Implantable Accelerometer Monitoring for Movement Disorder Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable electrical stimulation systems lack efficient methods for monitoring and assessing movement disorders and other physiological parameters, leading to inter-rater variability and patient discomfort with wearable devices.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an accelerometer into an implantable control module, such as an IPG, to monitor movements and assess tremor, bradykinesia, posture, speech, and other parameters, allowing for precise stimulation adjustments based on patient interactions like tapping or hand positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wearable devices are used to monitor movement disorders, then monitoring capability is provided, but patient comfort deteriorates and inter-rater variability occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the monitoring function with an implantable stimulator device, merging two separate functions (stimulation therapy and movement monitoring) into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for separate wearable devices, reducing patient discomfort while maintaining assessment accuracy through the accelerometer-based monitoring capability embedded in the implantable device.
2Device complexity
If manual assessment methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to inter-rater variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual assessment with an automated sensor-based system using an accelerometer to objectively measure movement parameters. This substitution eliminates inter-rater variability by using consistent electronic measurement criteria while maintaining relative simplicity through automated processing of accelerometer data to generate movement disorder assessments.
3Measurement precision
If implantable sensors are added to stimulation systems, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometer and monitoring functions are integrated into the existing implantable stimulator device rather than added as a separate system. This merging approach allows movement monitoring capability to be incorporated without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as the accelerometer shares the implantable housing and power source with the stimulation circuitry.
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
Enhances the accuracy of movement disorder assessments and reduces patient discomfort by using an implantable sensor to monitor and respond to patient interactions, providing personalized stimulation adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring movements of a hand positioned over an implantation site of the implantable control module using an accelerometer disposed in the implantable control module
Data Source
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AI summary
Electrical stimulation systems and methods for operation of the electrical stimulation system are described. The method includes directing electrical stimulation through the electrodes of the lead and monitoring movements of a hand positioned over an implantation site of an implantable control module of the electrical stimulation system using an accelerometer coupled to a processor of the implantable control module. Another method includes detecting, by a sensor, a plurality of taps of a body region of a patient over an implantation site of the implantable control module, identifying, by the processor of the implantable control module, an indicator, trigger, or marker based on the detected tapping, and performing an activity corresponding to the identified indicator, trigger, or marker.