3D Mesh Volume of Activation Visualization for Deep Brain Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical stimulation technologies face challenges in efficiently optimizing stimulation parameters for precise targeting of activation regions, leading to increased complexity and burden for physicians in adjusting device settings, especially when visualizing and understanding the volume of activation (VOA) for effective treatment.
Innovation Solution
The use of a computing device with processing circuitry, such as a GPU or CPU, to manipulate a three-dimensional mesh structure and generate a visual representation of the VOA by adjusting vertices based on stimulation parameters, allowing for efficient rendering of the activation and non-activation tissue intersection, thereby simplifying the visualization of stimulation fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a stimulator has larger number of electrode combinations and programmable parameters, then the ability to adjust for a particular patient or disease state is improved, but the burden involved in optimizing the device parameters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the stimulation field's volume of activation (VOA) that allows physicians to intuitively understand and select optimal parameters without manually analyzing complex electrical field distributions. The visual model serves as a simplified copy of the complex stimulation physics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color-coded visual representations to indicate different regions of tissue activation and non-activation. This visual encoding allows physicians to quickly identify effective stimulation zones and adjust parameters accordingly, transforming complex data into intuitive visual information.
2Ease of operation
If a physician manually specifies electrode combinations based on intuition, then the optimization process can be completed, but the time required for testing and recording notes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and visualizes the expected VOA for different electrode combinations and parameters before the physician begins manual testing. This preliminary visual information guides the physician's selection process, reducing the need for extensive trial-and-error testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual VOA representation provides immediate feedback to the physician about the expected outcome of different stimulation parameters, allowing for rapid adjustment and selection of optimal settings without time-consuming manual evaluation of each combination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the stimulator delivers electrical stimulation according to multiple programs with interleaving, then the treatment capability is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple configurations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex multi-program stimulation capability into separate, visually distinguishable VOA representations. Each program or configuration can be visually represented as a distinct overlay or layer, allowing physicians to manage and compare multiple configurations without confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a visual dimension to the management of multiple stimulation programs by representing them as layered or stacked VOA models. This spatial arrangement of multiple programs in a visual dimension makes it easier to compare and switch between configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to rendering visual representations of VOAs by manipulating vertices of a three-dimensional (3-D) mesh structure. In one example, a processing circuitry of a computing device may receive a 3-D mesh structure having adjustable vertices. The processing circuitry may adjust the vertices to generate an adjusted shape of the 3-D mesh structure according to an intersection between activated tissue and non-activated tissue defined by one or more stimulation parameter values.