Selective Neurostimulation with Off-Target Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nerve stimulation technologies lack selectivity, leading to off-target activation and side effects such as neck muscle activation and hoarseness, which limits their efficacy and patient adherence.
Innovation Solution
A neurostimulation system that includes electrodes for associating with fascicular nerve fiber regions, a stimulator to provide electrical pulses, and a signal processing unit to measure on-target and off-target activation, allowing for adjustments in stimulation parameters to enhance selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional nerve stimulation is used, then nerve activation is achieved, but off-target activation and side effects occur due to lack of selectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the nerve into distinct fascicles and uses separate electrodes for each fascicle, enabling independent stimulation of individual nerve bundles. This segmentation allows selective activation of specific nerve fibers while avoiding off-target activation of adjacent fascicles, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving nerve activation and avoiding off-target effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing customized stimulation parameters (voltage, pulse width, frequency) for each individual electrode associated with different fascicles. This localized control enables precise modulation of stimulation intensity and characteristics for each nerve bundle, enhancing selectivity while minimizing harmful off-target activation.
2Reliability
If stimulation parameters are increased to improve activation reliability, then on-target activation is enhanced, but off-target activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the stimulation system into multiple independent electrode-fascicle pairs, the patent enables separate control of stimulation parameters for each fascicle. This allows optimization of activation reliability for target fascicles without increasing stimulation intensity that would cause off-target activation in adjacent fascicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by independently adjusting voltage, pulse width, and frequency for each electrode based on the specific characteristics and requirements of the associated fascicle. This personalized parameter optimization achieves reliable on-target activation while minimizing the risk of off-target effects.
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 achieves higher selectivity in stimulating fascicular nerve fibers, reducing off-target activation and associated side effects, thereby improving the therapeutic outcomes of nerve stimulation treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a stimulator in electrical communication with the electrodes and operational to provide one or more electrical pulses to the electrodes to stimulate at least one fascicular nerve fiber region
Implementation Method 2
the signal processing unit also includes one or more sensors operational to assess physiological and neural responses from a subject due to the neurostimulation
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments pertain to a neurostimulation system operable for providing fascicular nerve fiber stimulation to one or more nerves of a subject. The neurostimulation systems may include: (1) one or more electrodes operational to associate with at least one fascicular nerve fiber region of a subject; (2) a stimulator in electrical communication with the electrodes and operational to provide one or more electrical pulses to the electrodes to stimulate at least one fascicular nerve fiber region; and (3) a signal processing unit in electrical communication with the electrodes and the stimulator, and operational to measure on-target and off-target activation by the stimulated electrodes. Further embodiments pertain to methods of providing at least one fascicular nerve fiber stimulation to one or more nerves of a subject by utilizing the disclosed neurostimulation systems. The stimulation may achieve intrafascicular selectivity.