Insular Cortex Stimulation for Autoimmune Disease
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease often have significant side effects and do not effectively target the underlying inflammatory responses, leading to organ damage and disability.
Innovation Solution
The use of an implantable pulse generator connected to electrodes implanted in the brain, which delivers targeted electrical stimulation to specific neurological targets, such as the insular cortex, to modulate immune responses and reduce autoimmune disease symptoms, while also recording brain activity to adjust stimulation parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional immunosuppressive therapies are used to treat autoimmune diseases, then immune responses are suppressed, but significant side effects occur and organ damage progresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the insular cortex as an intermediary neural structure to mediate between the central nervous system and the immune system. By stimulating this specific brain region, the therapy indirectly modulates immune responses through neuro-immune pathways, avoiding direct immunosuppression and its harmful side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical immunosuppressive drugs with electrical stimulation as the therapeutic mechanism. This substitution allows for precise, reversible, and localized modulation of immune responses through controlled electrical signals delivered to the insular cortex, eliminating the need for systemic pharmacological intervention.
2Reliability
If deep brain stimulation is applied to treat autoimmune diseases, then neurological pathways are targeted to reduce symptoms, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable pulse generator is designed to perform multiple functions: delivering electrical stimulation to the insular cortex, recording neural activity from the same region, and providing telemetry for external monitoring and programming. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices and simplifies the overall treatment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode lead features a segmented design with directional electrodes that can be selectively activated to target specific subregions of the insular cortex. This localized approach allows precise modulation of neural pathways while minimizing stimulation of surrounding brain tissue, thereby reducing potential side effects and improving therapeutic precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If directional electrodes are used to target specific insular cortex regions, then side effects are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode lead is divided into multiple segmented electrodes along its length, with each segment capable of independent activation. This segmentation allows the system to target specific subregions of the insular cortex and adjust stimulation patterns to minimize side effects while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular construction.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques using electrical stimulation for treating an Autoimmune Disease by means of an implantable pulse generator and at least one electrode. An electrode lead is surgically implanted in a region of the insular cortex to deliver electrical stimulation. The at least one electrode lead and implantable pulse generator contain features that allow the electrical stimulation to be directed to specific volumes of the insular cortex, and ensure that non-therapeutic volumes do not receive electrical stimulation.