Implantable Lead Cannula Rotation for Precise Electrode Orientation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical delivery systems face challenges in accurately positioning and orienting implantable leads, such as electrodes, within the brain to treat conditions like chronic pain and movement disorders, due to limitations in rotating and translating the leads relative to the target site, which can impact the effectiveness of stimulation therapy.
Innovation Solution
A medical delivery system with a lead delivery device and carrier that allows for rotation and translation of the implantable lead around a longitudinal axis, using a cannula and drive mechanism to impart torque, enabling precise positioning and orientation of electrodes relative to a stereotactic system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a medical delivery system uses a cannula and drive mechanism to rotate and translate an implantable lead, then the positioning precision and orientation control of the lead are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the implantable lead is positioned within a cannula, which is itself contained within a lead delivery device. The cannula can rotate and translate independently while the lead remains guided through the cannula's lumen. This nesting allows the complex rotation and translation functions to be contained within a hierarchical structure, improving positioning precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead delivery device is segmented into distinct functional components: the cannula for rotation and translation, the drive mechanism for actuation, and the stereotactic collar for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the cannula handling rotation/translation and the drive mechanism providing controlled actuation, thereby achieving precise lead positioning while managing device complexity through functional decomposition.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cannula is designed to rotate and translate the implantable lead independently, then the orientation control of electrodes is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotation and translation functions into a single integrated cannula assembly that can perform both movements. The drive mechanism is merged with the cannula structure, allowing a single actuation system to control both rotational and translational movements of the implantable lead. This merging reduces the number of separate controls needed, improving ease of operation while maintaining precise orientation control through the coordinated action of the integrated components.
3Reliability
If a carrier with drive mechanism is added to impart torque to the lead delivery device, then the repeatability of stimulation therapy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier incorporates a drive mechanism that can impart controlled torque to the lead delivery device, enabling repeatable rotation to predetermined angular positions. The system allows for controlled rotation in discrete increments, providing feedback control that ensures the lead can be returned to identical orientations across multiple procedures. This feedback-controlled rotation mechanism improves therapeutic repeatability while the modular carrier design manages the added complexity through standardized interfaces.
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
Enables precise rotation and translation of implantable leads, allowing for effective evaluation of electrode orientation and verification of biomarker detection, thereby improving the accuracy and repeatability of stimulation therapy delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a drive mechanism configured to impart a torque to the lead delivery device to cause the cannula to rotate around the longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A medical delivery system including a carrier and a lead delivery device. The carrier defines a carrier body configured to engage a stereotactic system (or a similar pointing device with or without navigation/robotic assistance). The carrier defines a carrier channel configured to engage the lead delivery device and impart a torque to a portion of the lead delivery device. The lead delivery device and carrier are configured such that imparted torque causes a cannula of the lead delivery device to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the lead delivery device. The cannula is configured to cause a rotation of an implantable lead within the cannula when the cannula is caused to rotate. The cannula is configured to translate substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis relative to the implantable lead.