Sleep-Synchronized Cranial Nerve Stimulation for Neuromodulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are only partially effective and lack a comprehensive approach to synergistically enhance therapeutic efficacy through synchronized nerve activation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synchronized activation of the central nervous system using various nerve stimulators, including electrical, mechanical, thermal, visual, and audio stimulations, controlled by a unit that adjusts parameters like timing, intensity, and pattern, synchronized with sleep stages to treat disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and heart pathologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nerve stimulation is applied during specific sleep stages (e.g., REM sleep), then treatment effectiveness for neurological disorders is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for sleep stage detection and synchronized control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (sleep stage detection, nerve stimulation control, and therapeutic treatment) into an integrated system. The control unit receives sleep stage information from detectors and automatically adjusts nerve stimulation parameters, merging what would otherwise be separate devices into a unified therapeutic system that improves effectiveness while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring sleep stages through detectors (EEG, eye movement sensors, etc.) and using this information to dynamically adjust nerve stimulation parameters. The control unit receives real-time sleep stage data and modifies stimulation timing, intensity, and pattern accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to the patient's physiological state to maximize treatment effectiveness.
2Reliability
If multiple types of nerve stimulators are used simultaneously for synchronized activation, then therapeutic efficacy is enhanced, but the complexity of controlling and coordinating the stimulators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed as a universal controller that can manage multiple different types of nerve stimulators (electrical, mechanical, thermal, visual, audio) through a single integrated interface. This multi-functional controller receives sleep stage information and coordinates all stimulators according to a unified control strategy, reducing the complexity that would arise from having separate control systems for each stimulator type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary coordination by pre-establishing synchronization protocols and timing sequences that align all nerve stimulators with specific sleep stages. The control unit pre-configures coordination parameters based on detected sleep stage transitions, ensuring that multiple stimulators activate in a coordinated manner without requiring complex real-time negotiation between individual stimulator controllers.
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
Enhances treatment effectiveness by synchronizing nerve stimulation with sleep stages, providing a more accessible and cost-effective therapeutic approach for neurological disorders and heart pathologies.
Implementation Method 1
treatment by activation of the nerve system using various techniques such as, but not only, electrical stimulation
Data Source
AI summary
A neuromodulation system for treatment of physiological disorders. The system includes one or more stimulators for stimulating one or more cranial nerves; one or more detectors configured for detecting a predetermined physiological state; and a control unit that controls nerve stimulation by the one or more stimulators so that it is synchronized with the at least one predetermined physiological state detected by the one or more detectors. A method of neuromodulating a patient for treatment of physiological disorder. The method includes the steps of detecting a predetermined physiological state and applying stimulation to one of the cranial nerves during the predetermined physiological state by one or more stimulators of a neuromodulation system.