Endovascular Deep Brain Stimulation Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current deep brain stimulation (DBS) technologies are invasive and lack precision in targeting specific brain regions, leading to potential adverse effects and inefficiencies in delivering electrical stimulation therapy.
Innovation Solution
The development of endovascular devices with segmented or partial ring electrodes that can be navigated through the vasculature to deliver electrical stimulation therapy, allowing for directional stimulation and sensing by grouping electrodes to face in common directions, reducing the number of conductors needed and enhancing targeting precision while minimizing stimulation to non-target areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional DBS electrodes are used with separate electrical conductors for each electrode, then each electrode can be independently controlled, but the device profile increases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrodes that face in a common direction are electrically connected together via a common electrical conductor. This merging approach reduces the total number of conductors needed while maintaining the ability to independently activate different groups of electrodes, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into multiple groups of electrodes, where each group consists of electrodes facing in a common direction and connected via a common conductor. This segmentation allows independent control of each group while using fewer conductors, resolving the contradiction between independent control and device complexity
2Measurement precision
If electrodes are electrically connected to separate conductors, then precise control is achieved, but the overall device profile increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple electrodes into groups connected by common conductors, the device profile is reduced. The common conductors are positioned within the device structure, eliminating the need for separate external conductors for each electrode, thereby compacting the overall device while maintaining precision through directional electrode activation
3Reliability
If non-directional stimulation is used, then all brain regions are stimulated uniformly, but adverse effects increase due to lack of specificity
Solution Approach 1:
Different groups of electrodes are configured to face different directions, creating directional electrical stimulation fields. This local quality approach allows selective stimulation of specific brain regions while avoiding non-target areas, thereby reducing adverse effects while maintaining reliable stimulation of the intended target
Solution Approach 2:
The electrodes are arranged in asymmetric directional groups where each group faces a specific direction. This asymmetric configuration creates focused stimulation fields that target specific brain regions rather than uniform radial stimulation, reducing adverse effects through spatial selectivity
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 approach minimizes invasiveness and improves the precision of DBS by creating a directional electrical stimulation field, effectively targeting specific brain regions while reducing adverse effects and optimizing energy usage through endothelialization and directional electrode activation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of electrodes disposed along the elongated body... configured to deliver electrical stimulation to tissue of a brain of the patient
Implementation Method 2
sense one or more patient parameters (e.g., brain signals)... electrodes configured to be activated (e.g., to sense or deliver electrical stimulation)
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an endovascular device includes an elongated body configured to be introduced in a blood vessel of a patient and a plurality of electrodes disposed along the elongated body. The plurality of electrodes includes a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes. The endovascular device further includes a plurality of conductors including a first conductor electrically coupled to each electrode of the first group of electrodes and a second conductor electrically coupled to each electrode of the second group of electrodes. Each electrode of the first group of electrodes faces a first direction and each electrode of the second group of electrodes faces a second direction different from the first direction. The plurality of electrodes is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to tissue of a brain of the patient or sense a patient parameter from a location within the blood vessel.