Burst Brain Stimulation Tuned to Pathological Oscillations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices struggle to effectively modulate bioelectrical brain signals oscillating at pathological frequencies associated with symptoms of conditions like Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, leading to muscle control and movement problems.
Innovation Solution
A medical device delivers electrical stimulation therapy to the brain, disrupting or suppressing oscillations at pathological frequencies by destructively interfering with these signals, using an inter-burst frequency selected based on the oscillation frequency, and adjusting the phase relationship to reduce or eliminate symptoms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous electrical stimulation is delivered to disrupt pathological brain signal oscillations, then symptom relief is achieved, but energy consumption increases and therapy effectiveness diminishes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by delivering electrical stimulation in discrete bursts rather than continuously. The stimulation is delivered as multiple pulses within each burst, with inter-pulse intervals between bursts, creating a periodic stimulation pattern that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through rhythmic disruption of pathological oscillations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the stimulation pattern adaptive and variable. The system adjusts burst frequency, pulse frequency, and number of pulses based on real-time detection of brain signal oscillation characteristics, allowing the therapy to dynamically respond to changing pathological states while optimizing energy utilization
2Reliability
If electrical stimulation is delivered at high frequency to disrupt pathological oscillations, then symptom suppression improves, but tissue stimulation intensity increases causing side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the electrical stimulation into discrete pulses within bursts, with intermittent periods between bursts. This segmented delivery pattern allows disruption of pathological oscillations through cumulative effect of multiple pulses while providing rest periods that reduce tissue stimulation side effects and allow physiological recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by delivering stimulation in rhythmic bursts with specific inter-burst intervals. This periodic pattern enables effective disruption of pathological brain signal oscillations through frequency-matched stimulation while the intermittent nature reduces cumulative tissue stimulation and associated side effects
3Reliability
If stimulation pulses are delivered continuously to maintain suppression of pathological oscillations, then therapeutic effect is maintained, but device battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by delivering electrical stimulation in time-limited bursts with intermittent periods between bursts. This periodic delivery maintains therapeutic effect through cumulative disruption of pathological oscillations while significantly reducing overall energy consumption and extending battery life compared to continuous stimulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by delivering stimulation in discrete bursts rather than continuous flow. Each burst delivers sufficient pulses to achieve therapeutic effect for that period, and the intermittent nature reduces total energy consumption, effectively extending battery life while maintaining adequate therapeutic coverage
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 electrical stimulation therapy effectively reduces or eliminates symptoms by modulating bioelectrical brain signals, suppressing oscillations at pathological frequencies, thereby managing conditions such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
Implementation Method 1
the medical device may deliver electrical stimulation that destructively interferes with the oscillations of the bioelectrical brain signals
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for delivering stimulation therapy to a patient. In one example, a medical device senses, via one or more electrodes, one or more oscillations of a bioelectrical signal of a brain of a patient. In response to sensing the one or more oscillations, the medical device generates a plurality of bursts of stimulation therapy pulses, the plurality of bursts comprising an inter-burst frequency selected based on a frequency of the one or more oscillations of the bioelectrical signal. Further, the medical device delivers the plurality of bursts of stimulation therapy pulses to the patient to modulate a state of the patient associated with the one or more oscillations of the bioelectrical signal.