Non-Invasive Neuron Stimulation With Variable Channel Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive treatments for brain disorders like Parkinson's disease, such as vibrotactile multichannel stimulation, struggle to effectively suppress pathologically synchronous neuronal activity due to difficulties in tuning stimulation parameters to the dominant frequency of abnormal brain activity, and may unintentionally strengthen these activities if not properly synchronized with feedback signals.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive medical treatment device with multiple stimulating units that generate stimuli intermittently and variably, using a control unit to determine the number and combination of units to be activated in each actuating period, avoiding regularities and adapting to the patient's neuronal activity through stochastic or deterministic processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-invasive vibrotactile multichannel stimulation is used to counteract Parkinsonian signs, then the treatment avoids surgical risks, but the inherently periodic structure of stimulation makes it difficult to tune to the dominant frequency of abnormal brain activity, reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static, fixed-periodic stimulation pattern to a dynamic, adaptive stimulation pattern. The control unit continuously adjusts stimulation parameters based on real-time EEG feedback, allowing the system to track and respond to changing brain rhythms. This enables the stimulation to adapt to the dominant frequency of abnormal brain activity as it evolves over time, resolving the contradiction between avoiding surgery and achieving frequency tuning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by incorporating real-time EEG recordings into the stimulation control loop. The control unit receives continuous feedback about the patient's brain activity, analyzes the dominant frequency components, and adjusts the stimulation parameters accordingly. This closed-loop system enables precise frequency tuning and adapts to changes in brain rhythm, significantly improving therapeutic effectiveness while maintaining non-invasive treatment.
2Ease of operation
If repeated coincident activation of neurons is used in non-invasive stimulation, then the treatment simplifies the stimulation pattern, but it may unintentionally strengthen the pathologically synchronous activity of neurons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the stimulation pattern to preemptively counteract pathologically synchronous activity before it can be strengthened. The control unit detects abnormal synchronous activity through EEG and applies stimulation that is deliberately out of phase with the pathologic rhythm. This preliminary counter-action prevents the reinforcement of maladaptive synaptic connections that would occur with repeated coincident activation, while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inversion by applying stimulation that is opposite to the pathologically synchronous activity. Instead of following the abnormal rhythm (which would strengthen it), the system inverts the approach by stimulating at frequencies and phases that disrupt the synchronous firing pattern. This inverted stimulation strategy effectively weakens pathologic connections while avoiding the harmful effect of reinforcing them through repeated coincident activation.
3Reliability
If standard continuous high-frequency DBS is used for Parkinson's disease, then the treatment provides strong therapeutic effects, but it requires surgical procedures with significant risk and causes side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the mechanical/surgical DBS system with a non-invasive electrical stimulation system. Instead of implanting electrodes into the brain (which carries surgical risks of bleeding and infection), the system uses external vibratory or electrical stimulators that activate neurons through the body surface. This substitution maintains the therapeutic effectiveness of neuronal modulation while eliminating the harmful surgical risks and associated side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing EEG feedback as a mediator between the stimulation system and the brain. The EEG signals serve as an intermediary that allows the external stimulation system to sense and respond to brain activity in real-time, enabling precise targeting of therapeutic effects without the need for invasive electrodes. This intermediary feedback mechanism achieves strong therapeutic effects while avoiding surgical intervention and its associated harms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a medical treatment device for stimulating neurons of a patient to suppress a pathologically synchronous activity, the device comprises at least three non-invasive stimulating units for generating stimuli to a patient's body, and a control unit for selectively and intermittently actuating the stimulating units in a sequence of actuating periods. The control unit is configured to, across the sequence of actuating periods, variedly determine for each actuating period a number n of stimulating units to be simultaneously actuated during the respective actuating period.