Electrical Stimulation Phase Control from Neural Tissue Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices for electrical stimulation therapy lack the ability to effectively control phase relationships between tissue regions, leading to inefficiencies in neural communication and suboptimal treatment of conditions like Parkinson's tremors and seizures.

Innovation Solution

A medical device system that determines phase relationships between tissue regions using current source density measurements and adjusts electrical stimulation parameters to align with target phase relationships, enhancing neural communication and improving treatment efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical stimulation therapy is delivered without controlling phase relationships, then the device complexity is reduced, but the treatment efficacy for conditions like Parkinson's tremors and seizures deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system measures actual phase relationships between tissue regions using current source density measurements from multiple electrodes, compares these measurements to target phase relationships, and adjusts stimulation parameters based on the comparison to achieve desired phase alignment, thereby improving treatment efficacy through closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes target phase relationships that represent desired neural communication patterns, and uses these predetermined targets to guide the adjustment of stimulation parameters before delivering therapy, ensuring optimal phase alignment is achieved proactively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If phase relationships are optimized to improve neural communication, then treatment efficacy improves, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts stimulation parameters to achieve the minimum necessary phase alignment required for therapeutic effect rather than maximizing stimulation intensity, thereby maintaining treatment efficacy while minimizing energy consumption through proportional adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically modifies stimulation parameters including amplitude, pulse width, and frequency based on measured phase relationships and their deviation from targets, allowing energy-efficient adjustment of therapy delivery to match actual neural communication needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If phase relationships are monitored and adjusted in real-time, then treatment precision improves, but the measurement and control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment precisionVSAvoidmeasurement and control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously measures phase relationships between tissue regions using current source density measurements from multiple electrodes, compares these measurements to target phase relationships, and adjusts stimulation parameters based on the comparison to achieve desired phase alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses electrical measurements and computational algorithms to determine phase relationships and guide stimulation adjustments, replacing complex mechanical or manual measurement and control mechanisms with electronic sensing and software-based control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12377275B2Determining relative phase relationships for delivery of electrical stimulation therapy

Publication Date: 2025.08.05 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

This disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and techniques for determining one or more phase relationships. A medical device system includes a memory and processing circuitry in communication with the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a plurality of electrical signals which indicate a phase relationship between two or more tissue regions within a target area of neural tissue of a patient. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to determine, based on the plurality of electrical signals, the phase relationship between the two or more tissue regions, and compare the phase relationship with a target phase relationship for the two or more tissue regions within the target area. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the comparison, one or more parameters of stimulation for delivery to the patient and cause a therapy delivery circuit to determine the stimulation.