Hybrid Optical-Electrical Vestibular Nerve Probe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating vestibular problems, such as dizziness and vertigo, are inadequate in providing precise and effective stimulation and monitoring of nerves, especially during surgeries like cerebellopontine angle tumor removal, where compound nerve-action potential monitoring has not been popular due to technical difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A combination probe with both optical transmission and electrical transmission capabilities, integrated into a single small-diameter cable, allowing for both optical stimulation and electrical sensing of nerve responses, enabling precise control and monitoring of nerve stimulation without overheating tissue, and capable of intraoperative use to preserve nerve function during surgeries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all-electrical approaches are used for nerve stimulation and monitoring, then electrical signals can be transmitted and sensed, but tissue overheating occurs and measurement precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines optical fiber and electrical conductor into a single hybrid probe structure. The optical fiber delivers light for stimulation while the electrical conductor senses nerve responses, eliminating the need for separate all-electrical approaches that cause tissue overheating. This merging allows simultaneous optical stimulation and electrical sensing with improved precision and reduced thermal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces all-electrical stimulation with optical stimulation using light delivered through the optical fiber. This substitution eliminates the harmful thermal effects of electrical current while maintaining the ability to stimulate and monitor nerve function through the integrated electrical sensing component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate optical fiber and electrical conductor are used, then optical stimulation and electrical sensing can be performed, but device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the optical fiber and electrical conductor into a single hybrid probe structure. The optical fiber and electrical conductor are positioned adjacent to each other within a common insulating housing, allowing dual functionality for optical stimulation and electrical sensing while simplifying the overall device structure and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid probe structure serves multiple functions within a single device: the optical fiber delivers light for stimulation, the electrical conductor senses nerve responses, and both are integrated into a unified probe that can be implanted together. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining adaptability for various stimulation and sensing applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If larger diameter cable is used for integrated probe, then both optical and electrical functions can be integrated, but ease of implantation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin insulating housing or coating to separate and protect the optical fiber and electrical conductor while maintaining a compact overall structure. This flexible thin-film approach allows the integrated probe to maintain a small diameter suitable for implantation while providing necessary electrical insulation and structural support for both optical and electrical components.
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 probe facilitates precise optical and electrical stimulation and sensing, improving treatment effectiveness for vestibular issues and enabling safer nerve preservation during surgeries by avoiding the limitations of all-electrical approaches and providing a compact, efficient solution for deep brain stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber having one or more optical waveguides
Implementation Method 2
the optical fiber is at least partly covered with or connected along an electrical conductor
Data Source
AI summary
An optical-signal vestibular-nerve stimulation device and method that provides different nerve stimulation signals to a plurality of different vestibular nerves, including at least some of the three semicircular canal nerves and the two otolith organ nerves. In some embodiments, balance conditions of the person are sensed by the implanted device, and based on the sensed balance conditions, varying infrared (IR) nerve-stimulation signals are sent to a plurality of the different vestibular nerves.