Neuromodulation System with eCAP Feedback for Sub-threshold Therapy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neuromodulation systems face challenges in optimizing sub-threshold therapy without paresthesia, particularly in compensating for lead migration or changes in patient activity and posture.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that deliver electrical modulation energy to a target tissue site at a programmed intensity, incrementally increase intensity in response to events like lead migration or posture changes, sense evoked compound action potentials, and automatically compute a decreased intensity value for optimal sub-threshold therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical modulation energy is delivered at a fixed programmed intensity value, then the therapy delivery is simple and stable, but the therapy becomes ineffective when lead migration or posture changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system senses evoked compound action potentials (eCAPs) from the neural tissue in response to delivered electrical modulation energy. The sensed eCAP characteristics are fed back to automatically adjust the intensity value, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains effective therapy despite lead migration or posture changes without requiring complex manual recalibration
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic intensity optimization by sensing eCAPs and computing adjusted intensity values without requiring clinician intervention. The neuromodulation system self-adjusts its parameters in response to detected changes in neural response, enabling autonomous adaptation to maintain therapeutic effectiveness
2Reliability
If the intensity value is incrementally increased to compensate for lead migration, then therapy effectiveness is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses eCAP sensing feedback to detect the minimum intensity required to elicit an effective neural response. By continuously monitoring neural responses and adjusting intensity only to the extent necessary to maintain therapeutic effect, the system avoids unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring therapy effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the intensity parameter based on sensed eCAP characteristics rather than using a fixed or continuously increased intensity. This allows optimization of the intensity parameter to the minimum effective level, reducing energy consumption while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
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 ensures that sub-threshold neuromodulation therapy remains effective and energy-efficient, even with changes in patient position or activity, by dynamically adjusting the intensity based on sensed neural responses.
Implementation Method 1
delivering electrical modulation energy to a target tissue site of the patient
Implementation Method 2
sensing at least one evoked compound action potential (eCAP) in a population of neurons at the target tissue site
Data Source
AI summary
A neuromodulation system and method of providing sub-threshold modulation therapy. Electrical modulation energy is delivered to a target tissue site of the patient at a programmed intensity value, thereby providing therapy to a patient without perception of stimulation. In response to an event, electrical modulation energy is delivered at incrementally increasing intensity values. At least one evoked compound action potential (eCAP) is sensed in a population of neurons at the target tissue site of the patient in response to the delivery of the electrical modulation energy at the incrementally increasing intensity values. One of the incrementally increased intensity values is selected based on the sensed eCAP(s). A decreased intensity value is automatically computed as a function of the selected intensity value. Electrical modulation energy is delivered to the target tissue site of the patient at the computed intensity value, thereby providing sub-threshold therapy to the patient.