Pharyngeal Stimulation Catheter With Variable Stiffness Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for treating dysphagia, particularly in non-hospitalized patients, face challenges in maintaining optimal positioning of electrical stimulation catheters without the anchoring effect provided by a feeding tube, leading to suboptimal contact with targeted nerves in the pharynx.
Innovation Solution
The development of an elongated member with varying stiffness regions and a directional bias mechanism that leverages anatomical features to ensure proper positioning of conductive elements against the posterior pharyngeal wall, using a nasal or oral insertion method, without the need for a feeding tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electrical stimulation catheter is inserted into the pharynx without a feeding tube for anchoring, then patient comfort and ease of insertion are improved, but the catheter fails to maintain optimal positioning and contact with targeted nerves
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a feeding tube lumen that can be selectively used during insertion to provide anchoring and stabilize positioning. The lumen serves different functions at different stages: structural support during positioning, then can be removed or left in place depending on treatment needs, allowing the catheter to maintain reliable contact with pharyngeal nerves while enabling patient comfort.
2Reliability
If a feeding tube is used to anchor the electrical stimulation catheter, then positioning stability is improved, but treatment complexity and duration are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the anchoring function from a separate feeding tube and integrates it into the catheter structure itself through the feeding tube lumen. This allows the catheter to be self-contained and functional without requiring a separate feeding tube to be permanently in place, reducing overall treatment complexity while maintaining positioning stability during the stimulation procedure.
3Measurement precision
If a feeding tube is required for catheter anchoring, then positioning accuracy is improved, but patient mobility and outpatient treatment feasibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter design allows dynamic adjustment of the feeding tube lumen usage. During insertion and initial positioning, the lumen provides structural support for accurate placement. Once positioned, the lumen can be removed or the catheter adjusted to provide patient mobility while maintaining positioning accuracy through the catheter's own structural design, enabling outpatient treatment and patient freedom of movement.
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 enhances the effectiveness of pharyngeal electrical stimulation by improving nerve stimulation and swallowing reflexes, offering a practical outpatient treatment option for dysphagia without the limitations of multi-day catheter placement.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive element carried by the distal portion of the elongated member and configured to be electrically coupled to an energy source for delivering electric current to nerves proximate the pharynx
Data Source
AI summary
Electrical stimulation devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the electrical stimulation device comprises an elongated member configured to be orally or nasally inserted into a patient's pharynx. The device may further include a conductive element carried by a distal portion of the elongated member and configured to deliver stimulation energy to nearby tissue. A stiffness of the elongated member may vary along its length to facilitate insertion of the elongated member through the nasopharyngeal junction and provide a restoring force necessary to hold the conductive element in apposition with tissue at the treatment site.