Closed-loop neurostimulator for chronic pain relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for chronic pain, such as electrical peripheral nerve stimulation, are often open-loop and lack clear modulation mechanisms, leading to suboptimal efficacy and significant side effects, as they do not adapt to the body's changing needs in real-time.

Innovation Solution

A closed-loop implantable neurostimulator system that uses a processor and trained computer models to analyze physiological signals and deliver corrective electrical stimulation to the dorsal horn or peripheral nerves, adjusting parameters in real-time to reduce pathological pain while preserving acute pain response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional model-free closed-loop stimulation is used to suppress pathological pain, then pain relief is achieved, but acute pain response is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidblocked acute pain response

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors physiological signals (local field potentials, neuronal spiking activity) from the dorsal horn and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust stimulation parameters. The controller compares measured pain-related neuronal activity against a healthy computer model and delivers corrective stimulation only when pathological patterns are detected, rather than continuously suppressing all activity. This feedback mechanism enables selective suppression of pathological pain while preserving normal acute pain responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes stimulation parameters (amplitude, pulse width, frequency) based on real-time analysis of physiological signals. Rather than using fixed threshold-based activation, the controller adjusts multiple parameters simultaneously to match the healthy computer model's predicted optimal stimulation, enabling precise control that distinguishes between pathological and normal pain processing patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If open-loop electrical peripheral nerve stimulation is used for chronic pain treatment, then pain modulation is provided, but modulation mechanisms are unclear and efficacy is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain treatment efficacyVSAvoidunclear modulation mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces open-loop fixed programming with closed-loop feedback control that continuously monitors pain-related neuronal activity in the dorsal horn. The controller uses this feedback to automatically adjust stimulation parameters, eliminating the need for trial-and-error manual programming and providing clear, measurable modulation mechanisms based on actual physiological responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual trial-and-error programming mechanics with automated computer-controlled parameter adjustment. The healthy computer model and controller algorithm substitute for clinician expertise and experience, providing consistent, optimized stimulation parameters based on mathematical models of healthy pain processing rather than subjective clinical judgment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual trial-and-error programming of stimulation parameters is used, then customization to patient needs is achieved, but programming time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestimulation parameter customizationVSAvoidprogramming time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment of stimulation parameters by automatically monitoring physiological signals and modifying its own operation based on detected pain-related neuronal activity. The controller serves itself by using the healthy computer model to determine optimal parameters without requiring external manual programming, enabling continuous adaptation to changing patient needs while minimizing clinician time investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The healthy computer model is pre-trained with mathematical characterizations of normal pain processing pathways before implantation. This preliminary preparation allows the system to immediately begin optimized, customized stimulation upon activation, eliminating the need for extensive post-implantation trial-and-error programming sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230233860A1Closed-loop peripheral nerve stimulation for restoration in chronic pain

Publication Date: 2023.07.27 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A closed-loop implantable neurostimulator system for mitigating chronic pain, the closed-loop implantable neurostimulator system including a neuromodulation device comprising one or more electrodes configured to measure a physiological signal of a subject and deliver an electrical stimulation signal to a target area in the subject and a controller, in communication with the one or more electrodes, comprising a processor and a computer-readable memory storing a trained healthy computer model, the controller configured to analyze the physiological signal that is measured using the trained healthy computer model to identify a corrective electrical stimulation signal that, when delivered by the one or more electrodes to the target area, reduces pathological neuronal events in the target area while preserving acute pain response.