Implanted Neurostimulation Programming for Adaptive Chronic Pain Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing neurostimulation systems for chronic pain management often fail to provide customized treatment programs, leading to ineffective pain relief as patients typically use only a few predetermined programs, limiting the therapy's effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic model-based system that adjusts the programming of implantable electrical neurostimulation devices by analyzing patient data, including physiological, activity, and behavior data, to identify and implement personalized neurostimulation programs over time, optimizing treatment parameters for chronic pain management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If predetermined neurostimulation programs are used at manufacturing, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to individual patients deteriorates and treatment effectiveness is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptability by enabling the neurostimulation device to automatically adjust stimulation parameters based on real-time physiological feedback from sensors. The system transitions from static predetermined programs to dynamic adaptive programming that evolves with patient response, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and clinical adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates self-service capabilities through automated algorithms that analyze sensor data and independently optimize stimulation parameters without requiring manual reprogramming by clinicians. This self-adjusting mechanism maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving high adaptability to individual patient needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If sophisticated customized neurostimulation programs are implemented, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor physiological parameters and treatment outcomes, feeding this information back to an control algorithm that automatically adjusts stimulation parameters. This closed-loop feedback system achieves sophisticated customized treatment without increasing physical device complexity, as the intelligence is software-based.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical or hardware-based customization mechanisms with software algorithms and data processing. The sophistication of customized programs is achieved through computational methods rather than physical device modifications, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If predetermined stimulation patterns are used, then ease of operation is improved and device complexity is reduced, but loss of information about individual patient response increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidloss of information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains ease of operation by keeping the user interface simple while incorporating feedback loops that automatically collect and analyze physiological data. Sensors monitor patient response in real-time, capturing information about individual variability without requiring complex user interaction or manual data collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs self-service data collection by automatically monitoring physiological parameters and treatment outcomes through integrated sensors. This eliminates the need for manual information gathering while preserving detailed information about individual patient response, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and information retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12364863B2Adaptive chronic pain relief via implanted electrical neurostimulation

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 BOSTON SCI NEUROMODULATION CORP

AI summary

Systems and techniques are disclosed to adjust programming of an implantable electrical neurostimulation device for treating chronic pain of a human subject, through the use of a dynamic model adapted to identify pain treatment parameters for a human patient and determine a best device operational program to implement the pain treatment parameters to address the chronic pain condition. In an example, the system to adjust programming of the neurostimulation device performs operations that: obtain data related to a state of pain of the human subject; identify pain treatment parameters using a dynamic model adapted to evaluate the pain treatment parameters in the human subject over a time period, based on the data related to the state of pain; and select a neurostimulation program for the neurostimulation device, corresponding to at least a portion of the identified pain treatment parameters.