Pneumatic Peripheral Stimulation for Neurological Disorder Treatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for neurological disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia often rely on pharmaceuticals and require medical settings, limiting accessibility and effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The development of a peripheral sensory stimulation system that uses pneumatic puffs of air and synchronized deep breathing to provide ergonomic and safe therapy for neurological disorders, allowing treatment to be administered at home without pharmaceuticals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pharmaceuticals and medical setting treatments are used for neurological disorders, then treatment effectiveness is achieved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate due to requirement of medical settings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pharmaceutical chemical treatment with a mechanical/physical stimulation system that uses pneumatic actuators to deliver tactile sensations through a wearable garment. This substitution eliminates the need for medications while providing a non-invasive physical therapy approach that can be used at home.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed as a self-contained wearable device that users can operate independently at home without requiring medical professional intervention. The controller allows users to select and adjust stimulation patterns autonomously, enabling self-administered therapy for neurological disorders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If pharmaceuticals are used for treatment, then neurological symptoms are addressed, but device complexity and loss of substance increase due to pharmaceutical requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesymptom treatmentVSAvoidpharmaceutical consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention substitutes pharmaceutical chemical substances with a mechanical stimulation system. The pneumatic actuators generate tactile sensations through controlled air pressure variations, eliminating the need for chemical drugs and associated substance consumption while treating neurological symptoms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If peripheral sensory stimulation is applied early, then neurological recovery is improved, but device complexity increases due to stimulation system requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneurological recoveryVSAvoidstimulation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stimulation system is divided into modular components: a wearable garment with integrated pneumatic actuators, a separate controller unit, and connection tubing. This segmentation allows the complex stimulation function to be distributed across multiple simple components that can be easily assembled and worn.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wearable garment serves multiple functions: it provides the structural framework for actuator placement, acts as the interface for tactile stimulation delivery, and enables portability for use in various settings. The system can deliver different stimulation patterns for various neurological conditions through a single unified device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If synchronized deep breathing is combined with peripheral sensory stimulation, then treatment effectiveness for anxiety and PTSD is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidsynchronized breathing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges peripheral tactile stimulation with respiratory guidance into a single integrated therapy approach. The controller coordinates pneumatic actuator activation with breathing cycle timing, combining two therapeutic modalities into one unified system that addresses both physiological and psychological aspects of anxiety and PTSD.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250082893A1Peripheral sensory stimulation and synchronized deep breathing in the treatment of disorders

Publication Date: 2025.03.13 NUSSBAUM LESLIE A

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to peripheral sensory stimulation and synchronized deep breathing systems, devices, and methods used in the treatment of various neurological disorders. A peripheral sensory stimulation system of the present disclosure may include a control module, a power source configured to provide electrical power to the control module, and a stimulation delivery unit coupled to the control module via tubing. The stimulation delivery unit can be configured to receive a human appendage to provide stimulation therapy for the treatment of a neurological disorder. The stimulation delivery unit can provide stimulation therapy to a user by directing air out of a plurality of apertures and onto the human appendage, the pattern of delivered air being controlled by the control module. A decrease in symptoms associated with various neurological disorders including anxiety, depression, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and insomnia is reported, along with increasing user relaxation and satisfaction during treatment.