Bipolar Needle Electrode for Targeted Tissue Regeneration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electro-medical devices for treating degenerated neuromusculoskeletal tissues face inefficiencies due to non-targeted current distribution, affecting healthy tissues and requiring high voltages, which leads to reduced effectiveness and contraindications for patients with implants, heart issues, and other conditions.

Innovation Solution

An electro-medical device utilizing a bipolar needle with a bevel area containing two electrodes for precise application of electrolysis and electro-stimulation, allowing for accurate measurement and targeting of damaged tissue without affecting surrounding healthy tissue, using a control logic system for impedance analysis and controlled current delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two electrodes are physically separated to induce galvanic current flow through damaged tissue, then regeneration of damaged tissue is initiated, but current flows through healthy tissue as well, reducing treatment effectiveness and increasing side effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidcurrent flow through healthy tissue
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is segmented into two distinct electrodes (anode and cathode) positioned at opposite ends of the same needle body, allowing independent current flow control through damaged tissue while minimizing current spread to healthy tissue. This segmentation enables targeted current delivery to the specific pathology between the electrodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bipolar needle configuration creates localized current flow between the two electrodes positioned at the needle tips, concentrating the therapeutic effect precisely in the damaged tissue between them while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unaffected. The current density is highest locally between the electrodes and decreases rapidly with distance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Length of moving object

If large distance between anode and cathode is used to treat deep lesions, then deeper tissue can be reached, but electrical bioimpedance increases, requiring greater potential difference and high voltage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth of treatmentVSAvoidvoltage requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from superficial electrode placement to percutaneous needle insertion, moving the treatment from a two-dimensional surface application to a three-dimensional approach that reaches deep lesions directly. The bipolar needle delivers current through the depth dimension while maintaining low voltage by keeping electrode separation minimal along the needle axis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If high voltage is applied to overcome high bioimpedance in deep tissue, then current can reach deep lesions, but all tissue between electrodes is affected regardless of health status

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth of lesion treatmentVSAvoidnon-selective tissue effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bipolar needle configuration creates a controlled current path that copies the anatomical path through damaged tissue, following the tissue layers between the two electrode tips. This copying approach ensures current flows selectively through the damaged tissue trajectory rather than spreading broadly to affect all intervening tissue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If galvanic current flows between separated electrodes, then tissue regeneration is initiated, but contraindications arise for patients with implants, heart issues, and other conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregeneration initiationVSAvoidpatient eligibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the current flow path to be confined strictly between the two bipolar electrodes inserted at the treatment site, removing the need for current to flow through the patient's entire body to complete the circuit. This extraction of the current path eliminates interaction with implants and electronic devices, removing contraindications for patients with such conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This approach reduces the need for high voltages, enhances treatment accuracy, and eliminates contraindications by focusing the electrical current and charge exclusively on the damaged area, improving treatment efficacy and safety for a broader range of patients.

Implementation Method 1

The treatment based on percutaneous electrolysis currently uses two electrodes, anode and cathode, through which a continuous current is induced into the affected tissue which is located between these electrodes, causing heating and decomposition of the damaged tissue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

causing heating and decomposition of the damaged tissue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

Electrical stimulation technology, as is known, is based on applying low intensity bipolar electrical impulses and this way stimulating the tissue for analgesic, antiinflammatory, relaxing or invigorating purposes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation:

Implementation Method 4

The main reaction caused by the anode is the decomposition of water, leading to a reduction in the pH in its proximity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 5

the reaction caused by the cathode gives rise to gaseous hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, thus increasing the pH in the proximity of the cathode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP3287072B1Device for the diagnosis and regeneration induced in tissues by means of therapeutic percutaneous electrolysis and focused electro-stimulation with a bipolar needle
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 IONCLINICS & DEIONIC
  • EP3287072B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3287072B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3287072B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Device for use in the medical and hospital sector for the diagnosis, induced regeneration of tissue by means of therapeutic percutaneous electrolysis and targeted electro-stimulation based on the use of at least one bipolar needle that comprises within a very small area of two electrodes located at the exterior and interior conductor of said bipolar needle, limiting the tissue to be treated within the bevel area of the needle without affecting the surrounding healthy tissue in which said bipolar needle is applied the necessary electrical signals for diagnosing the degree of degeneration and to calculate the necessary electrical charge for treating the damaged tissue while controlling said current in a manner that eliminates the contraindications that currently exist.