Flexible Medical Electrode with Biodegradable Matrix for Tissue Accommodation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Long-term implanted electrodes in the central nervous system face challenges such as dislocation and tissue damage due to non-uniform tissue movements, which affect the quality of recordings and stimulations, and require effective anchoring to minimize mechanical friction.

Innovation Solution

A flexible medical electrode with a biocompatible support material that allows configurational stabilization through partial embedment, enabling the electrode to move with tissue movements while maintaining its position, using a dissolvable or degradable matrix that facilitates insertion and anchoring in soft tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a straight and non-elastic wire electrode is used, then the electrode structure is simple, but the wire slides within the tissue causing mechanical friction and tissue injury due to non-uniform tissue movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode structureVSAvoidmechanical friction and tissue injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode wire is transformed from a straight, rigid structure to a flexible, dynamically adaptable structure that can move with tissue. The wire possesses elastic properties allowing it to deform and follow non-uniform tissue movements without sliding or causing mechanical friction, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and harm reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode employs a flexible wire structure that can conform to tissue movements. This flexibility allows the electrode to adapt to the dynamic environment of soft tissue without causing injury, while maintaining a relatively simple overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If anchoring means in form of protruding filaments are used, then the anchoring properties are improved, but tissue movements are propagated to the anchoring means causing injury to adjacent tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring propertiesVSAvoidtissue injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rigid protruding filaments that transmit tissue movement forces to the anchoring points, the invention uses a flexible wire that dynamically absorbs and distributes these forces along its length. This dynamic flexibility prevents force concentration at anchoring points, eliminating tissue injury while maintaining reliable anchoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible electrode is used to accommodate tissue movements, then tissue damage is reduced, but the electrode requires configurational stabilization for proper positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damageVSAvoidconfigurational stabilization requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is pre-configured with specific geometric features (waves, bends, or spiral patterns) that provide inherent configurational stability. This preliminary structuring allows the flexible electrode to maintain its intended shape and positioning function without requiring additional stabilization mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between tissue protection and device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If the electrode is made resiliently flexible to move with tissue, then dislocation is prevented, but the electrode requires additional structural elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidstructural elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode achieves position stability by optimizing the elastic parameters and geometric configuration of the wire itself, rather than adding separate structural elements. The wire's inherent flexibility and predetermined shape work together to prevent dislocation while maintaining a simple, element-free design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 electrode maintains stability and reduces tissue damage by accommodating non-uniform movements, ensuring effective recording and stimulation while being easily removable without causing harm, thus enhancing the durability and performance of the implant.

Implementation Method 1

the support material is one that is dissolvable or degradable in body fluids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

the support material is one that is dissolvable or degradable in body fluids, that is, in an aqueous environment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS8386006B2Medical electrode, electrode bundle and electrode bundle array

Publication Date: 2013.02.26 NEURONANO AB

AI summary

A medical microelectrode includes portions capable of movement relative to each other when implanted in or inserted into soft tissue, so as to increase or decrease their distance along the electrode. The electrode is at least partially embedded in a substantially rigid biocompatible matrix that is soluble or biodegradable a body fluid. Also disclosed are uses of the microelectrode; microelectrode bundles and arrays of microelectrode bundles and their uses; methods for inserting or implanting microelectrodes, microelectrode bundles and arrays of microelectrode bundles in soft tissue.