Phrenic Nerve Stimulation Coils for Diaphragm Muscle Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical ventilation methods lead to diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD) due to prolonged muscle disuse, causing increased morbidity and mortality, and existing stimulation techniques are invasive, impractical, or unable to produce tetanic, sustained contractions necessary for negative pressure ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A device with metallic coils placed adjacent to phrenic nerves and a stimulation unit providing electric current for tetanic contractions, synchronized with mechanical ventilator cycles, to induce diaphragmatic contractions and reduce muscle wasting, using a collar for coil positioning and cooling systems to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical ventilation is used to support respiratory function, then patient survival is improved, but diaphragmatic dysfunction occurs due to muscle disuse
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies electrical stimulation to the phrenic nerve before and during mechanical ventilation to maintain diaphragm muscle strength. By initiating muscle activation in advance and continuing it throughout ventilation, the diaphragm avoids disuse atrophy while the ventilator provides respiratory support.
Solution Approach 2:
The stimulation device operates continuously during mechanical ventilation, maintaining constant phrenic nerve activation to prevent diaphragmatic deterioration. This continuous stimulation ensures the muscle remains functional despite the ventilator taking over respiratory mechanics.
2Strength
If direct electrical phrenic nerve pacing is used to stimulate diaphragm contraction, then muscle strength is maintained, but invasive surgical implantation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses external electrodes placed on the skin over the phrenic nerve as an intermediary to deliver electrical stimulation. This non-invasive approach replaces the need for surgical implantation of pacing leads while achieving the same diaphragm stimulation effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/surgical implantation system with an external electrical stimulation system. Instead of inserting physical leads into the nervous system, the device uses surface electrodes to deliver stimulation currents through the skin, eliminating surgical complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If transcutaneous electrodes are used for phrenic nerve stimulation, then invasive surgery is avoided, but tissue injury and skin irritation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device carefully controls electrical parameters including pulse width, frequency, and amplitude to stay within safe thresholds. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves effective diaphragm stimulation while preventing tissue injury and skin irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates monitoring to detect skin temperature, impedance changes, or other signs of tissue stress. When thresholds are approached, the feedback mechanism adjusts or terminates stimulation to prevent harmful effects while maintaining therapeutic benefit.
4Ease of manufacture
If magnetic stimulation coils are manually held in place, then non-invasive stimulation is achieved, but adequate frequency for tetanic contractions cannot be produced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces manual positioning of magnetic coils with an automated electrical stimulation system using figure-of-eight coils. This substitution enables precise control of stimulation frequency and timing, allowing tetanic contractions to be produced reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The device implements periodic electrical stimulation at controlled frequencies to induce tetanic contractions. By delivering pulses at specific intervals and durations, the system achieves sustained muscle activation necessary for negative pressure ventilation.
5Productivity
If high airway pressures and large tidal volumes are used in mechanical ventilation, then adequate ventilation is achieved, but ventilator-induced lung damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using high positive pressure to force ventilation, the device activates the diaphragm to generate negative intrathoracic pressure, which naturally draws air into the lungs. This inversion of the pressure gradient reduces mechanical stress on the lungs while maintaining ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous diaphragm stimulation maintains ongoing negative pressure generation throughout the respiratory cycle, providing sustained ventilation without requiring high peak pressures. This continuous action smooths the pressure profile and reduces barotrauma.
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
Minimizes diaphragm muscle wasting during mechanical ventilation by replicating natural breathing through tetanic contractions, reducing ventilator-induced lung damage and allowing non-invasive, adjustable application.
Implementation Method 1
at least two metallic coils, each coil configured to be placed adjacent to a phrenic nerve of the user; and a stimulation unit for providing an electric current to the metallic coils and wherein the current stimulates the phrenic nerve to induce tetanic contractions
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for providing mechanical ventilation of a user is described. In an embodiment the device comprises at least two metallic coils, each coil configured to be placed adjacent to a phrenic nerve of the user; and a stimulation unit for providing an electric current to the metallic coils, and wherein the current stimulates the phrenic nerve to induce tetanic contractions of a diaphragm muscle of the user to regulate the user's breathing. This provides a ventilation whilst reducing the rehabilitation time post ventilation for a user due to lower muscle wasting of the diaphragm.