Deep Brain Stimulation Electrode Array with Digital Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current deep brain stimulation (DBS) technologies face challenges in precisely positioning electrodes, leading to suboptimal treatment efficacy due to inadequate directional control of electrical current, resulting in unwanted side effects and reduced long-term effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A picafina device with a large number of small, independently controllable electrical pads connected via a digital addressing system and timed delay mechanism, allowing for precise control of electrical current distribution and directionality within the brain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a small number of electrodes are used for deep brain stimulation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the precision of electrical current delivery and directional control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the stimulation system into multiple independently controllable electrode segments (32 electrodes arranged in 4 quadrants with 8 electrodes each). Each electrode can be individually activated or deactivated, allowing precise control of current distribution patterns. This segmentation enables the system to achieve high precision current delivery without requiring a single complex electrode, thereby resolving the contradiction between device complexity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of electrode activation through programmable circuitry that can selectively enable or disable individual electrodes based on real-time requirements. The system dynamically adjusts which electrodes are active to optimize current delivery precision for different stimulation targets, resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptable rather than static.
2Manufacturing precision
If electrodes are positioned with high precision during implantation, then the directional control of electrical current is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the target location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that allow the system to monitor and detect the actual position and performance of electrodes after implantation. By measuring electrical characteristics and stimulation responses, the system can identify which electrodes are effectively reaching the target area, thereby reducing the difficulty of target location identification while maintaining high positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary testing and characterization of electrode positions during the implantation process itself. By pre-identifying functional electrodes and their effective ranges before full operation begins, the system reduces the complexity of subsequent target location identification, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and measurement difficulty.
3Area of stationary object
If electrical current is delivered to a large area of the brain, then the treatment coverage is improved, but unwanted side effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling independent control of individual electrodes and electrode groups, allowing the system to deliver current precisely to specific local regions of the brain. By activating only the electrodes that reach the intended target and keeping others inactive, the system achieves focused local stimulation that improves treatment coverage of the target area while minimizing current spread to surrounding areas, thereby reducing unwanted side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the brain stimulation field into multiple independent electrode zones that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to cover a large treatment area by activating different electrode segments for different targets, while maintaining precise spatial control that prevents current overlap in non-target areas, thus avoiding side effects.
4Device complexity
If the same electrodes are used for both measurement and stimulation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement and stimulation functions into a single integrated electrode system. The same electrode array serves dual purposes: detecting neural signals and delivering stimulation currents. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate measurement and stimulation electrode sets, while the programmable control system ensures that measurement and stimulation operations are coordinated to maintain adequate measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for neural and muscular stimulation, including DBS, cortical and muscle stimulation, heart pacemakers and similar applications. The improvement of our invention over prior art consisting of the possibility of a larger number of electrode pads from where to originate the electrical stimulation for better control of the process. Our invention discloses a system of address wires which controls switches and demultiplexers to select one of a plurality of wires and one of a plurality of electrode pads from where the electric stimulation starts, and latches that maintain some selected choices after the address buses go on to select other wires and other electrode tips. Our invention also discloses time delay lines which are used to keep the stimulating pulses for a pre-assigned time. Finally, our invention discloses telecontrol to select the active electrodes.