Spinal Cord Stimulation Paddle Head Hinged Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spinal cord electrical stimulation assemblies for pain suppression fail to exhibit desirable characteristics such as semi-rigidness during insertion, small cross-sectional size for minimal tissue trauma, and enlarged electrical contact surfaces post-insertion, which are essential for effective and comfortable pain management.
Innovation Solution
The assembly features a paddle head with hingedly interconnected lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral components for compact insertion and expanded contact surfaces, along with a proximally opening stay end for preventing buckling during insertion and enhancing comfort post-insertion, utilizing a flexible insulator and semi-rigid stay for stability and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the paddle head is made rigid for stability during insertion, then insertion stability is improved, but tissue trauma increases due to larger cross-sectional size
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle head is divided into multiple hinged segments (lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral components) that can pivot relative to each other. During insertion, these segments fold together to create a compact, low-profile configuration that minimizes cross-sectional size and tissue trauma. Once positioned, the segments unfold to provide a stable, enlarged contact surface for electrical stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The paddle head transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with hinged connections that allow movement between collapsed and expanded states. This dynamic configuration enables the paddle head to adapt its shape: compact during insertion through tissue and enlarged after insertion for optimal electrical contact with the spinal cord, thereby resolving the contradiction between minimizing trauma and ensuring stability.
2Ease of operation
If the lead is made flexible for patient comfort after insertion, then patient comfort is improved, but insertion stability deteriorates due to buckling
Solution Approach 1:
A semi-rigid stay is inserted into the hollow bore of the flexible insulator lead before the paddle head insertion procedure. This preliminary placement of the stay provides the necessary structural support and anti-buckling stability during the insertion process. After the paddle head is successfully positioned and secured, the stay is removed, leaving the flexible insulator lead in place to provide patient comfort without compromising insertion stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The semi-rigid stay is introduced as a temporary supporting element that is extracted (removed) after serving its purpose during insertion. This temporary reinforcement provides insertion stability when needed, then is taken out to allow the flexible insulator lead to provide comfort during long-term use, resolving the contradiction between stability and comfort.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the paddle head is collapsed to small size for needle passage, then tissue trauma is minimized, but electrical contact surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle head employs hinged connections that enable it to dynamically change its configuration from a collapsed, low-profile state during insertion to an expanded, high-surface-area state after insertion. The hinges allow the lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral components to pivot outward, transforming the compact structure into a large-contact-surface electrode array that maximizes electrical contact with the spinal cord while having passed through minimal-trauma insertion pathways.
4Ease of operation
If the insulator is made flexible for comfort after insertion, then patient comfort is improved, but structural support during insertion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The semi-rigid stay is inserted into the hollow bore of the flexible insulator lead before the paddle head insertion procedure. This preliminary placement of the stay provides the necessary structural support and anti-buckling stability during the insertion process. After the paddle head is successfully positioned and secured, the stay is removed, leaving the flexible insulator lead in place to provide patient comfort without compromising insertion stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines two different material characteristics: a flexible insulator lead for comfort and a semi-rigid stay for structural support. These components work together temporarily during insertion, with the stay reinforcing the flexible insulator. After insertion, the stay is removed and the flexible insulator alone provides comfort, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and structural support through sequential use of composite properties.
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 design allows for effective pulsating electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, reducing chronic pain while minimizing tissue trauma and ensuring patient comfort by maintaining a semi-rigid profile during insertion and flexibility post-insertion.
Implementation Method 1
In order to achieve a semi-rigid anti-buckling character within the flexible insulator and within the paddle head during insertion procedures, the insulator is preferably hollow bored and the distal end of the paddle head preferably presents a proximally opening stay end receiving traction socket
Implementation Method 2
The paddle head component preferably carries and supports lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral series of electrical contact plates, and the lateral and oppositely lateral plates are preferably pivotally moveable via hinge connections with a medial panel
Implementation Method 3
Upon distal emission of the paddle head from such Tuohy needle, such hinges allow, through a plastic memory function, the lateral and oppositely lateral components to outwardly extend to an electrical contact surface augmenting position
Implementation Method 4
Upon extension of a semi-rigid stay through the flexible insulator's hollow bore to engage such socket, the distal end of such stay may impose a pulling or traction force upon the paddle head which prevents undesirable buckling or back folding during insertion
Implementation Method 5
Such pulse generator advantageously supplies pulsating electrical power to the embedded wire leads and to the paddle head's electrical contact plates. Electrical conduction of such electric pulses at a desired location over the patient's spinal cord are known in the neurological arts to effectively reduce and block chronic pain
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for pain suppressing electrical stimulation of a patient's spinal cord, the assembly including lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral series of contact plates; a lateral panel, a medial panel and an oppositely lateral panel, the electrical contact plates being fixedly attached to the panels; living hinges pivotally attaching the lateral and oppositely lateral panels to the medial panel; proximally extending wires electrically communicating with the contact plates; a proximally extending insulator attached to the medial panel, the insulator having a hollow bore and the wires being embedded within the insulator; a proximally opening traction socket fixedly attached to the medial panel; and a semi-rigid stay which is extendable through the hollow bore, the semi-rigid stay being engageable with the proximally opening traction socket.