Time-Interleaved Bipolar Electrode Scanning for Precise Neurostimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neurostimulation techniques face challenges in accurately targeting stimulation sites due to difficulties in determining the most proximate electrodes, especially when the target is small or patient movement occurs, leading to inconsistent treatment efficacy and patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a time-interleaved cascade of bipolar electrode combinations, where the IMD scans through multiple electrode pairs at a frequency imperceptible to the patient, ensuring broader coverage and increased likelihood of hitting the stimulation target without significantly increasing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical stimulation is delivered via a single pair of electrodes, then the stimulation is focused on a specific target location, but the probability of hitting the target is reduced when the target is small or patient movement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between multiple electrode pairs in a time-interleaved cascade sequence, allowing the stimulation target to be dynamically covered by different electrode combinations as patient movement or physiological changes occur, thereby maintaining reliable treatment consistency while preserving initial targeting precision
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode array is segmented into multiple overlapping bipolar electrode pairs, where each pair targets a slightly different location. This segmentation allows the system to divide the stimulation task across multiple electrode pairs, ensuring that at least one pair maintains accurate targeting despite patient movement or small target size
2Reliability
If multiple electrode pairs are scanned to cover a larger area, then the probability of hitting the target increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic scanning through the cascade of bipolar electrode pairs at a frequency above the patient's perception threshold. This periodic action allows comprehensive target coverage across multiple electrode pairs while maintaining simple, repetitive switching patterns that reduce control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The time-interleaved cascade delivers stimulation continuously across multiple electrode pairs without interruption, ensuring that at least one pair is always actively stimulating the target. This continuous action maintains reliable target coverage while using simple sequential switching rather than complex random selection
3Use of energy by moving object
If electrical stimulation is delivered continuously via one electrode pair, then energy consumption is minimized, but patient discomfort increases due to sporadic missed targeting
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the stimulation delivery by switching between electrode pairs based on detected physiological responses or impedance changes, maintaining effective target coverage while minimizing unnecessary stimulation to non-target areas, thereby reducing patient discomfort without significantly increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from physiological sensors to detect whether stimulation is effectively reaching the target. When the target is successfully stimulated, the system maintains current electrode pair usage to conserve energy. When targeting fails (detected via physiological feedback), the system switches to alternative electrode pairs, ensuring consistent therapeutic effect while minimizing patient discomfort from missed targeting
Data Source
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AI summary
An example method of delivering electrical stimulation includes obtaining, by an implantable medical device (IMD) connected to a lead carrying a plurality of electrodes, one or more stimulation parameters; and delivering, by the IMD and based on the one or more stimulation parameters, electrical stimulation therapy via the plurality of electrodes, wherein delivering the electrical stimulation therapy comprises scanning delivery of the electrical stimulation therapy through different pairs of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.