DBS Electrode Positioning Motorized Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical stimulation technologies, such as Deep Brain Stimulation and heart pacemakers, face challenges in precisely adjusting the position and direction of stimulating electrodes, leading to suboptimal results and side effects due to inaccuracies in electrode placement and limited options for electrical pulse delivery.
Innovation Solution
The development of a method and device that allows for fine adjustment of electrode position along both axial and rotational axes, enabling precise selection of stimulation sites within the brain or heart, using a combination of motors to move and rotate the electrode array, thereby improving the accuracy and effectiveness of electrical stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the picafina is kept small to minimize brain tissue injury, then patient safety is improved, but the number of wiring options and stimulating pads is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the stimulating elements into multiple separate rings (typically 4 rings with 8 pads each) distributed along the length of the picafina. This segmentation allows the device to maintain a small overall size while providing numerous individual stimulating pads that can be selectively activated. Each ring contains multiple pads arranged circumferentially, and the rings are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, creating a distributed array of stimulating elements that fits within the size constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the picafina by distributing rings along its length rather than concentrating all pads at a single location. The rings are spaced approximately 1mm apart along the 4mm long picafina, effectively using the third dimension (length) to pack more stimulating pads into a compact overall structure. This dimensional distribution allows 32 potential stimulating pads to be accommodated in a small device.
2Reliability
If the picafina is inserted deep into the brain for optimal stimulation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but positioning accuracy becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a motorized adjustment mechanism that allows the picafina to be dynamically repositioned along its longitudinal axis after insertion. The motor can move the picafina in discrete steps (e.g., 0.5mm or 1mm increments) to align different rings with the target brain region. This dynamic adjustment capability compensates for initial positioning inaccuracies and enables precise targeting of deep brain structures without requiring extremely precise surgical placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of electrode-ring selection to optimize stimulation. By providing multiple rings at different positions along the picafina, each with multiple pads, the system allows selection of different spatial parameters (which ring and which pad within the ring) to achieve optimal stimulation of the target nucleus. This parameter variation enables fine-tuning of the stimulation field to match the 3D architecture of brain nuclei.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wires are used to connect each electrode pad, then stimulation options are increased, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a multiplexed addressing system where a small number of wires (e.g., 5-7 wires) can selectively address and activate any of the 32 pads through binary or unary coding. Each wire carries address information that identifies which specific pad should be activated. This universal addressing scheme allows the same set of wires to control all pads at different times, eliminating the need for dedicated wires for each pad while maintaining full stimulation options.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses digital addressing codes to represent pad selections, creating a virtual mapping between physical pads and electrical addresses. Instead of requiring physical one-to-one wiring connections, the system uses electrical codes (binary or unary) to copy the function of multiple wires into fewer wires. For example, 5 wires can represent 32 different pad addresses through binary coding, significantly reducing the physical wire count while maintaining full pad accessibility.
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
This solution enhances the precision of electrical stimulation, reducing side effects and improving the efficacy of treatments by allowing for optimal placement and direction of electrical pulses, leading to better motor control and heart pumping sequences.
Implementation Method 1
a motor capable of moving the picafina along its longitudinal dimension
Implementation Method 2
another motor capable of rotating the picafina around its longitudinal dimension
Implementation Method 3
four rings with a total of 32 pads, or electrodes, distributed around its circumference... capable of delivering electrical current to be applied to the brain
Data Source
AI summary
A device, method and means to adjust the position of a picafina Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS). It is notoriously difficult to find the correct positioning of the picafina for best stimulating results, because it is not possible for the neurosurgeon to visually observe its position. We disclose a device, method and means to adjust the position of the picafina after it is inserted in the brain, for the best stimulating effect.