Deep Brain Stimulation Steering Electrical Current Away from Oculomotor Nerve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems often cause side effects such as uncontrolled eye movements due to improper targeting or over-treatment, as the stimulation parameters remain unchanged despite changes in patient symptoms over time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that senses eye movement using EOG, EMG, or dipole movement detection, and adjusts the electrical current distribution to steer the stimulus away from the oculomotor nerve, modifying the electrode configuration to minimize side effects while maintaining effective treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deep brain stimulation parameters are increased to improve treatment efficacy, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but eye movement side effects worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of stimulation parameters based on real-time sensing of eye movement. The system transitions from static, predetermined stimulation parameters to dynamic parameters that adapt continuously based on sensed physiological conditions, allowing optimization of treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects at different time points.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a closed-loop feedback mechanism where eye movement is sensed and used to adjust stimulation parameters. The feedback loop continuously monitors the physiological response (eye movement) and modifies the stimulation accordingly, enabling the system to maintain effective treatment while reducing harmful side effects through real-time adaptation.
2Device complexity
If stimulation parameters remain unchanged over time, then device simplicity is maintained, but treatment adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of stimulation parameters based on its own sensing capabilities. The DBS device automatically detects changes in physiological conditions through integrated sensors and modifies its own operation without requiring external intervention, thereby adapting to symptom changes while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The stimulation electrodes serve multiple functions: both delivering therapeutic stimulation and sensing physiological parameters. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to changing conditions without requiring separate sensing devices, thereby improving adaptability while controlling device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If closed-loop sensing is implemented to adjust stimulation parameters, then treatment adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensing and stimulation functions into a single integrated system. By merging the sensing electrodes with the stimulation electrodes and integrating the control logic into the existing DBS architecture, the system achieves closed-loop adaptability while minimizing the increase in device complexity through consolidation of components.
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 effectively mitigates eye movement side effects by dynamically adjusting the electrical stimulus, ensuring continued efficacy in treating neurological disorders while reducing unwanted eye movements.
Implementation Method 1
sensing eye movement. Sensing the eye movement may include sensing an eyelid movement, a direction of eyeball movement, a speed of eyeball movement, and/or a frequency of eyeball movement. EOG, EMG, internal sensors, and/or dipole movement detection may be used to sense eye movement.
Implementation Method 2
sensing eye movement. Sensing the eye movement may include sensing an eyelid movement, a direction of eyeball movement, a speed of eyeball movement, and/or a frequency of eyeball movement. EOG, EMG, internal sensors, and/or dipole movement detection may be used to sense eye movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for applying stimulation to a target stimulation site within a patient, while avoiding undesirable eye movement side effects of the stimulation, are provided. The method includes determining whether eye movement, sensed by internal or external electrodes, is a side effect of a conveyed electrical stimulus. If the eye movement is a side effect, the electrical current distribution of the stimulus is modified in order to steer a locus of the electrical stimulus from one tissue region of the patient to another different tissue region of the patient, thereby mitigating the eye movement side effects. For example, the locus of the electrical stimulus may be steered away from the oculomotor nerve. Eye movement side effects of DBS treatment may include apraxia of lid opening, downward movement and adduction of only one eyeball, and/or continuous deviation of both eyeballs.