Motor-Driven Electrode Array for Dynamic Neural Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neural and muscular electrode positioning technologies face challenges in achieving precise placement and directionality, leading to suboptimal electrical stimulation in brain and heart applications, resulting in reduced efficacy and increased side effects due to inaccuracies in positioning and limited options for electrode placement.
Innovation Solution
The development of a system that allows for fine adjustment of electrode position and direction using motors to move and rotate the picafina, enabling precise placement of electrical stimulation along desired axes and angles, and the use of digital addressing to minimize the number of wires required, allowing for more electrodes to be controlled with fewer physical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional fixed electrode positioning is used, then the device structure is simple, but the positioning precision and stimulation effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic electrode positioning through motor-driven mechanisms that allow the electrode array to move and rotate within the delivery catheter. The motor assembly enables active adjustment of electrode position and orientation during the procedure, transforming a static structure into a dynamic system that adapts to anatomical variations and optimizes stimulation targeting.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode array is divided into multiple independently addressable segments or contacts along the catheter length. This segmentation allows selective positioning and stimulation of specific electrode elements, enabling precise targeting of different brain regions while maintaining a relatively simple overall catheter structure.
2Measurement precision
If multiple electrodes are used for precise stimulation, then the positioning accuracy improves, but the number of wires and connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single motor assembly performs multiple functions: it drives the electrode array forward, rotates it to different angles, and positions individual electrode contacts. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate actuators and wiring for each electrode, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise control over multiple stimulation sites.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple electrode contacts are integrated into a unified array structure that moves and positions as a single unit. The electrical connections to all electrodes are consolidated through a common connector interface, reducing the number of separate wire connections required compared to individually addressable electrodes.
3Reliability
If electrode directionality is adjusted for optimal stimulation, then the clinical effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode array incorporates rotational capability through a motor-driven interface that allows the array to orient in different directions relative to the catheter axis. This dynamic orientation adjustment enables optimization of stimulation directionality to match the anatomical orientation of target structures, improving clinical effectiveness without requiring multiple fixed-direction catheters.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric stimulator for brain, heart, skin and internal organs in animals and plants where the electrodes are distributed on a supporting structure. The supporting structure may be adapted for brain, heart, skin or other internal organs, as for DBS, heart pacemaker, TENS, etc. The invention discloses a plurality of electrodes at the surface of the supporting structure, from which electrically stimulating currents can be injected into the organism. Turning off an electrode while turning on another electrode has the effect of moving the stimulation within the body of the organism from one point to another point, with the same effect but with less spent energy than physically moving the whole electrode support. We call this electrode shifting. Rotational and translational electrode shifting are possible. The invention also discloses random changes of the electrode shifting, and random changes of the stimulation time and of the stimulation duration.