treatment regimen to a single device application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple therapeutic effects into a single treatment approach. Electrical stimulation of the auricle simultaneously achieves blood pressure control, cerebral blood flow improvement, and cardiovascular protection, merging functions that would otherwise require multiple separate medications.
3Reliability
If pharmacological treatments are used, then some blood pressure reduction is achieved, but efficacy is low in resistant cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological mechanisms with electrical neural stimulation mechanisms. By directly stimulating the nerves in the auricle region, the treatment bypasses metabolic pathways and drug resistance issues, using electrical fields to modulate neural activity and achieve blood pressure control in resistant cases.
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 reduces systemic and pulmonary arterial blood pressure, decreases left ventricular hypertrophy, improves cardiac function, and reduces atrial fibrillation burden by enhancing cerebral blood flow, offering a complementary or alternative treatment to pharmacological therapies with potential for long-term blood pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
non-invasive electrical stimulation of nerves that project to the skin of the outer ear
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method are provided for modulating cerebral blood flow of a user by stimulating the nerves of a user. Modulating cerebral blood flow can be applied to the user for any of the following purposes: reducing systemic arterial blood pressure, reducing left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy, reducing pulmonary arterial blood pressure, treating heart failure and/or treating atrial fibrillation. An electrode is configured to be placed in contact with and provide the electrical stimulation signal to the nerves innervating a tragus of the user.