Shielding Device for Partially Blocking Electrical Energy from Stimulation Leads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical stimulation systems, particularly percutaneous leads, emit energy radially and can cause unintended stimulation of neighboring tissues, leading to inefficiencies and discomfort due to the lack of effective shielding.
Innovation Solution
A device with an anterior concave surface and a posterior convex surface is designed to partially shield electrical energy emitted from stimulation leads, positioning the lead between the concave surface and nerve tissue to reduce energy dispersal to adjacent tissues, thereby stabilizing the lead and minimizing unwanted stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If percutaneous leads are used to deliver electrical energy, then minimally invasive implantation is achieved, but energy is delivered radially in all directions causing unintended stimulation of neighboring tissues
Solution Approach 1:
A shielding device is introduced as an intermediary component between the percutaneous lead and surrounding tissues. This shield selectively blocks electrical energy from reaching non-target tissues while allowing the lead to maintain its minimally invasive percutaneous implantation path, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of implantation and harmful effects to neighboring tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding device provides localized electrical energy blocking properties at specific anatomical locations. By positioning the shield adjacent to the lead at critical interfaces, it creates zones of selective energy transmission—allowing radial delivery to target tissues while blocking energy from reaching specific neighboring structures, thus addressing the harmful radial dispersion.
2Manufacturing precision
If paddle leads are used to provide focused energy delivery, then direct stimulation of specific surface is improved, but surgical implantation complexity increases due to laminectomy requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the implantation system into separate functional components: a standard percutaneous lead for energy delivery and a separate shielding device for spatial control. This segmentation allows the lead to remain simple and minimally invasive while the shield provides the focused energy directionality previously requiring complex paddle leads and laminectomy procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding device acts as an intermediary that modifies the radial energy pattern of simple percutaneous leads to achieve the focused delivery previously only possible with complex paddle leads. This intermediary approach enables focused energy stimulation without requiring the surgically complex laminectomy procedure.
3Ease of operation
If percutaneous leads deliver energy radially, then ease of implantation is maintained, but energy efficiency decreases due to energy reaching non-target tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding device creates local variations in energy transmission properties, allowing radial energy delivery to continue in directions toward target tissues while blocking energy in directions toward non-target tissues. This localized control maintains the simplicity of percutaneous implantation while improving energy efficiency by preventing waste energy dispersion.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a device is provided for partially shielding electrical energy emitted from an electrical stimulation lead implanted in a human's body to enable stimulation of the human's nerve tissue, the lead including one or more electrodes operable to stimulate the nerve tissue. The device includes an anterior concave surface adapted to contact and at least partially surround a posterior side of the lead such that the lead is positioned between the anterior concave surface and the nerve tissue when the device and the lead are implanted in the body. The device includes a posterior convex surface coupled to the anterior concave surface and adapted to contact the body tissue opposite the nerve tissue. The device is adapted to partially shield electrical energy emitted from one or more electrodes on a posterior side of the lead when the device and the lead are implanted in the body to reduce a quantity of electrical energy reaching the body tissue opposite the nerve tissue.