Stimulation Parameter Contrast Imaging for DBS Neural Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for neurological disorders, including deep brain stimulation (DBS), face limitations due to a lack of mechanistic understanding, biomarkers, and variability in outcomes, which hampers their effectiveness and widespread adoption in clinical practice.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of stimulation parameter contrast (SPC) imaging, which involves using a system with implantable electrodes and a computing device to configure and analyze electrical stimulations to generate high-resolution activation maps of neural elements, allowing for improved mapping and biomarker techniques to optimize DBS treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DBS is used to treat neurological disorders, then localized excitation of neural elements is achieved, but lack of mechanistic understanding and biomarkers limits effectiveness and widespread adoption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses recorded neural signals as feedback to adjust and optimize stimulation parameters. The computing device analyzes recorded signals from neural elements and uses this information to configure subsequent stimulation pulses, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to the patient's specific neural characteristics and improves treatment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional trial-and-error clinical programming methods with an automated computing device that uses algorithms to analyze neural signals and determine optimal stimulation parameters. This substitution of automated computational analysis for manual clinical judgment accelerates the acquisition of mechanistic understanding and improves treatment consistency.
2Reliability
If multiple stimulation parameters are tested to optimize DBS treatment, then treatment effectiveness improves, but programming time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary testing of multiple stimulation parameters automatically during an initial programming session. The computing device systematically varies stimulation parameters and records neural responses in advance, building a profile of optimal parameters that can be reused for future adjustments, thereby reducing subsequent programming time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service programming by allowing the computing device to automatically analyze recorded neural signals and configure optimal stimulation parameters without requiring extensive clinician intervention. The automated algorithm independently determines parameter settings based on the recorded data, significantly reducing programming time.
3Loss of information
If high-resolution activation maps are generated using SPC imaging, then mechanistic understanding improves, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device performs multiple functions using the same recorded neural signals: it identifies optimal stimulation parameters, generates activation maps, and characterizes neural element properties. This multi-functional approach extracts maximum information from the recorded data without requiring additional hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates high-resolution activation maps by systematically varying stimulation parameters and analyzing the resulting neural responses. The computing device changes stimulation parameters across multiple trials and uses the accumulated data to construct detailed spatial maps of neural element activation, achieving high resolution through parameter variation rather than hardware complexity.
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
SPC imaging enhances the understanding of DBS mechanisms, reduces variability in patient outcomes, and simplifies device programming, thereby improving the effectiveness and consistency of DBS treatments for neurological disorders.
Implementation Method 1
at least one implantable electrode configured to apply electrical stimulation
Implementation Method 2
study stimulus-evoked field potentials
Data Source
AI summary
An improved neural mapping technique can use two stimulations. The first stimulation can be used to excite a first group of neural elements with a first stimulation parameter set. After the first group of neural elements has entered a refractory state, a second group of neural elements can be excited with a second stimulation parameter set. The response to at least the second stimulation parameter set can be measured and at least one property of constituents of the first group of neural elements and at least one property of constituents of the second group of neural elements can be estimated.