Neuromodulation Device for Hepatic Glucose Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for diabetes mellitus require daily insulin injections and constant blood glucose monitoring, posing challenges in compliance and management due to the self-managed nature of the condition.
Innovation Solution
The use of therapeutic neuromodulation devices and systems that selectively disrupt or modulate sympathetic nerve fibers associated with the liver to regulate hepatic glucose production and uptake, thereby reducing the need for insulin injections and glucose monitoring, using methods such as radiofrequency ablation, ultrasonic energy, or chemical agents to achieve semi-permanent or permanent effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current diabetes treatments (insulin injections and glucose monitoring) are used, then blood glucose control is achieved, but patient compliance and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the body's own nervous system to automatically regulate blood glucose levels through neuromodulation of sympathetic nerve fibers. The implanted device stimulates or inhibits nerve activity to control hepatic glucose production and peripheral glucose uptake, allowing the system to self-regulate without requiring daily patient intervention for insulin administration or glucose monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual insulin injection and glucose monitoring with a neuromodulation system that uses electrical or chemical stimulation of nerve fibers. This substitution transforms the treatment from a mechanical, patient-operated process to an automated physiological regulation system that acts through the body's inherent neural control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If daily insulin injections are required, then blood glucose levels are controlled, but treatment complexity and patient burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The neuromodulation device leverages the body's intrinsic neuroendocrine pathways to automatically adjust glucose homeostasis. By modulating sympathetic nerve activity to the liver and peripheral tissues, the system creates a self-regulating feedback loop that responds to physiological needs without requiring complex external management or multiple daily interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent describes a single neuromodulation device that can simultaneously target multiple physiological mechanisms - hepatic glucose production, peripheral glucose uptake, and potentially insulin secretion - through stimulation of sympathetic nerve fibers. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate treatments into one unified therapy.
3Reliability
If constant blood glucose monitoring is performed, then glycemic control is maintained, but time and effort requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The neuromodulation system replaces manual glucose monitoring with automated neural regulation. The implanted device continuously senses physiological parameters and adjusts nerve stimulation accordingly, eliminating the need for patients to perform frequent self-monitoring while maintaining reliable glycemic control through continuous physiological feedback.
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 can provide long-lasting reductions in blood glucose levels, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels, reducing the burden of diabetes management by minimizing the need for daily treatments and improving insulin regulation.
Implementation Method 1
using methods such as radiofrequency ablation, ultrasonic energy, or chemical agents to achieve semi-permanent or permanent effects
Implementation Method 2
using methods such as radiofrequency ablation, ultrasonic energy, or chemical agents to achieve semi-permanent or permanent effects
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, systems, devices and methods for modulating targeted nerve fibers (e.g., hepatic neuromodulation) are provided. The systems may be configured to access tortuous anatomy of or adjacent hepatic vasculature. The systems may be configured to target nerves within a wall of (e.g., within adventitia surrounding a lumen of) an artery or other blood vessel, such as the common hepatic artery.