Neural Stimulation Dosing With Movement-Triggered Recruitment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neuromodulation systems face challenges in maintaining effective and comfortable neural recruitment due to electrode migration, postural changes, and variations in spinal cord movement, leading to unpredictable stimulus efficacy and potential discomfort or pain.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that monitor sensory input and movement to adjust stimulus dosage dynamically, delivering increased neural recruitment during periods of movement or sensory input, using techniques such as high-frequency bursts or sequences to maintain therapeutic effects while minimizing discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous high-frequency stimulation is applied to maintain pain relief, then neural recruitment is maintained, but power consumption increases and discomfort may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic stimulation delivery synchronized with the user's breathing cycle. Stimuli are delivered during specific phases of breathing (e.g., inhalation or exhalation) rather than continuously, thereby maintaining therapeutic efficacy while significantly reducing overall power consumption. This periodic action exploits the natural rhythmic movement of the respiratory system to achieve reliable pain relief with lower energy expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stimulation system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time detection of breathing patterns. By sensing respiratory movements and adapting stimulus timing and intensity accordingly, the system optimizes power usage while maintaining consistent therapeutic effects. The dynamic synchronization with breathing ensures that stimulation is delivered when most effective, avoiding wasteful continuous delivery.
2Reliability
If stimulation amplitude is increased to compensate for electrode migration, then neural recruitment is maintained, but discomfort and pain increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the user's physiological state and response to stimulation. By detecting changes in breathing patterns and other physiological parameters, the system adjusts stimulation parameters in real-time to maintain effective neural recruitment without exceeding comfort thresholds. This closed-loop feedback ensures consistent therapeutic effects while preventing discomfort caused by excessive amplitude increases.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than simply increasing amplitude to compensate for electrode migration, the system employs multiple parameter adjustment strategies. These include modifying pulse width, frequency, and duty cycle in addition to amplitude. By changing multiple parameters, the system can maintain effective neural recruitment while distributing the stimulus load in a way that avoids uncomfortable high-amplitude delivery, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and comfort.
3Productivity
If stimulation is applied during movement, then neural recruitment is enhanced, but unwanted side effects such as muscle contraction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent synchronizes stimulation delivery with the periodic nature of breathing cycles rather than with arbitrary movement events. By delivering stimuli during specific phases of the respiratory cycle, the system enhances neural recruitment during natural physiological movements while avoiding the triggering of unwanted muscle contractions that would result from stimulation during voluntary or reflexive movements. This selective periodic timing improves productivity without generating harmful side effects.
4Reliability
If stimulus dosage is increased to account for postural changes, then pain relief is maintained, but power consumption and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service mechanisms where the system automatically detects and adapts to postural changes through monitoring of breathing patterns and other physiological signals. Rather than requiring complex external control systems to adjust for posture, the implanted device autonomously senses changes in respiratory mechanics that accompany postural shifts and adjusts stimulation parameters accordingly. This self-adjusting capability maintains reliable pain relief across different postures while avoiding the complexity of external control systems.
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
Enhances pain relief efficacy by delivering stimuli only when needed, reducing power consumption and discomfort, and maintaining consistent therapeutic outcomes despite postural changes and electrode movement.
Implementation Method 1
An electrical pulse applied to the dorsal column by an electrode causes the depolarisation of neurons, and the generation of propagating action potentials
Implementation Method 2
a power source such as a battery that may be rechargeable by transcutaneous inductive transfer
Data Source
AI summary
Applying therapeutic neural stimuli involves monitoring for at least one of sensory input and movement of a user. In response to detection of sensory input or user movement, an increased stimulus dosage is delivered within a period of time corresponding to a duration of time for which the detected sensory input or user movement gives rise to masking, the increased stimulus dosage being configured to give rise to increased neural recruitment.