Transcutaneous Cranial Nerve Stimulation With Audio Cues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical treatments for conditions such as tinnitus, epilepsy, headaches, PTSD, and other neurological disorders often require invasive procedures, which can be costly, risky, and inconvenient, and do not allow for immediate self-administration at home.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive system that delivers electrical impulses and audio signals to cranial nerves through electrodes positioned on or near the ear, combining electrical stimulation with audio signals like music or white noise to treat various medical and non-medical conditions, using a stimulator with an electrode and audio source housed in a contact surface for transcutaneous nerve stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invasive procedures are used for nerve stimulation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient risk and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical surgical procedures with non-invasive electrical field-based nerve stimulation. Instead of surgically implanting electrodes directly onto nerves, the system uses external electrical fields to stimulate cranial nerves through the skull, eliminating surgical risks while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness for conditions like epilepsy and depression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the skull and scalp as an intermediary medium between the external electrical stimulus and the target cranial nerves. Rather than requiring direct contact with nerves, the system delivers electrical impulses through the skull, using the body's natural structures as a transmission medium to achieve non-invasive nerve modulation.
2Reliability
If invasive procedures are used for nerve stimulation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but convenience and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to self-administer nerve stimulation therapy at home without requiring surgical intervention or continuous medical supervision. The portable device allows users to independently apply therapeutic electrical stimuli to their own cranial nerves, making treatment accessible and convenient while maintaining clinical effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic electrical stimulation pulses delivered at specific frequencies to modulate cranial nerve activity. This periodic action allows the therapy to be administered in controlled sessions rather than requiring continuous invasive monitoring, improving patient convenience and accessibility while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive electrical stimulation is used, then patient safety and convenience are improved, but treatment effectiveness may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes electrical stimulation parameters including voltage, frequency, pulse width, and duty cycle to achieve effective cranial nerve modulation through non-invasive means. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system delivers sufficient electrical energy to stimulate nerves through the skull while maintaining patient safety and avoiding tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses targeted electrode placement and focused electrical field delivery to concentrate stimulation energy on specific cranial nerve locations. This local quality approach ensures that the electrical energy is directed precisely at the intended neural targets, maximizing treatment effectiveness while minimizing energy dispersion and potential harm to surrounding tissues.
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 system provides effective, convenient, and cost-effective treatment for a range of conditions, including tinnitus, epilepsy, and stress-related disorders, enhancing relaxation, improving cognitive performance, and promoting overall well-being, with potential for temporary or permanent improvements in intelligence and health span.
Implementation Method 1
an energy source coupled to the stimulator and configured to generate at least one electrical impulse and to transmit the at least one electrical impulse transcutaneously from the electrode through the outer skin surface to the nerve
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods are provided for stimulating one or more cranial nerve(s) of a user. The systems and methods combine an electrical stimulation signal with an audio signal, such as music, white noise, ambient sound, filtered music, and the like. The combination of the nerve stimulation and the audio signal may be specifically designed to treat various diseases or disorders and/or for non-medical purposes, such as improving the general well-being of the user, reducing stress and the like. In certain embodiments, the electrical impulses comprise a burst stimulation and a tonic stimulation. The burst stimulation may comprise a burst of pulses. The bursts and/or the pulses may have frequencies that vary throughout the duration of the treatment.