Spinal Cord Stimulation for Pain Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Chronic pain associated with spinal cord injury or disease is often intractable and resistant to current treatment options, with limited effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities available, and existing treatments can cause side effects like paresthesia.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for applying high-frequency electrical stimulation directly to the spinal cord through an electrode array implanted within the spinal canal, which inhibits the transmission of deleterious nerve signals and renders sensory neurons refractory to synchronous action potentials, minimizing the risk of paresthesia.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical stimulation is applied to the spinal cord to inhibit pain transmission, then pain relief is achieved, but paresthesia side effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidparesthesia side effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies high-frequency electrical stimulation (e.g., >100 Hz, typically 1-10 kHz) to the spinal cord, changing the frequency parameter of the stimulation signal. This high frequency renders sensory neurons refractory to synchronous action potentials, thereby blocking pain transmission while avoiding the paresthesia side effects associated with lower frequency stimulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If high frequency electrical stimulus is applied to inhibit paresthesia, then side effects are minimized, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparesthesia inhibitionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs high-frequency stimulation parameters that have been optimized to achieve effective pain blockade with acceptable power consumption. The high frequency (e.g., 1-10 kHz) stimulates the spinal cord sufficiently to render neurons refractory without requiring excessive amplitude or duration, thus balancing therapeutic effect with energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If electrode array is implanted within spinal canal for direct stimulation, then precise targeting is achieved, but implantation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneurological pathway targeting precisionVSAvoidimplantation procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an electrode array with multiple independently controllable contacts arranged along the spinal cord surface. This segmentation allows precise targeting of specific neurological pathways by activating only the necessary electrodes, while the modular array design simplifies implantation compared to single-point deep brain stimulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from deep, single-point spinal cord stimulation to surface-level epidural stimulation. By moving the electrodes to the epidural space (another dimension accessible via less invasive surgery), the system achieves precise neurological pathway targeting through multi-electrode arrays without requiring complex deep brain implantation procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution effectively alleviates symptoms of back and leg pain while reducing the risk of side effects, providing long-lasting pain relief with low power consumption and precise targeting of neurological pathways, avoiding interference with essential motor functions.

Implementation Method 1

The electrical stimulus is intended to promote stochastic depolarization of sensory neurons within the spinal cord

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStochastic depolarization: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Implementation Method 2

rendering sensory neurons within the spinal cord refractory to transmission of synchronous action potentials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS9950165B2Method for causing stochastic depolarization in the spinal cord to inhibit transmission of synchronous action potentials

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RESEARCH

AI summary

This invention provides a new technology for management of back pain by stimulating the spinal cord in a manner that renders it refractory to transmission of deleterious or undesirable sensory input. The electrical stimulus comprises high frequency pulses in a regular or complex pattern or that are stochastically produced under microprocessor control. The stimulus is applied directly to the surface of the spinal cord from within the spinal canal, which provides important benefits over previous technology. The stimulus alleviates symptoms and signs of back pain, while minimizing the risk of side effects such as paresthesia, and potentially minimizing the effects on motor neuron transmission and proprioception.