Flexible Nerve Cuff with Porous Mesh for Autonomic Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chronic implantable stimulation apparatuses face challenges in stimulating the autonomic nervous system due to difficulties in adapting to tissue expansions and contractions, and in making secure electrical contact without applying detrimental pressure.
Innovation Solution
A nerve cuff with a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) elastic mesh film featuring an integrated array of individually addressable electrodes, which is highly compliant to adapt to tissue movements and includes openings to prevent pressure buildup, allowing for selective stimulation of nerves and secure electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid housing is used to make secure electrical contact with tissue, then electrical connection strength is improved, but tissue damage due to pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible mesh film as the electrode substrate that can conform to tissue surface contours. This flexible film maintains secure electrical contact through compliance rather than rigidity, distributing contact pressure across multiple electrodes and tissue areas, thereby achieving strong electrical connection without causing localized tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh film structure inherently provides porosity with openings between electrode elements. This porous configuration allows tissue to expand and contract within the housing without generating detrimental pressure, while maintaining sufficient electrode-tissue contact area for effective electrical stimulation.
2Strength
If a solid mesh film is used to ensure electrical contact, then electrical connection is improved, but tissue expansion and contraction is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible mesh film can dynamically adapt its shape to accommodate tissue expansions and contractions while maintaining continuous electrical contact. The film's flexibility allows it to deform with tissue movements rather than restricting them, ensuring reliable electrical connection throughout the cardiac cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous mesh structure provides compliance space for tissue volume changes. The openings in the mesh film allow tissue to expand into the porous structure during filling phases without generating excessive pressure, while the electrode elements maintain contact with the tissue surface for electrical stimulation.
3Strength
If pressure is applied to secure electrical contact, then electrical connection strength is improved, but blood flow through tissue is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The porous mesh film structure allows blood to flow through the housing and mesh openings without significant restriction. The distributed electrode contact through the porous structure achieves adequate electrical connection without requiring high compressive forces that would impede blood flow through the tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible mesh film conforms to the pulsating tissue surface, maintaining electrical contact through compliance rather than compression. This approach secures electrical connection while allowing the housing to expand and contract with each cardiac cycle, preserving normal blood flow dynamics.
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
Enables effective and safe stimulation of autonomic nervous system components like the carotid artery and vagus nerve, facilitating therapeutic interventions while minimizing tissue damage and maintaining blood flow.
Implementation Method 1
The nerve cuff can be highly compliant to adapt to the expansions and contractions of the tissue to which the nerve cuff is coupled. The mesh film can include a plurality of openings to facilitate the expansion and the contraction of the mesh film without applying detrimental pressure to the tissue.
Implementation Method 2
The electrodes can be individually addressable to enable the selective simulation of different portions of tissue passing through the nerve cuff. The individually addressable electrodes also enable therapeutic stimulations to be delivered through the electrodes making a relatively strong electrical connection with the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discusses a nerve cuff that includes a thin-film elastic mesh with an integrated array of electrodes. The nerve cuff can wrap around a human carotid artery or other tissue to stimulate the autonomic nervous system. The nerve cuff can include a housing that secures the mesh to the carotid artery or other tissue.