Microstimulator Nerve Targeting via Electrical Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction, such as overactive bladder, often require invasive procedures or non-invasive methods with variable efficacy due to the difficulty in accurately targeting and stimulating the target nerve, leading to discomfort and inconsistent results.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive method and system using an electrical microstimulator to identify and implant a target nerve site by delivering stimulation signals and detecting evoked electrical signals, allowing for precise localization and anchoring of the microstimulator above the deep fascia, thereby providing effective neural modulation with reduced discomfort and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive procedures are used to target the nerve, then stimulation accuracy is improved, but patient discomfort and surgical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/invasive nerve targeting methods with electrical field-based localization. The stimulation device delivers test electrical signals through tissue to elicit neural responses, using electrical fields instead of mechanical dissection to identify and target the nerve accurately, thereby reducing patient discomfort while maintaining targeting precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrical signals as an intermediary to indirectly locate and identify the target nerve. Instead of directly visualizing or mechanically contacting the nerve, the system uses electrical stimulation and detects evoked responses as a mediator to determine nerve location and optimal implant site, reducing invasive procedures while improving targeting accuracy
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive methods are used, then patient discomfort is reduced, but nerve targeting accuracy and stimulation efficacy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the stimulation device delivers test electrical signals and detects evoked neural responses in real-time. This feedback loop allows the system to iteratively adjust stimulation parameters and electrode position until optimal nerve targeting is achieved, maintaining high accuracy while using minimally invasive electrical rather than mechanical methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical dissection and visual localization with electrical field-based nerve identification. By using electrical stimulation to elicit and detect neural responses, the system achieves accurate nerve targeting through electrical interactions rather than mechanical exposure, reducing patient discomfort while preserving targeting precision
3Reliability
If high amplitude stimulation signals are delivered, then nerve activation is ensured, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial action by delivering test electrical signals at progressively increasing amplitudes rather than continuously high amplitude. The system identifies the minimum threshold amplitude required to elicit a neural response, then uses that optimized lower amplitude for therapeutic stimulation, ensuring reliable nerve activation while minimizing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of stimulation amplitude during the localization process. The system adaptively modifies signal amplitude based on detected neural responses, increasing amplitude only when necessary to achieve activation and decreasing it once the threshold is identified, thereby balancing activation reliability with energy efficiency
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
This approach enables targeted and efficient electrical modulation of the target nerve, improving pelvic floor dysfunction with reduced patient discomfort and increased therapeutic efficacy, while minimizing invasive procedures and energy requirements.
Implementation Method 1
delivering a plurality of stimulation signals to the target nerve as the stimulation device is advanced along the surgical pathway
Implementation Method 2
detecting evoked electrical signals in response to delivery of each of the plurality of stimulation signals indicating activation of the target nerve
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for improving pelvic floor dysfunction in a patient suffering therefrom by electrically modulating neural tissue in a minimally invasive fashion using an electrical micro stimulator are provided.