Non-Regular Stimulation Patterns for Neurological Tissue

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) at high frequencies generates stronger side-effects and increases power consumption, shortening battery life and requiring larger batteries, while low frequency stimulation is often ineffective in treating neurological disorders.

Innovation Solution

Non-regular stimulation patterns with varying inter-pulse intervals, developed using a genetic algorithm and computational models, which reduce average frequency and intensity of side effects, and decrease power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high frequency stimulation is used to achieve effective symptom relief, then clinical efficacy is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life shortens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical efficacyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by using burst stimulation patterns where high-frequency pulses are delivered in periodic bursts separated by silent intervals. This allows the system to achieve therapeutic effects during the burst periods while reducing overall power consumption during the silent intervals, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining clinical efficacy and reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic parameter adjustment by varying stimulation frequency, amplitude, and burst patterns based on real-time feedback from recorded neural activity. The system dynamically adapts stimulation parameters to maintain therapeutic effectiveness while optimizing power consumption, thereby resolving the contradiction between clinical efficacy and energy use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If high frequency stimulation is used to achieve effective symptom relief, then clinical efficacy is improved, but side effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical efficacyVSAvoidside effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing periodic burst stimulation with silent intervals between bursts, the system achieves therapeutic effects during active stimulation periods while allowing neural tissue to recover during silent periods. This reduces cumulative side effects such as tissue heating and neuronal exhaustion while maintaining clinical efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes stimulation parameters dynamically, adjusting frequency, amplitude, and duty cycle based on recorded neural responses. By optimizing these parameters in real-time, the system achieves effective symptom relief while minimizing side effects through precise parameter control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high frequency stimulation is used to achieve effective symptom relief, then clinical efficacy is improved, but battery size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical efficacyVSAvoidbattery size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The periodic burst stimulation pattern reduces average power consumption by delivering high-frequency pulses only during brief burst intervals followed by silent periods. This lower average power requirement enables the use of smaller batteries while maintaining effective symptom relief, thus resolving the contradiction between clinical efficacy and battery size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If high frequency stimulation is used to achieve effective symptom relief, then clinical efficacy is improved, but stimulation intensity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical efficacyVSAvoidstimulation intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The burst stimulation pattern delivers high-frequency pulses with high intensity during brief periods, followed by silent intervals that allow neural tissue recovery. This periodic approach maintains therapeutic efficacy during bursts while reducing overall stimulation intensity and preventing tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts stimulation intensity based on real-time neural activity feedback, delivering high intensity only when necessary for therapeutic effect while reducing intensity during recovery periods. This dynamic control maintains efficacy while minimizing overall stimulation intensity and associated harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11878173B2Non-regular electrical stimulation patterns designed with a cost function for treating neurological disorders

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 DUKE UNIV

AI summary

Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue generate stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. Compared to conventional continuous, high rate pulse trains having regular (i.e., constant) inter-pulse intervals, the non-regular (i.e., not constant) pulse patterns or trains that embody features of the invention provide a lower average frequency.