Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation for Shoulder Pain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for shoulder pain secondary to subacromial impingement syndrome are inadequate, with existing therapies providing only marginal relief and significant side effects, and there is a lack of a standard care for chronic pain management.
Innovation Solution
A percutaneous electrical stimulation system that includes a patch assembly with a battery and electrodes, a stimulator with a microcontroller for generating specific waveforms, and a percutaneous lead for delivering stimulation to peripheral nerves, providing safe and effective short- and long-term pain relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conservative treatments such as NSAIDs and physical therapy are used, then initial pain management is provided, but long-term effectiveness is insufficient and systemic side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces peripheral nerve stimulation as an intermediary therapy between conservative treatments and surgery. The stimulator delivers electrical impulses through percutaneous leads to modulate pain signals at the nerve level, providing long-term relief without the systemic side effects of medications or the invasiveness of surgical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces pharmacological mechanisms (chemical substances) with electrical stimulation mechanisms. Instead of using NSAIDs that circulate systemically and cause side effects, the system uses localized electrical impulses to achieve pain relief through neuromodulation, substituting chemical action with physical action.
2Reliability
If surface neurostimulation systems are used, then pain relief is provided, but discomfort on skin and need for skilled personnel for electrode placement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrodes from the skin surface and places them percutaneously into the muscle or near the peripheral nerve. This removes the discomfort of skin stimulation while maintaining effective pain relief, and the percutaneous placement is less sensitive to precise positioning compared to surface electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing electrodes on the skin surface as conventionally done, the patent inverts the approach by inserting electrodes through the skin into the target tissue. This reversal of placement methodology reduces both patient discomfort and the skill level required for effective electrode positioning.
3Reliability
If implantable neurostimulation systems are used, then pain relief is achieved, but potential for nerve damage and unwanted device movement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic, removable percutaneous lead system rather than a permanent implant. The leads can be adjusted, repositioned, or removed as needed, reducing the risk of permanent nerve damage and allowing for optimization of therapy parameters without committing to permanent implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The percutaneous design provides a buffer zone between the electrode and deep neural structures. The lead traverses through tissue layers that cushion and protect against direct nerve damage, while still delivering effective stimulation to the target peripheral nerve or muscle.
4Measurement precision
If open surgical procedures are used to place leads, then direct contact with target nerves is achieved, but need for dissection and exposure increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent skips the lengthy process of open surgical dissection and exposure by using percutaneous insertion techniques. The leads are rapidly inserted through small puncture sites directly to the target area, achieving precise placement without the need for extensive surgical exposure or dissection of surrounding tissues.
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 offers substantial pain reduction and improved quality of life for patients with moderate to severe acute and chronic shoulder pain, with significant reductions in pain interference and disability scores, and sustained pain relief for at least three months post-treatment.
Implementation Method 1
A percutaneous electrical stimulation system that includes a patch assembly with a battery and electrodes, a stimulator with a microcontroller for generating specific waveforms, and a percutaneous lead for delivering stimulation to peripheral nerves
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for treating chronic pain occurring secondarily to subacromial impingement syndrome in a human body. A system is provided to deliver percutaneous electrical stimulation through at least one electrode to neurological motor points of the posterior and middle deltoid muscles to mediate such pain. One-time, continued and/or periodic dosing of treatment methods according to the present invention may result in a change to central nervous system maladaptive neuroplasticity.