Cervical Nerve Stimulation Layout for Motor and Autonomic Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, migraine, and autonomic dysfunctions require invasive surgical interventions or have limited efficacy, and existing non-invasive methods do not effectively stimulate both motor and autonomic symptoms simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive stimulation device that synchronously stimulates the sternocleidomastoid muscles and cutaneous cervical nerve branches, including the lesser occipital, greater auricular, transverse cervical, and supraclavicular nerves, to modulate both motor and autonomic functions via the cervical sympathetic ganglia and higher autonomic centers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is performed to treat Parkinson's disease motor symptoms, then motor symptom improvement is achieved, but invasive surgical intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cervical cutaneous nerves as an intermediary pathway to stimulate higher autonomic centers and motor areas indirectly. Instead of directly stimulating the subthalamic nucleus through invasive electrodes, the device applies electrical stimulation to cervical nerves that project to brain regions involved in motor control and autonomic regulation, achieving therapeutic effects through a non-invasive mediator pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive approach of inserting electrodes into brain tissue with a non-invasive electrical stimulation method applied to peripheral cervical nerves. This substitution eliminates the need for surgical intervention while maintaining the ability to modulate neural activity in target brain regions through the nerve-stimulation pathway
2Reliability
If deep brain stimulation is used to treat motor symptoms, then motor function improves, but autonomic symptoms remain untreated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the stimulation device to simultaneously address both motor and autonomic symptoms through a single non-invasive intervention. By stimulating cervical cutaneous nerves that have projections to both motor control areas and autonomic regulatory centers, the device achieves multi-functional therapeutic effects including tremor reduction, rigidity improvement, and autonomic dysfunction management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the treatment of motor and autonomic symptoms into a unified stimulation protocol. The electrical stimulation parameters and electrode placement are optimized to activate neural pathways that converge on both motor and autonomic regulatory centers, combining what were previously separate treatment targets into a single integrated therapy
3Ease of operation
If non-invasive nerve stimulation is applied to the neck, then both motor and autonomic nerves can be stimulated simultaneously, but precise differentiation of stimulation targets is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning stimulation electrodes at specific anatomical locations on the neck where cervical cutaneous nerves are superficially accessible. The electrode placement and stimulation parameters are optimized to preferentially activate specific nerve fibers based on their local anatomical arrangement, allowing differential stimulation of motor versus autonomic nerve components despite the non-invasive approach
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 device provides simultaneous alleviation of motor and autonomic symptoms by modulating the cervical sympathetic ganglia and higher autonomic centers, improving symptoms of Parkinson's disease, migraine, and other conditions without invasive surgery.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting, via the nerve stimulator, electrical impulses sufficient to modulate the nerve non-invasively through the outer skin surface to the vagus nerve
Implementation Method 2
a vibrotactile stimulator for applying at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject's neck
Data Source
AI summary
A stimulation device includes a body containing at least one stimulation means adapted to be transcutaneously attached to the neck of a subject. The stimulation means is adapted to generate a stimulating signal during a stimulating state. The stimulation means is positioned to be in stimulating contact with the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the trunks of the lesser occipital nerve, greater auricular nerve, transverse cervical nerve or supraclavicular nerve with their autonomic fibers synchronously. The stimulation can be provided in the form an electrical, optical, vibrational, thermal, mechanical and/or magnetic stimulation. The stimulation device can be used bilaterally on the right and left sides of the subject's neck, working as a system in a synchronous or alternating manner.