Pinch-to-Open Cuff Electrode for Nerve Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cuff electrode assemblies for implantable nerve stimulation lack efficient designs for easy implantation and secure positioning around nerves, particularly in minimally invasive surgical approaches.
Innovation Solution
A cuff electrode assembly with a resilient cuff body and arm members that can transition from a closed to an open configuration, allowing easy placement around a nerve, featuring a flexible, electrically insulating polymer material and a stiffening member to maintain the closed position, facilitating secure implantation and stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cuff body is designed to be resilient and pre-formed in a closed configuration, then the cuff can securely encircle the nerve after implantation, but the cuff cannot be easily opened for implantation around the nerve
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff body is designed with dynamic characteristics, being resilient and capable of transitioning between closed and open configurations. The resilient material allows the cuff to be temporarily opened for implantation and then automatically return to its closed secure configuration around the nerve, resolving the contradiction between ease of implantation and secure positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The cuff body is pre-formed in its desired closed configuration around the nerve before implantation. This preliminary formation ensures that once the cuff is implanted by opening it, it will automatically assume the correct closed shape and securely encircle the nerve, eliminating the need for complex positioning procedures after implantation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cuff body is made from flexible polymer material, then the cuff can conform to the nerve geometry, but the cuff lacks structural support to maintain its shape during implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff body is constructed from flexible polymer material that forms a thin-walled structure capable of conforming to the nerve's cylindrical geometry. This flexible shell design allows the cuff to adapt to the nerve shape while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through its pre-formed closed configuration and resilient properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The cuff body utilizes composite construction combining flexible polymer material with embedded conductive elements and insulation layers. This composite structure provides both the conformability needed to match nerve geometry and the structural support required to maintain the cuff's shape during and after implantation.
3Ease of operation
If the arm members are positioned closer to one free end than the other, then the opening mechanism can be actuated from a single direction, but the force distribution during opening becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The arm members are deliberately positioned asymmetrically relative to the free ends of the cuff body, with both arms closer to one free end than the other. This asymmetric configuration allows the opening mechanism to be actuated from a single direction while the resilient material of the cuff body compensates for uneven force distribution, ensuring uniform opening behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient properties of the cuff body material are optimized to compensate for the asymmetric positioning of the arm members. By adjusting the material's elasticity and mechanical parameters, the system achieves uniform force distribution during opening despite the asymmetric arm configuration, maintaining ease of single-direction actuation.
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
Enables efficient and secure implantation of cuff electrode assemblies around nerves, providing effective electrical stimulation while minimizing surgical complexity and ensuring long-term retention on the target nerve.
Implementation Method 1
The cuff body is configured such that a force applied to urge the first and second arm members toward one another causes relative deflection of the second free end and the first free end away from one another
Implementation Method 2
featuring a flexible, electrically insulating polymer material and a stiffening member to maintain the closed position
Implementation Method 3
The cuff body is made substantially of a flexible, electrically insulating polymer
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
The present invention provides a cuff electrode assembly for implantation on a target nerve. The cuff electrode assembly can include a resilient cuff body configured to be disposed about the target nerve. The cuff body includes a first end portion having a first free end, and a second end portion having a second free end. The cuff electrode assembly further includes a first arm member and a second arm member each projecting radially outward from the cuff body and spaced from one another along the cuff body. The cuff body can be configured such that a force applied to urge the first and second arm members toward one another defines an open configuration of the cuff body configured to allow the cuff body to be positioned around the target nerve. The cuff electrode assembly further includes an electrode oriented to provide electrical stimuli to the target nerve.