Expandable Electrode Array for Selective Nerve Targeting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are non-selective in targeting airway nerves, leading to increased risks of inflammation and airflow limitations, and lack real-time assessment of treatment efficacy, resulting in inadequate patient-specific therapy.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with an expandable distal member and multiple contact elements that deliver stimulating energy to innervated tissue, detect responses, and selectively apply therapeutic energy based on tissue responses, allowing for precise nerve targeting and minimization of unnecessary treatment areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional non-selective airway nerve therapies are applied, then airway nerve denervation is achieved, but inflammation and airflow limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively targeting only the parasympathetic nerve fibers in the airway wall through impedance-based identification and localized energy delivery. The system distinguishes between different tissue types (nervous tissue vs. surrounding tissue) and applies treatment only to the identified nerve locations, thereby achieving effective denervation while minimizing harmful effects on other airway structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the airway nerve treatment into discrete, identifiable locations using multiple contact elements that can independently identify and treat specific nerve sites. This segmentation allows the system to treat only the specific parasympathetic nerve fibers responsible for bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion, rather than applying non-selective denervation to the entire airway.
2Reliability
If conventional airway nerve therapies are applied, then some symptom relief is achieved, but real-time assessment of treatment efficacy is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the same contact elements that deliver therapeutic energy to also detect tissue responses in real-time. The system monitors changes in impedance and other physiological parameters to assess whether the nerve denervation is achieving the desired effect, allowing for real-time evaluation of treatment efficacy and potential adjustment of therapy parameters.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If selective nerve targeting is implemented, then side effects are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing contact elements that serve multiple functions: they act as both energy delivery electrodes and sensing elements for tissue characterization. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining the capability for selective nerve targeting and real-time assessment.
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 enables selective identification and treatment of optimal nerve locations, reducing the risk of side effects and providing real-time assessment of treatment efficacy, thus optimizing therapy and minimizing unnecessary tissue exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The contact elements may be electrodes that deliver electrical energy, and the therapeutic energy is ablative energy
Implementation Method 2
The contact elements may detect a response from the innervated tissue to the stimulating energy
Implementation Method 3
the therapeutic energy is ablative energy, and the ablative energy is sufficient to ablate the innervated tissue
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3D
Figure 4~9
AI summary
A medical device including an elongate member having a proximal end configured to be electrically coupled to an energy source, and a distal member disposed at a distal end of the elongate member. The distal member may include a plurality of contact elements configured to deliver stimulating energy to innervated tissue, detect a response from the innervated tissue to the stimulating energy, and deliver therapeutic energy to the innervated tissue based on the response from the innervated tissue.