Intervention Device with Alternating Electrode Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical intervention devices for target tissues, such as bone or soft tissues, face challenges in continuous neuromonitoring and precision due to limited electrical field distribution capabilities and interruptions required for nerve stimulation, leading to potential nerve damage and inefficient data collection during procedures like cochlear implant placement.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layered intervention device with a penetrating body featuring a substrate base and alternating electrically conducting and insulating coatings, enabling multiple electrical field distributions and concurrent neuromonitoring, allowing for continuous and precise tissue penetration while minimizing nerve interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate stationary stimulation probe is used for neuromonitoring, then nerve detection capability is improved, but surgical intervention continuity is interrupted and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the penetration function and neuromonitoring function into a single integrated intervention device. The penetrating body incorporates multiple electrodes directly on its surface, allowing simultaneous tissue penetration and nerve detection without requiring separate stationary probes, thereby maintaining surgical continuity while providing real-time neuromonitoring
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electrodes are provided at different distances along the penetrating body, then electrical field distribution adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different electrode configurations at different locations along the penetrating body. Multiple electrodes are positioned at various distances from the tip, with each location providing tailored electrical field characteristics suitable for specific monitoring needs, while the multi-layered coating structure (alternating conducting and insulating layers) enables this spatial variation in a systematic manner
3Reliability
If continuous neuromonitoring is implemented during penetration, then nerve damage prevention is improved, but data collection precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous neuromonitoring by integrating electrodes directly on the penetrating body, allowing uninterrupted data collection throughout the surgical procedure. The electrodes continuously monitor electrical fields and nerve responses as the device penetrates tissue, providing real-time feedback for nerve damage prevention without interrupting the surgical flow
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by processing electrical signals detected by the electrodes in real-time. The control unit analyzes impedance changes and electrical field variations continuously during penetration, providing immediate feedback about proximity to neural structures, which allows dynamic adjustment of penetration parameters to prevent nerve damage
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 device provides enhanced neuromonitoring sensitivity and continuous data collection, ensuring precise and controlled surgical interventions by creating adaptable electrical field distributions, reducing the risk of nerve damage and optimizing anatomical and neurophysiological considerations.
Implementation Method 1
enabling multiple electrical field distributions
Implementation Method 2
electrically insulating coatings
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an intervention device (20) for surgically intervening a target tissue of a human or animal body, comprising a penetrating body (100) arranged to be advanced into the target tissue along an advancing axis (Z+). The penetrating body (100) has an outer surface with a plurality of electrodes (e1, e2, e3, e4, . . . , eN) insulated from each other. More particularly, the penetrating body comprises a substrate base (5), a number N>1 of electrically conducting coatings (cce1, cce2, cce3, cce4, . . . , cceN) and a number M=N−1 electrically insulating coatings (ici1, ici2, ici3, . . . , iciM). A 1st electrically conducting coating (cce1) at least partially covers the substrate base (5), whereas each mth electrically insulating coating of the M electrically insulating coatings ici1, ici2, ici3, ici4, . . . , iciM) partially covers the mth electrically conducting coating of the N electrically conducting coatings (cce1, cce2, cce3, cce4, . . . ) and each nth electrically conducting coating of the N electrically conducting coatings (cce2, cce3, cce4) partially covers the (n−1)th electrically insulating coating (ici1, ici2, ici3). Thus, the outer surface of the penetrating body (100) comprises at least L=N+M sections (e1, i1, e2, i2, e3, i3, e4) alternatingly formed by the N electrically conducting coatings (cce1, cce2, cce3, cce4, . . . , cceN) and the M electrically insulating coatings (ici1, ici2, ici3, . . . , iciM). The present invention also relates to a an intervention system comprising a power supply unit and an intervention device (20; 200) as above described, wherein at least one (cce1) of the N electrically conducting coatings (cce1, cce2, cce3, cce4, . . . , cceN) of the intervention device (20; 200) is connected to the power supply unit such that it forms a cathode and at least another one (cce2, cce3, cce4) of the N electrically conducting coatings is an anode.