Wearable Eye Stimulator with Individual-Specific Sensitivity Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices are inadequate in effectively monitoring, controlling, and stimulating eye activities such as blinking and tear production, particularly for individuals with neurological disorders or those experiencing dry eye issues due to prolonged computer screen use.
Innovation Solution
A wearable medical device with a stimulator arrangement that uses neuro-muscular electrostimulation (NMES) and individual-specific sensitivity mapping to selectively stimulate nerves in the facial region, ensuring painless and effective contraction of periocular muscles for blinking and tear production, integrated into glasses or attachable appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stimulating signal is applied to the facial region to induce eye activity, then the desired eye activity (blinking/tear production) is achieved, but pain or discomfort may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating an individual-specific sensitivity map that identifies precise locations on the facial region with different sensitivity levels. The system selectively activates only those stimulating elements positioned at optimal locations that produce the desired eye activity with minimal pain or discomfort, rather than uniformly stimulating the entire facial region.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters including signal strength, frequency, and duration based on the individual's sensitivity map and real-time feedback. This allows the stimulation to be optimized for each individual's specific neural response characteristics, achieving effective eye activity stimulation while minimizing uncomfortable sensations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a general stimulator configuration is used to accommodate various individuals, then the device is universally applicable, but it cannot provide personalized stimulation for optimal results
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration for each individual to create a personalized sensitivity map before actual therapy begins. This preliminary action captures the individual's specific neural response characteristics and optimal stimulation locations, which are then stored and used to guide all subsequent stimulation sessions, combining universal device applicability with personalized treatment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the individual's response to stimulation in real-time and adjust the stimulation parameters accordingly. This feedback loop allows the device to adapt to each individual's unique characteristics during therapy sessions, maintaining both universality and personalization.
3Device complexity
If conventional electrostimulation is applied without individual-specific mapping, then the device structure is simple, but the stimulation effectiveness and comfort vary significantly between individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The stimulator is segmented into multiple independently controllable stimulating elements arranged in arrays across the facial region. This segmentation allows the system to selectively activate specific elements based on the individual's sensitivity map, rather than using a single undifferentiated electrode. The segmented structure enables personalized stimulation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture.
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 device provides personalized and effective stimulation of eye activities, improving blink rate and tear production, thereby enhancing eye health and reducing discomfort and vision impairment.
Implementation Method 1
The stimulating effect may be associated with neuro-muscular electrostimulation (NMES) of one or more nerves in a selected region in the vicinity of the eye as to cause contraction of the periocular muscle(s) resulting in eye blinking.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for stimulating one or more eye functions of individual's eye is presented. The device comprises a stimulator for incorporating in mounting on an appliance attachable to individual's face and comprising respective stimulator arrangement(s) defining an interface region for covering a region of interest on the individual's face in a vicinity of the respective individual's eye. The stimulator arrangement comprises a local controller operating to apply a stimulating effect on one or more nerves in the region of interest to affect predetermined eye function(s), and an array of individually operable stimulating elements each generating a stimulating signal at a respective location in the interface region. The local controller activates a predetermined individual-specific sub-array of the stimulating elements, where locations of the stimulating elements of the sub-array provide a desired spatial pattern of the stimulating effect to be applied while avoiding stimulating effect outside said locations.