Balance Prosthesis Neurostimulation for Vestibular Bypass Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balance support systems are bulky, expensive, and inefficient due to high power consumption, and direct sensory substitution via electro-stimulation of the vestibular system fails if the vestibular system is impaired upstream, such as in the brainstem, and require costly implantation of dedicated stimulation electrodes.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop approach that directly stimulates afferent sensory axons targeting specific sensory cortex areas via neurostimulation, using a sensor module, processing module, and transmitter module to elicit artificial sensory perceptions, providing precise balance feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct electro-stimulation of the vestibular system is used for balance restoration, then balance function can be substituted, but the approach fails when the vestibular system is impaired upstream (e.g., in the brainstem) and requires costly implantation of dedicated stimulation electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by stimulating afferent sensory axons that carry balance information from the vestibular system to the brain, rather than directly stimulating the vestibular receptors. This intermediary location in the sensory pathway allows the system to work even when upstream vestibular structures are impaired, as the stimulation occurs at a downstream point that can still transmit balance information to the cortex
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical vestibular system with an artificial neurostimulation system that directly activates sensory axons. This substitution bypasses the need for functional vestibular organs and directly creates artificial sensory perceptions in the brain, making the system applicable to various locations of vestibular impairment
2Ease of operation
If wearable tactile transducers are used to provide balance feedback, then balance information can be delivered to the user, but the system becomes bulky, expensive, and consumes high power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky mechanical tactile transducers with a neurostimulation-based system that delivers balance information directly through the nervous system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex external transducer arrays and reduces system bulk while maintaining effective balance feedback delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The neurostimulation system serves multiple functions: it provides balance feedback, can be adjusted for different impairment types, and eliminates the need for separate tactile transducer systems. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity and eliminates redundant components
Data Source
AI summary
A balance prosthesis device for an individual including a sensor module configured to obtain a sensor signal indicative of a balance or equilibrium state of the individual, a processing module configured to determine at least one neurostimulation signal based at least in part on the obtained sensor signal, and a transmitter module configured to transmit the determined neurostimulation signal to a neurostimulation device of the individual. The neurostimulation signal is configured to elicit an artificial sensation in a specific sensory cortex area of the individual via directly stimulating afferent sensory axons of the central or peripheral nervous system of the individual targeting sensory neurons of the sensory cortex area not directly associated with vestibulocortical pathways of the individual. The elicited artificial sensation provides a balance indication to the individual in order to support, mimic, substitute or enhance the natural sense of balance of the individual.