Tissue-Stimulating Prosthesis Electroporation Protection Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tissue-stimulating prostheses, such as cochlear implants, face limitations due to the distance between electrodes and stimulated spiral ganglion cells, which affects stimulation efficiency and power consumption, and require separate electroporation procedures that complicate implantation and increase risk.

Innovation Solution

Integration of an electroporation protection circuit within the stimulator unit of tissue-stimulating prostheses that maintains all stimulation electrodes at the same potential during electroporation, allowing for the application of high-voltage electroporation fields without exposing the stimulation electronics to damage, enabling electroporation during implantation and reducing the need for separate electroporation arrays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate electroporation procedures are used, then electroporation can be performed, but implantation complexity increases and surgical risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical safetyVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines electroporation functionality with the tissue-stimulating prosthesis by integrating electroporation electrodes into the same implantable device as stimulation electrodes. This merging eliminates the need for separate electroporation procedures and separate electrode insertions, thereby reducing surgical complexity and risk while maintaining electroporation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The implantable prosthesis is designed to perform multiple functions: both tissue stimulation and electroporation. By making the device universal, it can deliver both low-voltage stimulation signals and high-voltage electroporation signals through integrated electrodes and control circuits, eliminating the need for separate specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If electroporation electrodes are integrated into the prosthesis, then implantation is simplified, but the risk of damaging stimulation electronics from high-voltage exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplantation simplicityVSAvoidelectronic damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electrical circuitry into separate pathways: one for low-voltage stimulation and another for high-voltage electroporation. The control circuit includes switching mechanisms that isolate the stimulation electronics from high-voltage electroporation signals, allowing both functions to coexist in the same device without mutual interference or damage risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit acts as an intermediary between the electroporation electrodes and stimulation electronics. It manages the high-voltage electroporation signals and prevents them from reaching the sensitive stimulation electronics, thereby protecting against damage while enabling integrated functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If stimulation electrodes are used for electroporation, then the number of electrodes is reduced, but voltage control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode quantityVSAvoidvoltage control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic voltage control through a control circuit that can adaptively adjust voltage levels based on the operational mode. The circuit switches between low-voltage stimulation mode and high-voltage electroporation mode, optimizing voltage delivery for each function while using the same physical electrodes, thereby maintaining precision despite the dual-function requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 allows for effective electroporation of cells during implantation, enhancing the delivery of treatment substances like neural growth factors, reducing implant size and power consumption, and simplifying the surgical procedure by eliminating the need for multiple electrode insertions.

Implementation Method 1

applying an electroporation electrical field to the cells of the recipient using at least one of the one or more electroporation electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroporation:

Implementation Method 2

delivering electrical (current) stimulation to the nerves, muscle, tissue fibers, or other cells of a recipient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation:

Data Source

PatentUS11376423B2Medical electroporation

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

Presented herein are techniques that enable electroporation of the cells of a recipient of a tissue-stimulating prostheses while the tissue-stimulating prosthesis is implanted in the recipient. Tissue-stimulating prostheses in accordance with embodiments presented herein are configured such that the stimulation electronics (e.g., current sources and integrated circuit) of the prosthesis are not exposed to the high voltages used in electroporation.