Bipolar Spinal Cord Stimulation for Cough Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with spinal cord injuries and strokes face respiratory complications due to paralysis of expiratory muscles, leading to ineffective coughing and increased morbidity and mortality, with current methods being invasive, uncomfortable, and requiring trained personnel.
Innovation Solution
The use of unipolar and bipolar electrical stimulation of expiratory muscles via wire leads placed along the spinal cord, allowing for non-invasive activation of abdominal and internal intercostal muscles to generate effective coughing pressures and airflow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical insufflation-exsufflation devices or assisted cough techniques are used, then cough effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and requirement for trained personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of cough generation by directly stimulating the expiratory muscles through electrical signals, removing the need for complex mechanical insufflation-exsufflation devices. The electrical stimulation system activates the abdominal and intercostal muscles to produce natural cough pressures and flows, simplifying the overall system while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical stimulation system enables patients to generate their own cough response through direct muscle activation, eliminating the need for trained personnel to perform manual assisted cough techniques. The system is designed for patient autonomy, allowing self-administration of cough therapy without requiring specialized caregiver training.
2Stress or pressure
If surface abdominal muscle stimulation or mechanical devices are used, then cough pressure is improved, but ease of operation and portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from surface-level abdominal muscle stimulation to direct spinal cord stimulation, accessing the neural control pathway for expiratory muscles. By stimulating the spinal cord segments that control abdominal and intercostal muscles, the system generates more effective cough pressures while maintaining portability through a compact implantable device.
3Reliability
If invasive procedures are used to stimulate expiratory muscles, then cough effectiveness is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electrical stimulation as an intermediary to activate expiratory muscles indirectly through spinal cord stimulation, avoiding direct invasive procedures into the respiratory system. The electrical signals serve as a mediator between the external controller and the target muscles, achieving effective cough generation without direct mechanical or surgical intervention in the thoracic cavity.
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 method provides a portable, less invasive means to achieve effective coughing pressures and airflow rates, reducing respiratory infections and the need for caregiver assistance, improving patient quality of life and reducing healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
electrical stimulation, such as unipolar and/or bipolar stimulation, is applied using the electrodes to cause the expiratory muscles to produce cough
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for electrical stimulation of the expiratory muscles in humans or other mammals to produce cough in patients with spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis of the expiratory muscles. An electrode, or a group of two or more electrodes (i.e. wire lead electrodes, disc electrodes, etc.) are positioned along the spinal cord, usually along the dorsal epidural surface. The electrodes can be located at different spinal cord levels and can be located in a parallel arrangement. Electrical stimulation, such as bipolar electrical stimulation, is then applied to activate the expiratory muscles and produce cough.