Neuromodulation Controller Circuit for State Determination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical systems struggle to accurately determine and normalize patient states using sensed signals, which can lead to suboptimal therapy delivery and increased side effects.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising an electrostimulator, a sensing circuit, and a controller circuit that delivers electrostimulation to a neural target, senses evoked responses, and determines patient parameters to classify and associate features with states, allowing for adjusted therapy settings and medication schedules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional medical systems use fixed therapy settings, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment efficacy decreases due to inability to adapt to varying patient states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to patient statesVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors patient physiological signals (such as neural activity, muscle response, or other biometric data) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust therapy parameters. The controller circuit receives real-time data from sensors, compares it against target ranges, and modifies stimulation settings accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to patient state changes without requiring complex manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The medical device performs self-adjustment of therapy parameters based on its own sensing capabilities. The embedded controller automatically normalizes signals, determines patient state, and modifies electrostimulation settings without external intervention, allowing the device to serve itself in optimizing treatment while maintaining simplicity for the user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If therapy settings are manually adjusted based on observations, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision of patient state deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient state determination accuracyVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual observation and judgment with automated electronic sensing and processing. Sensors objectively measure physiological parameters, and the controller circuit automatically analyzes these signals to determine patient state, eliminating the subjectivity and imprecision of manual assessment while requiring minimal user interaction beyond initial setup

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If therapy parameters are fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but side effects increase due to suboptimal therapy delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside effectsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static, fixed therapy parameters to dynamic, continuously adjustable settings. The controller circuit modifies pulse amplitude, frequency, width, and other parameters in real-time based on sensed patient response, allowing the therapy to adapt to changing physiological conditions and prevent side effects that arise from inappropriate fixed settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If real-time signal sensing is implemented, then treatment efficacy is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic sensing and adjustment cycles rather than continuous operation. The controller circuit senses patient signals at optimized intervals, processes data in batches, and adjusts parameters periodically based on accumulated information. This approach maintains treatment efficacy by capturing meaningful physiological changes while significantly reducing the energy burden of constant monitoring and processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20250128068A1Systems and methods for state determination and normalization using sensed signals

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 BOSTON SCI NEUROMODULATION CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods for state determination and normalization using adaptive neuromodulation based on biopotentials and/or electrophysiology (e.g., evoked responses) are disclosed. An exemplary system comprises at least one lead, an electrostimulator to provide electrostimulation to a neural target, a sensing circuit to sense ERs to electrostimulation, and a controller circuit. In response to electrostimulation delivered to the neural target in accordance with a stimulation setting via a stimulating electrode, the controller circuit may collect sensed ERs to the electrostimulation using at least one sensing electrode. The controller circuit may determine at least one parameter associated with the electrostimulation or an affect of the electrostimulation to the neural target. The controller circuit may associate at least one feature of a first set of the sensed ERs with the parameter to classify the parameter.