Neuroprotective Electrical Stimulation for Cerebral Blood Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods are inadequate in effectively treating adverse cerebrovascular conditions such as ischemic stroke by failing to provide sufficient cerebral blood flow and neuroprotective substance release without significantly opening the blood-brain barrier.
Innovation Solution
An electrical stimulation system is applied to modulation target sites like the sphenopalatine ganglion to increase cerebral blood flow and induce the release of neuroprotective substances like nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, while maintaining minimal blood-brain barrier permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical stimulation is applied to increase cerebral blood flow and induce neuroprotective substance release, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but blood-brain barrier permeability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical stimulation at controlled intensity and duration parameters that achieve the desired therapeutic effect (increased cerebral blood flow and neuroprotective substance release) without exceeding the threshold that would cause significant blood-brain barrier opening. This partial action approach optimizes the benefit-to-risk ratio by delivering sufficient stimulation for therapeutic efficacy while avoiding excessive stimulation that would compromise barrier integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes specific electrical stimulation parameters (intensity, frequency, pulse duration) that are optimized to selectively induce neuroprotective effects while maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves therapeutic goals without triggering the physiological response that leads to barrier permeability increases
2Reliability
If electrical stimulation system is designed to provide sufficient cerebral blood flow enhancement, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical stimulation system is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated device: it can stimulate specific neural structures to increase cerebral blood flow, induce release of neuroprotective substances, and potentially modulate other physiological parameters. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate devices while maintaining comprehensive treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates controllable electrical stimulation parameters that can be adjusted to achieve different therapeutic outcomes. By programming various intensity, frequency, and duration settings, the single device can adapt to different treatment stages (acute vs. rehabilitative) and different patient needs, eliminating the requirement for multiple specialized devices
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
The system effectively reduces damage from cerebrovascular events by enhancing cerebral blood flow and releasing neuroprotective substances, demonstrating efficacy in both acute and rehabilitative treatment stages.
Implementation Method 1
An electrical stimulation system is applied to modulation target sites like the sphenopalatine ganglion to increase cerebral blood flow and induce the release of neuroprotective substances
Implementation Method 2
The system configures the stimulation to dilate cerebral vessels, thereby increasing cerebral blood flow (CBF) to affected brain tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus is provided that includes one or more electrodes, configured to be applied to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, or a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and a control unit, configured to drive the electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the site, and configure the stimulation to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF), and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances, and insufficient to induce a significant increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB).