Skull-Mounted Optical Implant for Brain Phototherapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) systems provide symptomatic relief for neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease but do not slow or stop the underlying degenerative processes, necessitating a treatment that combines phototherapy with neuromodulation to address neuronal degeneration.
Innovation Solution
A skull-mounted implantable device that integrates a light source and electronics to deliver phototherapy, connected to an implantable pulse generator, allowing for the irradiation of specific brain areas with near-infrared light, potentially complemented by electrical neuromodulation through electrodes, to halt or slow neurological degeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a skull-mounted implantable device with integrated light source is used to deliver phototherapy, then the ability to slow or stop neurological degeneration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines phototherapy and electrical neuromodulation functions into a single skull-mounted implantable device. The device integrates a light source for phototherapy and electrodes for electrical stimulation, allowing both treatments to be delivered through one implant rather than requiring separate devices. This merging approach addresses the technical contradiction by providing comprehensive neurological protection (slowing degeneration) while consolidating device components to manage complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The skull-mounted device is designed to perform multiple functions: delivering phototherapy through an integrated light source and providing electrical neuromodulation through electrodes. This multi-functional design allows the single device to address both symptomatic relief and neuroprotection, improving the ability to slow neurological degeneration while avoiding the need for multiple separate implants that would increase overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If phototherapy is combined with electrical neuromodulation in a single system, then comprehensive treatment for brain disorders is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges phototherapy and electrical neuromodulation systems into a single integrated device mounted on the skull. The light source and electrodes are housed together with shared power and control circuitry, enabling comprehensive treatment of brain disorders through one implant rather than requiring multiple separate devices, thus achieving versatility while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a universal platform that can deliver both phototherapy and electrical stimulation therapies. This multi-functionality allows the single device to address various neurological conditions comprehensively, providing both symptomatic relief and neuroprotective effects without requiring multiple specialized implants.
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 described system offers the potential for both symptomatic relief and slowing of neurological degeneration by using phototherapy in conjunction with electrical neuromodulation, providing a comprehensive treatment approach for brain disorders.
Implementation Method 1
A skull-mounted implantable device that integrates a light source and electronics to deliver phototherapy, connected to an implantable pulse generator, allowing for the irradiation of specific brain areas with near-infrared light
Data Source
AI summary
A skull-mountable medical device is disclosed. The device includes a housing containing a light source for providing phototherapy to a patient. A light pipe is attached to the housing. The device is configured to be positioned on a patient's skull with the light pipe extending into the patient's brain, such that light from the light source can irradiate a target position within the patient's brain. Once so positioned, the housing may be affixed to the skull via bone screws. The device is powered and controlled by an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that may be implanted into a patient's tissue remotely from the device and connected to the device by wire leads.