Pillar-Type Electrode for Wireless Spinal Cord Stimulator

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional spinal cord stimulators face issues with energy efficiency, discomfort due to movement, poor signal delivery, risk of disconnection, tissue damage, and high energy requirements for effective pain relief, while treatments for Alzheimer's disease using physical forces face challenges with high energy input and potential harm to the body.

Innovation Solution

A spinal cord stimulator with an enhanced electrode design that allows for high energy efficiency with lower power input, wireless power transmission, precise signal detection, and real-time monitoring of nerve signals, featuring a pillar-type or coil-type electrode with a non-conductive coating and adjustable structure for focused energy delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high level of electric energy is transmitted to buffer high intensity pain signals, then pain relief effect is improved, but shock is caused to the patient's body and energy efficiency is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectVSAvoidshock to patient's body

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode element is designed with a pillar-type structure featuring a protruding portion that concentrates electrical energy at a specific local region (the tip of the pillar) rather than distributing it across a broad surface. This localized energy concentration enables effective pain signal buffering with lower overall power transmission, reducing the risk of shock to the patient's body while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a conventional planar electrode surface to a three-dimensional pillar structure with vertical protrusion. This dimensional change creates a focused energy transmission path perpendicular to the electrode surface, concentrating the electrical field at the pillar tip to enhance energy transmission efficiency and reduce total power requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional planar electrode is used, then manufacturing is simple, but energy transmission efficiency is low requiring high power input

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode fabricationVSAvoidpower input requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode element incorporates a pillar-type structure with a protruding portion that concentrates electrical energy at a specific local region (the tip of the pillar) rather than distributing it across a broad surface. This localized energy concentration enables effective pain signal buffering with lower overall power transmission, reducing the risk of shock to the patient's body while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a conventional planar electrode surface to a three-dimensional pillar structure with vertical protrusion. This dimensional change creates a focused energy transmission path perpendicular to the electrode surface, concentrating the electrical field at the pillar tip to enhance energy transmission efficiency and reduce total power requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If wire-connected spinal cord stimulator is used, then signal delivery is established, but lead movement causes discomfort and disconnection risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal deliveryVSAvoidpatient comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the lead component from the spinal cord stimulator system by implementing wireless power and signal transmission. The electrode element communicates with the external controller through wireless electromagnetic fields, removing the physical wire connection that causes discomfort and disconnection risks while maintaining reliable signal delivery and power supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical lead-wire connection system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless transmission system. This substitution eliminates mechanical friction, movement constraints, and connection failure risks associated with physical leads, thereby improving patient comfort and device reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If implanted spinal cord stimulator is used, then pain buffering is achieved, but scars are formed and batteries may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain buffering functionVSAvoidtissue damage and scarring

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the lead component from the spinal cord stimulator system by implementing wireless power and signal transmission. The electrode element communicates with the external controller through wireless electromagnetic fields, removing the physical wire connection that causes discomfort and disconnection risks while maintaining reliable signal delivery and power supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical lead-wire connection system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless transmission system. This substitution eliminates mechanical friction, movement constraints, and connection failure risks associated with physical leads, thereby improving patient comfort and device reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution enables effective pain relief with reduced tissue damage, stable battery management, precise signal adjustment, and real-time monitoring of Alzheimer's-causing protein conformational changes, optimizing treatment protocols and minimizing energy requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a power receiving and signal delivering electrode mounted on the controller, wherein the power receiving and signal delivering electrode is capable of wirelessly receiving power and wirelessly delivering bio signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical energy concentration: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

the power receiving and signal delivering electrode is capable of wirelessly receiving power and wirelessly delivering bio signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless power transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11813455B2Micro device of nerve signal recording and stimulating for diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain or alzheimer's disease

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 NFORMARE INC

AI summary

Provided herein is a stimulating device being equipped with an electrode element recording and stimulating nerve signals for diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain or Alzheimer's disease and, most particularly, to a stimulating device providing electrical stimulation for chronic pain or Alzheimer's-causing proteins or measuring bio signals. The stimulating device includes a controller, a substrate being coupled to a bottom of the controller, and having a power receiving and signal delivering electrode being mounted thereon as a single body or being distinctively mounted thereon, wherein the power receiving and signal delivering electrode is capable of wirelessly receiving power and wirelessly delivering bio signals, and an electrode element being coupled to a bottom of the substrate and being capable of delivering electrical stimulation to tissues inside a body.