tDCS and Visual Illusion for Neuropathic Pain Relief

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injuries are inadequate in providing long-lasting relief, as they often fail to effectively correct the mismatch between motor commands and sensory feedback, leading to persistent pain and disability.

Innovation Solution

A method combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with a visual illusion, where patients are shown a video of a moving body part corresponding to their impaired area, enhancing corticospinal excitability and correcting the sensory-motor mismatch, thereby reducing pain perception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If current treatments for neuropathic pain are used, then pain relief is provided, but the relief is not long-lasting and the mismatch between motor commands and sensory feedback persists

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of pain reliefVSAvoidcorrection of sensory-motor mismatch

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two distinct therapeutic approaches: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate cortical excitability and visual illusion therapy to provide corrective sensory feedback. This combination creates a synergistic effect where tDCS enhances cortical plasticity during the visual illusion intervention, leading to more durable pain relief and better sensory-motor mismatch correction than either treatment alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies tDCS before and during the visual illusion therapy to pre-condition the cortical circuits. This preliminary stimulation of the motor cortex enhances neuronal excitability and priming, making the cortex more receptive to the corrective sensory input from the visual illusion, thereby improving the overall effectiveness and duration of the treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If visual illusion alone is used to correct sensory feedback mismatch, then pain relief is achieved, but the effect duration is limited without additional cortical modulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrection of sensory-motor mismatchVSAvoidduration of pain relief

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges visual illusion therapy with tDCS to create a combined intervention that addresses both the immediate sensory-motor mismatch and the underlying cortical excitability issues. The visual illusion provides corrective feedback while tDCS simultaneously modulates cortical circuits to consolidate and extend the therapeutic effects over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The visual illusion component provides real-time corrective sensory feedback to the patient, creating a closed-loop system where the visual input compensates for the lost proprioceptive feedback from the paralyzed limb. This feedback mechanism, enhanced by tDCS-induced cortical plasticity, helps retrain the brain's sensory-motor integration and extends the duration of pain relief.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If transcranial direct current stimulation is used to modulate cortical excitability, then pain intensity is reduced, but the effect may not sufficiently address the sensory-motor mismatch

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain intensityVSAvoidcorrection of sensory-motor mismatch

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines tDCS, which effectively reduces pain intensity through cortical modulation, with visual illusion therapy that specifically targets the sensory-motor mismatch. This dual approach ensures that both the harmful pain signals and the underlying sensory integration dysfunction are addressed simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses tDCS to change the electrical excitability parameters of cortical neurons, shifting the cortical state to reduce pain processing. Concurrently, the visual illusion changes the sensory input parameters to provide corrective feedback, creating a comprehensive intervention that addresses multiple pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 combination of tDCS and visual illusion significantly reduces neuropathic pain intensity and interference with daily activities, providing longer-lasting pain relief compared to either treatment alone, with minimal side effects and improved quality of life.

Implementation Method 1

applying a cranial stimulation to said patient during at least part of the duration of said visual illusion... transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)... appears to modulate cortical excitability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTranscranial direct current stimulation: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS8725264B2Method for treating neuropathic pain

Publication Date: 2014.05.13 FUNDACIO INST GUTTMANN

AI summary

Provided is a method for treating neuropathic pain, including: providing, to a patient suffering from said neuropathic pain, a visual illusion to correct a mismatch between motor commands and sensory feedback; and applying a cranial stimulation to said patient during at least part of the duration of said visual illusion. This is particularly applicable to the treating of neuropathic pain in patients suffering from spinal cord injuries.