Sterile Drape Electrodes for Brain Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for the central nervous system lack a sterile and efficient method for mapping brain regions using evoked electrophysiological responses, especially in sedated patients.
Innovation Solution
A sterile surgical cranial drape embedded with electrodes, along with a brain mapping system that includes a probe for stimulating and recording electrophysiological responses, is used to map brain regions. The drape provides a sterile barrier and the electrodes are connected to a signal processor via redundant leads, allowing for precise measurement of electrophysiological characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sterile surgical drape is used to maintain aseptic field, then sterility is improved, but the ability to perform brain mapping with electrodes is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sterile surgical drape and the electrode mapping system into a single integrated device. The electrodes are mounted on the drape surface, allowing simultaneous maintenance of sterility and ability to perform brain mapping without requiring separate draping and electrode placement steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical drape is designed to serve multiple functions: maintaining sterile barrier, providing electrode contacts for brain mapping, and enabling real-time electrophysiological monitoring. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate sterile draping and electrode application procedures.
2Loss of information
If electrodes are placed on awake patients for brain mapping, then patient response can be obtained, but patient comfort and surgical efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time electrophysiological feedback through the integrated electrodes and signal processing capabilities. This allows the surgical team to obtain brain mapping information without requiring the patient to be awake and provide behavioral responses, as the electrical signals themselves provide the necessary feedback about brain function and electrode positioning.
3Measurement precision
If multiple electrodes are used for brain mapping, then mapping precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is segmented into multiple independent electrode contacts distributed across the drape surface. Each electrode can be independently activated or configured, allowing precise brain mapping through multiple measurement points while maintaining modular simplicity in the overall system design.
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 enables accurate and sterile mapping of brain regions in sedated patients, improving the precision of surgical procedures by providing real-time electrophysiological data, thus reducing the risk of neural injury.
Implementation Method 1
electrodes operably coupled to the film, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes being in contact with a patient's organ... measuring electrophysiological characteristics in the area of interest
Data Source
AI summary
A therapeutic effect assessment system, including:a probe shaped and sized to be inserted into a brain of a subject, having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, the probe including a plurality of contacts operably coupled thereto, disposed along the longitudinal axis, wherein the probe is selectively operable for stimulating an electrophysiological evoked responses;at least one electrode configured to record readings of evoked responses caused by the stimulating; andan analysis module electrically connected to the probe and to the at least one electrode, wherein the analysis module is configured to transform or reduce certain parameters from the recorded readings of evoked responses in order to identify a threshold of brain stimulation that produces a therapeutic effect.