Splenic Artery Nerve Stimulation via Loop Placement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for stimulating neural activity in nerves associated with the splenic artery are not ideal due to the risk of surgical injury to the pancreas and limited space for implantable devices, which constrains the design and effectiveness of these devices in treating inflammatory disorders.
Innovation Solution
Applying electrical signals to the splenic arterial nerves at sites where the splenic artery is not in direct contact with the pancreas, specifically at splenic arterial loops, to modulate neural activity and reduce inflammation, while also providing additional flexibility in the design of the system due to the available space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical signals are applied to splenic arterial nerves adjacent to the splenic artery, then neural activity is modulated to reduce inflammation, but surgical injury to the pancreas may occur due to direct contact between the splenic artery and pancreas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrode placement from the hazardous zone by positioning electrodes at splenic arterial loops where the artery is not in direct contact with the pancreas. This separates the treatment function from the harmful interaction zone, allowing neural modulation without pancreatic injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses splenic arterial loops as intermediary sites for electrode placement. These loops serve as mediating structures that provide access to splenic arterial nerves while maintaining spatial separation from the pancreas, thus enabling treatment without direct harmful contact.
2Ease of operation
If electrodes are placed adjacent to the splenic artery, then neural stimulation can be delivered, but the available space is limited due to direct contact with the pancreas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional constraint (linear space along the splenic artery) to a three-dimensional solution by utilizing splenic arterial loops. These loops create additional spatial dimensions and volume for electrode placement, thereby increasing design flexibility and available implantation space.
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 approach effectively reduces inflammation by modulating the levels of inflammatory cytokines and increases survival in endotoxemic shock models, with a reduced risk of surgical trauma and enhanced design flexibility for the implantable devices.
Implementation Method 1
Applying electrical signals to the splenic arterial nerves at sites where the splenic artery is not in direct contact with the pancreas, specifically at splenic arterial loops, to modulate neural activity and reduce inflammation
Data Source
AI summary
Stimulation of neural activity in a nerve supplying the spleen, wherein the nerve is adjacent to the splenic artery at a position where the splenic artery is not in direct contact with the pancreas, can modulate pro-and anti-inflammatory molecules levels, thereby reducing inflammation and providing ways of treating disorders, such as disorders associated with inflammation. The invention provides improved ways of reducing inflammation with minimized off-target effects, in particular surgical trauma.