DBS Electrode Placement Using Neural Biomarkers for Anesthesia Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neurostimulation systems lack effective methods for monitoring the depth of anesthesia during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, particularly for patients with neurological disorders, as existing tools do not adequately account for neural activity in deep brain structures under general anesthesia.
Innovation Solution
A medical system that utilizes implantable electrodes to sense neural signals, compare them to reference signals, and determine the depth of anesthesia, aiding in DBS electrode placement by using sensed neural signals as biomarkers, and optionally adjusting anesthesia drug delivery based on neural activity analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If general anesthesia is administered during DBS surgery, then patient comfort and surgical conditions are improved, but monitoring the depth of anesthesia becomes difficult due to lack of reliable biomarkers in deep brain structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses EEG signals as an intermediary biomarker to indirectly monitor the depth of anesthesia in deep brain structures. Since direct measurement in deep brain structures is difficult, the system captures EEG signals from accessible locations and uses them as a proxy to assess anesthesia depth, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining good surgical conditions and achieving precise monitoring.
2Measurement precision
If neural signals are used as biomarkers for anesthesia depth, then monitoring precision is improved, but the complexity of the medical system increases due to additional sensing and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the implantable electrodes serve multiple functions: they both deliver DBS therapy and sense neural signals for anesthesia monitoring. By integrating these functions into a single system, the patent improves measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the sensing capability leverages the existing electrode infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the patient's own neural signals (EEG) as the biomarker source, eliminating the need for external or additional specialized sensors. The implantable electrodes themselves perform the sensing function, allowing the system to self-monitor anesthesia depth using internally generated signals rather than requiring separate monitoring equipment.
3Manufacturing precision
If DBS electrodes are placed precisely at target sites, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but surgical precision becomes difficult to achieve under general anesthesia where patient feedback is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring EEG signals during electrode placement and providing real-time information about anesthesia depth and neural response. This feedback loop allows the surgical team to adjust anesthesia levels and placement strategies to achieve optimal electrode positioning, compensating for the lack of patient feedback under general anesthesia.
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
Enhances the precision of DBS electrode placement and anesthesia management by using sensed neural signals as biomarkers, improving surgical outcomes for patients under general anesthesia.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing circuit configured to sense one or more neural signals representative of neural activity of a subject when connected to an implantable electrode
Data Source
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AI summary
This document discusses a medical system for coupling to one or more implantable electrodes. The medical system includes a sensing circuit, memory, and processing circuitry. The sensing circuit is configured to sense one or more neural signal representative of neural activity of a subject when connected to an implantable electrode of the one or more implantable electrodes, and the memory is to store a reference signal that is representative of a neural response associated with a state of arousal at or near an anatomical location of the implantable electrode. The processing circuitry is configured to compare the one or more sensed neural signals to the reference signal, and to determine a depth of anesthesia of the subject according to the comparison of the one or more sensed neural signals and the reference signal.