Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulator With Dual-Site Electrode Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vagus nerve stimulators face challenges in achieving effective and comfortable electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve due to difficulties in designing electrodes that can simultaneously and securely attach to the external acoustic meatus and cymba concha of the ear, leading to poor contact and increased manufacturing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A vagus nerve stimulator with two electrodes, one inserted into the external acoustic meatus and the other contacting the cymba concha, is designed with specific angular and spatial relationships between the electrodes to ensure close contact, using flexible conductive polymers and a connection mechanism to maintain attachment, allowing for adjustable and interchangeable electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the electrode is manufactured in a simple shape for ease of production, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the electrode cannot securely attach to both the external acoustic meatus and cymba concha, resulting in poor contact quality
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into multiple contact portions including a first contact portion for the external acoustic meatus and a second contact portion for the cymba concha. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific contact location, ensuring reliable attachment to both ear regions while maintaining a manufacturable overall structure.
2Reliability
If the electrode is designed to securely attach to both ear regions with complex structure, then contact quality is improved, but wearing comfort and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode incorporates a flexible plate structure that can elastically deform to adapt to the contours of the ear. This flexibility allows the electrode to securely contact both the external acoustic meatus and cymba concha while maintaining wearing comfort and ease of use, avoiding the need for rigid complex structures.
3Ease of operation
If the electrode structure is simplified for better wearability, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to simultaneously contact multiple ear regions is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode features an asymmetric design where the first contact portion and second contact portion are positioned at different locations and orientations on the flexible plate. This asymmetric configuration enables simultaneous contact with the external acoustic meatus and cymba concha while maintaining simplicity for easy wearing and use.
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 stimulator achieves improved contact with both ear regions, ensuring effective electrical stimulation and reduced manufacturing complexity and wearability, promoting neural plasticity and therapeutic efficacy through non-invasive brain stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
at least two electrodes which are worn on at least one of the left and right ears and generate electrical stimulation on the vagus nerve in the auricle
Data Source
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AI summary
Proposed is a vagus nerve stimulator having at least two electrodes that are configured to be worn on at least one of the left and right ears and are configured to generate electrical stimulation on the vagus nerve in the auricle. The vagus nerve stimulator may include: a body part configured to be located on a side of a wearer's ear; a first electrode configured to be inserted into and make contact with the external acoustic meatus of the wearer's ear; a second electrode configured to make contact with the cymba concha of the wearer's ear; a first electrode fixing part protruding from the body part and having a first electrode at an end thereof; and a second electrode fixing part protruding from the body part and having a second electrode at an end thereof.