Dual-Function Surgical Tool for Cochlear Implant Electroporation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue-stimulating prostheses, such as cochlear implants, face challenges in effectively delivering treatment substances to nerve cells due to the absence or damage of hair cells, and existing insertion tools lack the capability to efficiently introduce substances into the cochlea while positioning the stimulating assembly.

Innovation Solution

A dual-function surgical tool with an intra-cochlear portion and insertion guide tube equipped with electrodes that generate an electroporation electrical field to open cell membranes, allowing for the introduction of treatment substances into nerve cells, and a method involving positioning the tool, generating an electrical field, advancing an electrode, and withdrawing it from the cochlea.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing insertion tools are used to position the stimulating assembly, then the stimulating assembly can be positioned in the cochlea, but the capability to efficiently introduce treatment substances into nerve cells is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to introduce treatment substancesVSAvoidinsertion tool structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the positioning function and substance delivery function into a single integrated surgical tool. The insertion tool includes both the guide tube for positioning the stimulating assembly and the electroporation electrodes for introducing treatment substances, eliminating the need for separate devices and thereby improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical tool is designed to perform multiple functions: (1) guiding the stimulating assembly into the cochlea, (2) delivering treatment substances to nerve cells via electroporation, and (3) providing electrical stimulation. This multi-functional design directly addresses the versatility improvement while keeping the device as a single integrated unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If hair cells are absent or damaged, then tissue-stimulating prostheses are needed to compensate for the deficiency, but the delivery of treatment substances to nerve cells becomes ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery of treatment substances to nerve cellsVSAvoidabsence or damage of hair cells

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces passive mechanical diffusion of treatment substances with active electroporation-mediated delivery. By applying electrical fields through the electrodes, the system creates temporary pores in the nerve cell membranes, enabling reliable substance delivery independent of the presence or condition of hair cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of the nerve cell membranes by applying electrical fields that induce electroporation. This parameter change (from intact membrane to temporarily permeable membrane) enables reliable delivery of treatment substances directly to nerve cells, bypassing the need for functional hair cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If electroporation electrical field is generated to open cell membranes, then treatment substances can be introduced into nerve cells, but additional electrodes and electrical field generation capability are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of introducing substances into nerve cellsVSAvoidelectrodes and electrical field generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electroporation electrodes are integrated into the insertion tool itself, combining the substance delivery function with the positioning function. This merging allows efficient electroporation-mediated delivery without requiring a separate electroporation device, thereby improving productivity while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables the efficient delivery of treatment substances into nerve cells within the cochlea, facilitating the introduction of biological or bioactive substances, enhancing the functionality of tissue-stimulating prostheses like cochlear implants.

Implementation Method 1

equipped with electrodes that generate an electroporation electrical field to open cell membranes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroporation:

Data Source

PatentUS12023484B2Surgical tool

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

Presented herein are dual-function surgical tools for insertion of implantable stimulating assemblies, such as intra-cochlear stimulating assemblies. In addition to facilitating intra-operative positioning of a stimulating assembly within a recipient (e.g., operating to guide the stimulating assembly of an implantable medical device into position), the surgical tool also includes a plurality of electrodes configured to apply an electroporation electrical field to a recipient's nerve cells to enable introduction of treatment substance into the nerve cells.