Multimodal Nerve Trunk Pain Control via Electrical Stimulation and Sodium Blockade

Solution Overview

Problem

Current pain management techniques, particularly for post-operative pain, rely heavily on opioids, leading to addiction and high healthcare costs, and existing neuromodulation methods are insufficient in managing severe breakthrough pain in the first 24-72 hours after surgery.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising two catheters positioned along a nerve trunk, one delivering a sodium channel blocker medication and the other providing pulsed electrical stimulation, allowing for multimodal pain control by closing molecular and synaptic gates, with a wearable device for adjustable neuromodulation and optional anesthetic delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical stimulation (neuromodulation) is used for pain control, then moderate to mild pain is effectively controlled, but severe breakthrough pain in the first 24-72 hours cannot be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain control effectivenessVSAvoidtime window for effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two different pain management mechanisms into a single system: electrical stimulation (neuromodulation) for moderate to mild pain control, and sodium channel blockade for severe breakthrough pain control. This merging allows the system to address the temporal gap in pain management by providing both immediate molecular blockade and sustained neuromodulation through a unified catheter platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pain management approach is segmented into two distinct functional components: a sodium channel blocking agent for acute severe pain (first 24-72 hours) and electrical stimulation for sustained moderate to mild pain. This segmentation allows each component to target specific pain phases, with the sodium channel blocker providing immediate relief during the critical early period when neuromodulation alone is insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If opioids are used for post-operative pain management, then severe pain is effectively controlled, but addiction and high healthcare costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain control effectivenessVSAvoidaddiction and healthcare costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical opioid system with a physical/neuromodulatory system that uses electrical stimulation and sodium channel blockade to control pain. This substitution eliminates the harmful dependencies on opioids by using non-addictive mechanisms: electrical currents to modulate nerve signaling and sodium channel blockers to temporarily inhibit pain transmission, thereby controlling severe pain without the addiction risks associated with opioids.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sodium channel blockers as an intermediary substance that temporarily blocks pain transmission at the molecular level, serving as a bridge between acute pain control and long-term neuromodulation. This intermediary approach allows severe pain to be managed in the critical first 24-72 hours without relying on opioids, while the sodium channel blocker wears off, transitioning to maintenance pain control through electrical stimulation alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If sodium channel blockade is used, then severe breakthrough pain is controlled, but the effect is temporary and requires repeated administration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreakthrough pain controlVSAvoidduration of pain relief

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuity of pain control by transitioning from the temporary sodium channel blockade (first 24-72 hours) to sustained electrical stimulation (beyond 72 hours). The electrical stimulation provides continuous neuromodulation that maintains pain control without the need for repeated drug administrations, thereby bridging the gap between the temporary molecular block and long-term pain management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The sodium channel blocker is administered preliminarily in the first 24-72 hours to establish immediate pain control during the critical acute phase. This preliminary action prepares the patient for the transition to long-term neuromodulation, ensuring that severe breakthrough pain is controlled while the foundation is laid for sustained pain management through electrical stimulation without requiring repeated sodium channel blocker administrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If electrical stimulation is used for pain control, then moderate to mild pain is controlled, but severe acute pain in the first 24-72 hours cannot be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoderate to mild pain controlVSAvoidearly acute pain window

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pain management approach is segmented into two distinct functional components: a sodium channel blocking agent for acute severe pain (first 24-72 hours) and electrical stimulation for sustained moderate to mild pain. This segmentation allows each component to target specific pain phases, with the sodium channel blocker providing immediate relief during the critical early period when neuromodulation alone is insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sodium channel blocker is administered preliminarily in the first 24-72 hours to establish immediate pain control during the critical acute phase. This preliminary action prepares the patient for the transition to long-term neuromodulation, ensuring that severe breakthrough pain is controlled while the foundation is laid for sustained pain management through electrical stimulation without requiring repeated sodium channel blocker administrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively manages both acute severe pain and breakthrough pain without opioid reliance, reducing addiction risks and healthcare costs by providing sustained pain relief through targeted nerve block and neuromodulation.

Implementation Method 1

the nerves innervating that specific region of the body is blocked with sodium channel blockade (molecular gate)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSodium channel blockade: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

neuromodulated with electrical stimulation to block the synaptic gate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation (neuromodulation): Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS20240198101A1Systems, apparatuses and methods for pain management

Publication Date: 2024.06.20 GATE SCIENTIFIC INC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to, among other things, systems, devices, and related methods for operating the same, to treat or provide pain control via multimodal control of pain. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to by both the delivery of pulsed electrical current to and/or around a nerve trunk, and delivery of one or more substances to and/or around the nerve trunk.