Concave Electrode Adapting to Skull Curvature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing neurostimulation technologies are either highly invasive or non-invasive methods lack portable and safe mobile devices for therapeutic use, with extracranial stimulation facing significant resistance due to the low conductivity of the skull, leading to increased power consumption and potential tissue damage from uneven current density distribution.

Innovation Solution

A disc-shaped electrode with a pre-shaped, concave stimulation surface and adaptive design, featuring incisions and cut-outs for flexibility, combined with a surgical mesh and silicone coating, to optimize contact with the skull and reduce resistance, ensuring efficient and safe electrical stimulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If extracranial electrodes are used for brain stimulation, then invasiveness is reduced, but resistance increases up to 40 times compared to intracranial stimulation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoidelectrical contact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is designed with a pre-shaped concave stimulation surface that adapts to the curvature of the skull. This curved geometry ensures optimal contact between the electrode and the non-planar bone surface, reducing contact resistance and improving electrical coupling without requiring intracranial placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode incorporates a flexible thin-film structure that can conform to the irregular surface of the skull. This flexibility allows the electrode to adapt to local variations in skull geometry, ensuring consistent contact and reducing resistance across different anatomical locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Use of energy by stationary object

If the electrode contact area is increased to reduce resistance, then power consumption decreases, but current density becomes non-uniform causing edge effects and potential tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcurrent density distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode incorporates a conductive gel layer with spatially varying properties. The gel has different conductivities in different regions, with higher conductivity at the center and lower conductivity toward the edges. This gradient structure redistributes the current density to be more uniform across the electrode surface, preventing edge effects and tissue damage while maintaining low overall resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the electrode is made rigid for structural stability, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to skull curvature decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode structural stabilityVSAvoidadaptation to skull curvature

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is constructed as a multi-layer structure with distinct functional layers: a rigid support layer for structural stability and manufacturing precision, a flexible thin-film conductive layer for adapting to skull curvature, and a conductive gel layer for optimal electrical contact. This segmentation allows each layer to fulfill its specific function without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution provides improved adaption to the skull's curvature, reducing resistance and power consumption, minimizing tissue damage, and enabling effective, portable neurostimulation with focused current penetration, enhancing the treatment of neurological disorders.

Implementation Method 1

the electrode is a disc-shaped electrode having a pre-shaped flat or concave stimulation surface... the stimulation surface of the electrode has a pre-shaped contour and shape which can optimally adapt to the outer shape of most areas of the skull

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the current must pass through the low conducting skull resulting in a resistance much larger for an extracranial stimulator compared to intracranial stimulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS10737091B2Electrode and electrode pad for the electrical stimulation of brain tissue or other tissue of a patient

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 PRECISIS AG

AI summary

An electrode for the electrical stimulation of brain tissue or other tissue of a patient is configured for location between skull and scalp of the patient. The electrode has a stimulation surface which is configured for contacting the skull of the patient. The electrode is a disc-shaped electrode having a pre-shaped flat or concave stimulation surface.