NMES Thermal Modulation for Deep Muscle Stimulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) devices are limited in their effectiveness for patients with peripheral tissue edema, as tissue swelling reduces the efficacy of muscle contraction and increases the risk of skin burns due to short-circuiting and increased impedance, and current devices lack mechanisms to compensate for these issues.

Innovation Solution

The use of a muscle stimulation system that incorporates a thermal device to modulate tissue temperature, creating a temperature gradient to increase impedance in superficial tissues and enhance energy delivery to deeper muscle tissues, while maintaining superficial tissue temperatures within safe limits to prevent burns and electrode degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If higher energy levels are used to increase NMES efficacy, then muscle contraction effectiveness is improved, but the risk of burns and tissue damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNMES efficacyVSAvoidrisk of burns and tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies superficial cooling to the skin and subcutaneous tissue before delivering NMES energy. This preliminary cooling action reduces the temperature and impedance of superficial tissues, allowing higher energy levels to be delivered to deep muscles without causing burns or damage to superficial structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses cooled superficial tissues as an intermediary medium to control energy distribution. By cooling the skin and subcutaneous layer, the system creates a temporary barrier that redirects electrical current deeper into the muscle tissue, preventing direct heating of superficial tissues while still allowing effective muscle stimulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If surface cooling is applied to increase impedance in superficial tissues, then energy delivery to deep muscles is improved, but the efficiency of energy transfer into the body decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy delivery to deep musclesVSAvoidenergy transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies cooling selectively to specific superficial regions between and around electrodes, creating localized impedance changes. This allows energy to be redirected to deep muscles in targeted areas while maintaining normal tissue properties in other regions, optimizing both depth penetration and overall energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies cooling to only the necessary superficial regions rather than the entire treatment area. By limiting cooling to specific zones where deep muscle stimulation is needed, the system avoids excessive energy loss while achieving sufficient impedance modification to improve deep muscle energy delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If surface cooling is applied during NMES, then superficial tissue impedance increases, but the efficiency of energy transfer into the body decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuperficial tissue impedance controlVSAvoidenergy transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts cooling intensity and duration based on real-time monitoring of tissue temperature and impedance. By modulating the cooling effect, the system maintains optimal impedance levels in superficial tissues without creating excessive barriers that would prevent efficient energy transfer to deep muscles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses temperature sensors and impedance monitoring to provide feedback on the state of superficial tissues. This feedback allows the control system to adjust cooling parameters in real-time, ensuring that impedance is increased sufficiently to protect superficial tissues while not exceeding levels that would dramatically decrease energy transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 improves the efficiency of NMES by increasing the percentage of electrical energy delivered to muscle tissues, reducing the risk of burns and electrode damage, and allowing for more effective muscle contraction in edematous patients, thereby expanding the applicability of NMES therapy.

Implementation Method 1

incorporates a thermal device to modulate tissue temperature, creating a temperature gradient to increase impedance in superficial tissues

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature gradient: Temperature Gradient

Implementation Method 2

thermal device adapted to change the temperature of tissue proximate the plurality of muscle stimulation electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2863984B8Devices and systems for stimulation of tissues

Publication Date: 2017.12.20 SAGE PROD LLC

AI summary

NMES systems and methods for stimulating muscle tissue, and in some embodiments deep muscle tissue. The impedance near the surface of the skin is controllably increased to increase the percentage of energy delivered to a subject that stimulates muscle tissue.