Hinged Spinal Cord Stimulation Paddle Head for Compact Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pain suppressing electrical stimulation assemblies for the spinal cord fail to exhibit desirable characteristics such as semi-rigidness during insertion, small cross-sectional size for minimal tissue trauma, and enlarged electrical contact surfaces after insertion, which are necessary for effective and comfortable pain suppression.

Innovation Solution

The assembly features a paddle head with hingedly interconnected lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral components for compact insertion and augmented electrical contact, along with a proximally opening stay end for preventing buckling during insertion, and a flexible insulator with a semi-rigid stay for maintaining anti-buckling character during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the assembly uses a rigid structure for electrical contact stability, then electrical contact reliability is improved, but insertion trauma increases and patient comfort decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact stabilityVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly changes its rigidity parameter dynamically - the insulator lead is made flexible to minimize tissue trauma during insertion and during use, while the paddle head is made rigid to ensure stable electrical contact with the spinal cord. This parameter differentiation resolves the contradiction between contact stability and tissue trauma prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The assembly is divided into distinct segments with different mechanical properties: a flexible insulator lead portion for trauma-free insertion and a rigid paddle head portion for stable electrical contact. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function independently, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the assembly uses a large cross-sectional size for enlarged electrical contact surfaces, then electrical contact area is improved, but insertion difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact areaVSAvoidinsertion ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly separates the electrical contact function (paddle head with large area) from the insertion function (thin insulator lead). The paddle head can be enlarged for good electrical contact while the insulator lead remains thin for easy insertion through epidural space, resolving the contradiction between contact area and insertion ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical contact area is expanded in the lateral dimensions (paddle head width) while maintaining a small cross-sectional profile in the insertion direction. This dimensional separation allows large contact area without increasing insertion difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the assembly uses a flexible structure for patient comfort, then patient comfort is improved, but insertion stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfortVSAvoidinsertion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly divides the flexible insulator lead (for comfort and flexibility) from the rigid paddle head (for insertion stability and electrical contact). This segmentation allows the flexible portion to provide comfort while the rigid portion ensures stable positioning during insertion, resolving the contradiction between comfort and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the assembly uses a small cross-sectional size for minimal tissue trauma, then tissue trauma is reduced, but electrical contact area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidelectrical contact area

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly separates the insertion interface (small cross-section of insulator lead) from the electrical contact interface (large area of paddle head). This allows minimal tissue trauma during insertion while providing adequate electrical contact area at the paddle head, resolving the contradiction between trauma reduction and contact area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9114249B2Assembly for pain suppressing electrical stimulation of a patient's nerve

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 GOEL AMITABH

AI summary

An assembly for pain suppressing electrical stimulation of a patient's nerve, the assembly including lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral series of contact plates; a lateral panel, a medial panel and an oppositely lateral panel, the electrical contact plates being fixedly attached to the panels; living hinges pivotally attaching the lateral and oppositely lateral panels to the medial panel; proximally extending wires electrically communicating with the contact plates; a proximally extending insulator attached to the medial panel, the insulator having a hollow bore and the wires being embedded within the insulator; a proximally opening traction socket fixedly attached to the medial panel; and a semi-rigid stay which is extendable through the hollow bore, the semi-rigid stay being engageable with the proximally opening traction socket.