Electrical Stimulation for Back Pain via Paraspinal Nerve Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for chronic back pain, such as analgesics, injections, and electrical stimulation, provide inadequate long-term relief, are invasive, associated with side effects, and fail to address central pain sensitization.

Innovation Solution

An electrical stimulation system with percutaneous electrodes and a pulse generator activates peripheral nerves to generate neurally encoded signals in paraspinal muscles, modulating central pain processing without requiring muscle strengthening or mechanical stabilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical stimulation is applied to activate muscles for pain relief, then pain relief is achieved, but muscle strengthening and mechanical stabilization are required continuously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain reliefVSAvoidcontinuous therapy requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical stabilization and muscle strengthening approaches with electrical field stimulation. Instead of relying on mechanical support structures or continuous physical therapy, the invention uses electrical fields to directly modulate pain processing in the central nervous system, thereby eliminating the need for continuous mechanical intervention or muscle strengthening exercises.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from mechanical parameters (muscle strength, stabilization force) to electrical parameters (stimulation frequency, amplitude, pulse width). By adjusting these electrical stimulation parameters, the system achieves pain relief through central nervous system modulation rather than mechanical means, allowing for programmable and adaptable therapy without continuous mechanical support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If invasive procedures such as injections or implants are used, then pain relief is achieved, but side effects and complications increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain reliefVSAvoidside effects and complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical procedures (injections, implants, surgical interventions) with non-invasive electrical field application. The electrical stimulation system delivers therapy through external electrodes without penetrating tissue or introducing foreign substances, thereby eliminating risks of infection, nerve damage, and other complications associated with invasive procedures while maintaining effective pain relief through central nervous system modulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If focus is placed on treating the initiating cause or transmission of pain signals, then targeted treatment is achieved, but central pain sensitization is not addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment targetingVSAvoidpain relief effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces peripheral-focused treatment approaches with central nervous system-targeted electrical stimulation. Instead of attempting to block pain signals at their source or transmission pathway, the invention directly modulates pain processing in the central nervous system using electrical fields, thereby addressing central pain sensitization that peripheral treatments cannot effectively treat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250295921A1Systems and methods related to the treatment of back pain

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 SPR THERAPEUTICS

AI summary

The present invention reduces pain and improves function long-term in persons with back pain using electrical stimulation in the back. This approach involves an electrical stimulation device including at least one electrode adapted for insertion within an animal body with back pain and at least one pulse generator operatively coupled with the at least one electrode, wherein the pulse generator delivers electrical stimulation activating at least a nerve innervating at least a paraspinal muscle in a back of the animal body for pain relief.