Dynamic Autonomic Dysregulation Diagnosis via Posture-Stimulus Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnosis and treatment methods for brain injuries and disorders often neglect soft or functional lesions, leading to inadequate rehabilitation outcomes, particularly in cases of traumatic brain injuries and developmental disorders, where traditional treatments like medication and surgery have poor outcomes for conditions like reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Innovation Solution

A method that systematically evaluates dynamic autonomic dysregulation by varying body postures and sensory stimuli to identify optimal combinations that stimulate the nervous system, promoting improved brain function without medication or surgery, using techniques like TENS, non-painful heat/cold, visual, and vestibular stimulation to enhance autonomic responses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional treatment methods (medication and surgery) are used for brain injuries and disorders, then immediate life-threatening conditions can be addressed, but soft or functional lesions are neglected leading to poor rehabilitation outcomes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverehabilitation outcomesVSAvoidtreatment approach flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment approach is segmented into multiple components: (1) traditional acute care for life-threatening conditions, and (2) a new multi-modal rehabilitation protocol for soft/functional lesions. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of patient care without compromise, improving overall rehabilitation outcomes while maintaining treatment versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple previously separate treatment modalities into a unified rehabilitation protocol: transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, sensory-motor training, and autonomic nervous system modulation. This combination creates a synergistic effect that addresses complex functional lesions more effectively than any single treatment alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a standardized treatment protocol is used across different facilities, then treatment consistency improves, but geographic and practitioner variability in diagnosis and treatment selection persists

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment protocol consistencyVSAvoidtreatment implementation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protocol establishes specific parameter ranges for each intervention (e.g., TMS frequency, tDCS current intensity, sensory stimulation parameters) that can be objectively measured and standardized. These quantifiable parameters enable consistent replication across different facilities while maintaining ease of adjustment based on individual patient response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment protocol incorporates continuous feedback mechanisms where patient responses to each intervention are monitored and used to adjust subsequent treatments. This feedback loop ensures standardized quality control while allowing practical adaptation to individual patient needs, bridging the gap between protocol consistency and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If only life-threatening aspects of brain injury are addressed, then immediate survival is improved, but functional and physiological lesions are neglected resulting in lasting cognitive and autonomic impairments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurvival rateVSAvoidfunctional recovery

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protocol initiates functional rehabilitation interventions early in the recovery process, before patients are fully stabilized from acute injury. By starting sensory-motor training and neuromodulation therapies during the subacute phase, the treatment capitalizes on neuroplasticity windows to prevent long-term functional deficits while maintaining life support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rehabilitation protocol is designed as a continuous, progressive program that evolves from acute stabilization through subacute rehabilitation to long-term functional restoration. This continuity ensures that functional recovery efforts never中断, systematically addressing cognitive, motor, and autonomic deficits throughout the entire recovery trajectory.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11076804B2Method for diagnosis of and therapy for a subject having a central nervous system disorder

Publication Date: 2021.08.03 PEDRO VICTOR M

AI summary

A method is provided of systematically evaluating and treating dynamic autonomic dysregulation in a subject. The method includes having the subject sequentially assume a plurality of distinct postures that may include, for example, walking, standing, sitting or supine. In each posture of the subject, the subject is subjected to sensory stimulation while measuring at least one autonomic physiological response of the subject. The autonomic physiological response may include, for example, oxygen saturation, heart rate, pupillary response, blood pressure, sweat production, pseudomotor activity or respiration. The physiological responses in each of the distinct postures are evaluated to identify a posture wherein the subject exhibits a least amount of dysfunction.