Cranial Implant Lens Structure for Transcranial Wave Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The size of standard burr holes in the skull limits their usefulness as synthetic apertures for diagnostic and therapeutic applications such as transcranial therapeutic ultrasound, diagnostic ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging, and electromagnetic wave intervention due to attenuation, scattering, and opacity of skull bone.
Innovation Solution
Cranial implant devices with optical and/or acoustic lenses made of electromagnetically translucent, electromagnetically transparent, sonolucent, and/or acoustically active materials are implanted within, beneath, or over cranial openings to facilitate transcranial mechanical and electromagnetic wave-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard burr holes are used for cranial openings, then surgical access is achieved, but wave transmission is limited due to attenuation and scattering by skull bone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces lens elements made of electromagnetically translucent or transparent materials as intermediary components between the external wave source and the intracranial target. These lens elements are implanted within or over the burr hole to mediate wave transmission, reducing attenuation and scattering effects of the skull bone while enabling focused wave delivery to deep brain structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cranial opening by incorporating lens elements with specific refractive indices, electromagnetic transparency, and acoustic properties. These parameter changes transform the burr hole from a simple aperture into an optimized wave transmission interface, improving both electromagnetic and acoustic wave penetration through the skull.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lens elements are added to enhance wave transmission, then diagnostic and therapeutic capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs lens elements that serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as electromagnetic wave lenses for imaging and therapy, acoustic wave lenses for ultrasound applications, and provide structural support for the burr hole. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the lens element with the burr hole structure itself, integrating the optical and acoustic lens functions directly into the cranial opening repair device. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate lens assemblies and mounting mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.
3Shape
If custom-shaped implants are used to match anatomical contours, then anatomical compatibility is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing and computer-aided design to change the manufacturing parameters from traditional mold-based methods to digital fabrication. This enables precise control over complex anatomical shapes while maintaining manufacturing efficiency, resolving the contradiction between custom shaping and ease of manufacture.
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
These devices enable enhanced diagnostic imaging and therapeutic interventions by allowing for the transmission and reception of mechanical and electromagnetic waves, providing a synthetic window into the intracranial space with minimal risk of infection and maintaining anatomical compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
at least one acoustic, optical, and/or photoacoustic lens element comprising one or more electromagnetically translucent, electromagnetically transparent, sonolucent, and/or acoustically active materials
Implementation Method 2
permits transcranial therapeutic ultrasound, transcranial diagnostic ultrasound
Implementation Method 3
at least one acoustic, optical, and/or photoacoustic lens element comprising one or more electromagnetically translucent, electromagnetically transparent materials
Implementation Method 4
permits electromagnetic wave diagnostic imaging, and/or electromagnetic wave therapeutic intervention
Implementation Method 5
at least one acoustic, optical, and/or photoacoustic lens element
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are cranial implant devices that include at least one acoustic, optical, and/or photoacoustic lens element comprising one or more electromagnetically translucent, electromagnetically transparent, sonolucent, and/or acoustically active materials. The cranial implant devices are structured for subgaleal scalp implantation within, beneath, and/or over at least one cranial opening of a subject and typically includes a substantially anatomically-compatible shape. In addition, the cranial implant devices permit transcranial therapeutic ultrasound, transcranial diagnostic ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging, electromagnetic wave diagnostic imaging, and/or electromagnetic wave therapeutic intervention of intracranial matter of the subject via the acoustic, optical, and/or photoacoustic lens element when the cranial implant device is subgalealy implanted within, beneath, and/or over the cranial opening of the subject. Other aspects are directed to various related systems and methods of obtaining diagnostic information from, and/or administering therapy to, a subject.