Extravascular Neural Interface Flaps for Full Vessel Electrode Coverage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional neurostimulation devices fail to provide complete electrode coverage of the target vessel, lack radial flexibility, and suffer from nerve damage due to excessive compression or poor electrical contact, exacerbated by ingrowth of connective tissue.

Innovation Solution

A neural interface design featuring a flexible inner flap and a more rigid outer flap, with electrodes housed in a flexible substrate, allowing for self-sizing and complete vessel coverage, improved electrical contact, and reduced nerve damage risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single flap design is used to cover the target vessel, then the device structure is simple, but the electrode coverage is incomplete and radial flexibility is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidelectrode coverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple flaps (first flap, second flap, third flap) instead of using a single flap. Each flap contains electrodes that can independently contact the target vessel, thereby achieving complete 360-degree circumferential coverage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flaps are arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations around the target vessel. The first flap extends in one direction, the second flap extends in another direction, and the third flap completes the circumferential coverage, achieving three-dimensional coverage of the vessel surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If a fixed-size device is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the device cannot adapt to different vessel sizes and causes nerve damage through excessive compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidvessel size adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flaps are designed with resilient properties that allow them to dynamically adjust their shape and size. The flaps can expand or contract radially to match the diameter of different target vessels, providing self-sizing capability without complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device parameters (particularly the radial dimension of the flaps) can change to adapt to different vessel sizes. The resilient material properties enable the flaps to modify their physical dimensions in response to the target vessel diameter, achieving adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the device applies strong compression force, then the electrical contact is improved, but nerve damage occurs due to excessive compression and constricted nerve fibers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact qualityVSAvoidnerve damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the device have different mechanical properties. The flaps are made of resilient material that provides localized compliance at the contact interface with the nerve, distributing compression forces evenly and preventing focal points of excessive pressure that could damage nerve fibers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flaps are constructed from flexible, resilient material that can conform to the vessel geometry while providing gentle, distributed pressure. This flexible structure maintains reliable electrical contact through conformal contact rather than through excessive compression force, thereby avoiding nerve damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the device is made loose-fitting, then the nerve damage risk is reduced, but the electrical contact quality deteriorates and treatment efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenerve damage riskVSAvoidelectrical contact quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flaps possess dynamic mechanical properties that allow them to automatically adjust their contact pressure with the target vessel. The resilient material enables the flaps to exert sufficient force for good electrical contact while naturally limiting maximum compression forces to prevent nerve damage, achieving both goals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12478787B2Electrode devices for neurostimulation

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 GALVANI BIOELECTRONICS LTD

AI summary

An extravascular neural interface is disclosed containing electrodes for neurostimulation of the vessel. The devices are housed in flexible substrates, each substrate having a spinal portion for routing leads/conductors into the device for connection to the electrodes. Extending from opposite sides of the spinal portion is a self-sizing inner flap that supports and positions the electrodes to be inward facing, i.e., extravascular designs, and one more rigid outer flap. The electrodes may be flexible multifilar coil electrodes.