Concave Neural Electrode with Flexible Lead Strain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrodes for nerve stimulation, particularly those designed for the vagus nerve, face challenges in minimizing nerve damage and ensuring secure placement during invasive procedures like laparoscopic surgery, often resulting in undesirable tension and displacement of the nerve.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible electrode with a concave surface and flexible design, featuring a strain relief mechanism to secure the lead at an angle less than 90 degrees, preventing nerve displacement while allowing for atraumatic placement and reducing the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrodes are used for nerve stimulation, then nerve damage is minimized, but electrode displacement and tension occur during placement
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode body is designed with a concave surface that curves to receive and conform to the cylindrical shape of the nerve. This curved geometry allows the electrode to wrap around the nerve securely, preventing displacement while maintaining gentle contact that avoids nerve damage during laparoscopic placement
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode incorporates a flexible lead with strain relief features including a curved section and flexible printed circuit board. This flexibility allows the lead to bend and accommodate the three-dimensional placement on the nerve without creating excessive tension that could displace the electrode or damage the nerve
2Ease of operation
If invasive procedures are used for electrode placement, then secure electrode placement is achieved, but procedure invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is divided into distinct functional components: a compact electrode body for nerve contact, a flexible lead with strain relief section, and connection elements. This segmentation allows the electrode body to be placed securely on the nerve through minimally invasive laparoscopic access, while the flexible lead manages stress away from the implant site
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible lead and strain relief design allow the electrode to be introduced through small laparoscopic incisions rather than requiring large open surgical access. The flexibility accommodates the confined spaces and movement during minimally invasive placement while maintaining secure electrode positioning
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid electrode structures are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but nerve injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode employs flexible materials including a flexible printed circuit board and elastomeric components that can be manufactured with high precision using modern fabrication techniques. The flexibility of these materials allows them to conform to the soft nerve tissue, distributing contact pressure evenly and eliminating stress concentration points that could cause nerve injury
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for applying a signal to a nerve for the treatment of a disorder includes a main electrode body of biocompatible dielectric material and having a concave upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The concave upper surface curves about an axis and has a curvature sized to receive a nerve within the concave surface with an axis of the nerve substantially parallel to an axis of the concave surface. An electrode contact of electrically conductive material is secured to the main electrode body and has an electrode contact surface exposed on the concave surface. The concave surface terminates at opposite first and second upper ends. The electrode contact has a first end near the first end of the concave surface. A secondary electrode body of biocompatible dielectric material is attached to the first upper end of the concave surface. An electrode lead has an electrical conductor surrounded by a biocompatible insulative coating with both the conductor and the coating flexible relative to a longitudinal axis of the lead. A first end of the lead is secured to the secondary electrode body and with a first end of said conductor electrically connected to said first end of said electrode contact.