C Fiber Stimulation Apparatus Using Bipolar Waveforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for selectively stimulating C fibers are inefficient due to the need for large-scale equipment, low accuracy, and difficulty in distinguishing C fibers from other nerve fibers, especially in diabetic nerve disorder detection, where early detection is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A pain sensory nerve stimulation apparatus with a bipolar stimulation signal system using a needle electrode and a surrounding contact electrode, where the stimulation signal includes a first waveform convex in the negative direction and a second waveform convex in the positive direction, allowing for precise and independent stimulation of C fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser apparatus is used to stimulate only C fibers, then C fiber stimulation is achieved, but large-scale testing equipment and facility are required, increasing size, cost, and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical laser system with an electrical stimulation system using a simple electrode and pulse generator. This substitution achieves C fiber stimulation through electrical parameters (pulse width 50-200 μs, specific polarity) without requiring complex laser equipment, facilities, or safety infrastructure, thereby resolving the contradiction between stimulation accuracy and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses specific electrical parameter settings (pulse width of 50-200 μs, bipolar waveform with specific polarity sequence, current intensity range) to selectively stimulate C fibers. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves high C fiber stimulation probability with a simple electrode apparatus, eliminating the need for large-scale equipment while maintaining stimulation accuracy
2Ease of operation
If a surface electrode is used for stimulation, then stimulation can be applied, but stimulation intensity must be large causing co-stimulation of other nerve fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a needle electrode with a small active stimulation area at its tip, creating highly localized current density. This concentrated local stimulation allows use of lower overall intensity while achieving sufficient current density at the target site to selectively activate C fibers without co-stimulating surrounding larger nerve fibers, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and selective stimulation reliability
3Ease of manufacture
If electrical stimulation with simple polarity is used, then stimulation can be applied, but C fibers cannot be selectively stimulated among Aδ and C fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs bipolar waveform stimulation with specific temporal characteristics (pulse width 50-200 μs, biphasic configuration) to selectively stimulate C fibers. The periodic electrical action with optimized timing parameters exploits the electrophysiological properties of C fibers to achieve selective activation, maintaining system simplicity while enabling accurate fiber type discrimination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses specific electrical parameters including bipolar waveform configuration, pulse width of 50-200 μs, and controlled current intensity to selectively stimulate C fibers. These parameter optimizations enable differentiation between C fibers and Aδ fibers using a simple electrical stimulation system, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and measurement precision
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 apparatus achieves high probability and accuracy in stimulating only C fibers, regardless of operator skill, facilitating early detection and control of diabetic nervous disorders with minimal impact on other nerve fibers.
Implementation Method 1
a pain sensory nerve stimulation apparatus which, with respect to the primary pain sense produced by stimulation of Aδ fibers, and the secondary pain sense produced by stimulation of C fibers, can perform only stimulation of C fiber
Data Source
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AI summary
A pain sensory nerve stimulation apparatus includes: an electrode portion including: a first electrode, a tip end of which is adapted to be inserted into a skin; and at lease one second electrode which is disposed in a circumference of the first electrode without being electrically conductive with the first electrode, and which is adapted to be in contact with a skin; and a stimulation signal supplying unit, supplying a bipolar stimulation signal between the first electrode and the second electrode, the bipolar stimulation signal including a first waveform signal and a second waveform, the first waveform which is convex in a negative direction in the first electrode, the second waveform signal which is convex in a positive direction in the first electrode.