Nerve Cuff Electrode Leads with Embedded Coil Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nerve cuff electrodes have limitations in surface area and bending properties, which can affect their performance in stimulating nerves to treat conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrode leads with nerve cuffs featuring electrically conductive coils partially embedded in an insulative cuff body, providing superior bending properties and larger surface areas compared to conventional flat contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If flat contacts are used on nerve cuffs, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the surface area is limited and bending properties are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies coil contacts with curved, three-dimensional structures instead of flat planar contacts. The coil configuration provides enhanced surface area through its volumetric arrangement while maintaining flexibility and bending properties that flat contacts cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil contacts are embedded within the cuff body in a nested configuration, where the conductive coil is partially embedded in the insulative cuff body. This nesting approach increases surface area without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If flat contacts are used on nerve cuffs, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the bending properties and tissue interaction are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The coil contact structure inherently provides superior bending properties compared to flat contacts. The coil configuration allows the contact to flex and conform to nerve surfaces more effectively, enhancing tissue interaction and stimulation performance while maintaining manufacturability through established coil fabrication techniques.
3Reliability
If conventional flat contacts are used, then the device is simple, but tissue interaction and stimulation effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the contact elements from two-dimensional flat shapes to three-dimensional coil structures. This parameter transformation increases surface area and enhances tissue interaction, leading to more reliable and effective nerve stimulation while keeping the overall device design manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode lead including an elongate lead body and a nerve cuff (or other nerve contact element) including an electrically insulative cuff body (or other contact body) affixed to the distal end of the lead body and at least one electrically conductive coil partially embedded in the cuff body (or other contact body) such that there are non-embedded portions, which together define a flexible coil contact that is associated with the front outer surface of the cuff body (or other contact body), and embedded portions.