Nerve Cuff Straightener for Precise Elastic Cuff Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nerve cuffs pre-set to a furled state face challenges such as difficulty in straightening, potential nerve damage, inaccurate placement, and prolonged surgical procedures due to manual wrapping requirements.
Innovation Solution
An electrode lead assembly incorporating a nerve cuff straightener and a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative cuff body that can transition from a furled to an unfurled state, allowing selective adjustment of curvature during implantation, reducing the risk of damage and simplifying the placement process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the nerve cuff is pre-set to a furled state, then the nerve cuff can self-wrap around the nerve without manual wrapping, but the process of straightening the nerve cuff becomes difficult and may damage the nerve cuff
Solution Approach 1:
The nerve cuff is pre-shaped to a furled state during manufacturing, which prepares it for automatic wrapping around the nerve during implantation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual wrapping by the physician while maintaining the self-wrapping capability that prevents nerve damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The nerve cuff is designed with dynamic shape-changing capability, allowing it to transition from a pre-set furled state to an unfurled state during implantation. This dynamic property enables the cuff to adapt its shape for both automatic wrapping and safe placement without damage.
2Ease of operation
If the nerve cuff is pre-set to a furled state, then manual wrapping by the physician is eliminated, but accurate placement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The nerve cuff is pre-shaped to a furled state during manufacturing, which prepares it for automatic wrapping around the nerve during implantation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual wrapping by the physician while maintaining the self-wrapping capability that ensures accurate placement.
3Device complexity
If the nerve cuff is pre-set to a furled state, then the surgical procedure is simplified, but the duration of the surgical procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nerve cuff is pre-shaped to a furled state during manufacturing, which prepares it for automatic wrapping around the nerve during implantation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual wrapping by the physician, significantly reducing the surgical time required for placement while maintaining simplicity.
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
Facilitates easier and more precise placement of nerve cuffs, reducing surgical duration and likelihood of damage, while accommodating nerve swelling and variations in nerve diameter.
Implementation Method 1
a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative cuff body that is configured to be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, has a pre-set furled state that defines an inner lumen and is movable to an unfurled state
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode lead assembly comprising a nerve cuff straightener and an electrode lead including a nerve cuff, associated with the distal end of the lead body, including a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative cuff body that is configured to be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, has a pre-set furled state that defines an inner lumen and is movable to an unfurled state, and is configured to receive a portion of the nerve cuff straightener, and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts carried by the cuff body. When inserted into the nerve cuff, the portion of the nerve cuff straightener received by the nerve cuff moves the nerve cuff out of the pre-set furled state.