Combined Electrical and Ultrasound Energy for Tissue Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for stimulating tissue, particularly neural tissue, often fail to achieve a synergistic effect that enhances cellular function, as they either inhibit or facilitate function without combining energies effectively to produce a greater stimulatory effect.
Innovation Solution
The method involves providing a first type of energy that inhibits cellular function and a second type that facilitates cellular function, which can be electric and mechanical fields, applied simultaneously or sequentially, to achieve a combined effect that stimulates tissue function. This can include using an ultrasound device to emit a mechanical field that inhibits function and an electric source to facilitate function, targeting the same region of tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single type of energy (electrical or mechanical) is applied to tissue, then cellular function is either inhibited or facilitated, but the stimulatory effect is limited and cannot achieve synergistic enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two different types of energy (electrical energy from a pulse generator and mechanical energy from ultrasound) to be delivered simultaneously to the same tissue region. This merging of energy types produces a synergistic stimulatory effect that is greater than the sum of individual energy effects, resolving the limitation of single-energy applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite energy delivery system where electrical pulses and mechanical ultrasound waves work together in combination. This composite approach allows the system to achieve enhanced cellular stimulation that neither energy type could accomplish alone, addressing the need for greater adaptability in tissue stimulation.
2Duration of action of moving object
If electrical energy is applied to stimulate neural tissue, then cellular function is facilitated, but the effect is transient and does not persist after stimulation cessation
Solution Approach 1:
The combined electrical and mechanical energy application prepares the tissue in a primed state that maintains enhanced functionality after the stimulation period ends. The preliminary combined energy delivery creates lasting changes in neural excitability that persist beyond the active stimulation duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic pulsed electrical delivery combined with mechanical ultrasound to create sustained effects. The repeated cycles of energy application build cumulative changes in tissue properties that extend the duration of functional alteration beyond individual pulse durations.
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 combined energy approach results in a stimulatory effect that is greater than the sum of the individual energies, potentially facilitating or inhibiting cellular function, and can alter neural function persistently, making it suitable for treating various pathologies and applications such as neural stimulation, muscular stimulation, and tissue growth.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound device configured to emit a mechanical field that inhibits cellular function within the region of tissue
Implementation Method 2
an electric source configured to emit an electric field that facilitates cellular function within the region of tissue
Implementation Method 3
the stimulatory effect is greater than the summed effect of the first and second amounts of energy provided to the region of tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for stimulating cellular function in biological tissue. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method for stimulating cellular function within tissue that involves providing a first type of energy to a region of tissue, in which the first type is provided in an amount that inhibits cellular function within the region of tissue, and providing a second type of energy to the region of tissue, in which the second type is provided in an amount that facilitates cellular function within the region of tissue, wherein the combined effect stimulates cellular function within the tissue.