Implantable Cranial Nerve Stimulation With Cervical Respiration Sensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatments for disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, heart failure, hypertension, epilepsy, depression, and other conditions lack a minimally invasive neuromodulation system that can accurately detect respiratory cycles with minimal power consumption and provide targeted neural stimulation.

Innovation Solution

An implantable neuromodulation system is positioned in the anterior cervical region, utilizing sensors like accelerometers to detect respiratory cycles and deliver coordinated stimulation to cranial nerves like the hypoglossal, vagus, and trigeminal nerves, with electrodes and leads anchored to cervical tissues for stability and precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external or implanted muscle stimulation devices are used to treat sleep apnea, then treatment efficacy is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single implantable device: the cranial nerve stimulator integrates respiration cycle detection, neural stimulation delivery, and coordination control within one implanted unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate external monitoring equipment while maintaining effective OSA treatment, thereby reducing overall device complexity and invasiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The implantable cranial nerve stimulator is designed as a multi-functional device that can detect respiration cycles, deliver coordinated neural stimulation to multiple cranial nerves (trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus, hypoglossal), and autonomously control stimulation timing. This universal design allows a single device to perform multiple therapeutic functions, reducing the need for multiple separate implants or external devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If respiration cycle detection is implemented to coordinate neural stimulation, then treatment precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverespiration detection precisionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device implements feedback control by continuously monitoring respiration cycles through detected physiological signals and using this information to dynamically adjust the timing of neural stimulation. The processor coordinates stimulation delivery based on real-time respiration phase detection, ensuring therapy is applied at optimal moments in the respiratory cycle. This feedback mechanism improves treatment precision while the integrated design ensures efficient power utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cranial nerves are targeted for stimulation, then treatment versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment versatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs dynamic control strategies where the processor adjusts stimulation parameters and timing based on detected respiration phases. The coordination of multiple cranial nerve stimulations is dynamically synchronized with the respiratory cycle, allowing the system to adapt its operation in real-time while maintaining manageable complexity through intelligent control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 system effectively treats conditions like OSA by detecting respiratory phases and delivering targeted neuromodulation, enhancing treatment efficacy with minimal power consumption and reduced invasiveness.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing sensors like accelerometers to detect respiratory cycles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

deliver coordinated stimulation to cranial nerves like the hypoglossal, vagus, and trigeminal nerves, with electrodes and leads anchored to cervical tissues

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS20250325817A1Implantable cranial nerve stimulator with respiration cycle detection

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 AVIVOMED INC

AI summary

Neurostimulation therapy can be efficiently controlled based on information from an acceleration signal, such as can be obtained from an accelerometer. In an example, the accelerometer can be implanted in a cervical region or submandibular region of a patient. Circuitry can be configured to identify a first series of respiration phase transition events in the acceleration signal and, in response, provide the neurostimulation therapy synchronously with an inspiration phase of a patient's respiratory cycle. In an example, in absence of identifying the first series of respiration phase transition events in the acceleration signal, the neurostimulation therapy can be provided asynchronously with the patient's respiratory cycle.