Transcutaneous Electrode System with Current Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transcutaneous nerve and muscle stimulation systems often cause undesirable sensations such as pain and discomfort due to the excitation of subcutaneous receptors, which are sensitive to temperature, pressure, and electrical current.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a pair of stimulating electrodes with a current-injecting electrode arranged in proximity to reduce or eliminate undesirable sensations by minimizing current penetration into subcutaneous receptors, using specific current forms and configurations to compensate, block, or mask pain signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pair of stimulating electrodes is used for transcutaneous nerve and muscle stimulation, then nerve and muscle stimulation is achieved, but subcutaneous receptors are excited causing undesirable sensations such as pain and stinging
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is segmented into multiple functional components: stimulating electrodes for nerve/muscle stimulation and separate current-injecting electrodes for subcutaneous receptor modulation. This segmentation allows independent control of the two functions, enabling effective stimulation while minimizing harmful sensations through dedicated current injection at the surface level.
Solution Approach 2:
The current-injecting electrode acts as an intermediary element that introduces a secondary current specifically targeting subcutaneous receptors. This intermediary current modulates the excitability of pain-sensitive receptors without interfering with the primary nerve and muscle stimulation function, thereby reducing undesirable sensations while maintaining stimulation effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If current is injected to modulate subcutaneous receptor excitability, then undesirable sensations are reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional electrodes and current-generating means
Solution Approach 1:
The current-injecting electrode is merged with the stimulating electrode structure, with the injecting electrode positioned in proximity to and surrounding portions of the stimulating electrode. This merging allows the system to achieve dual functionality (stimulation and receptor modulation) through an integrated electrode configuration, reducing the need for completely separate electrode systems and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode system is designed with multi-functionality, where the current-injecting electrode serves dual purposes: it provides current for subcutaneous receptor modulation while also serving as part of the overall electrode assembly structure. This universal design approach allows a single electrode component to perform multiple functions, reducing the total number of separate components needed and managing device complexity.
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 system effectively reduces or eliminates undesirable sensations by keeping the current at the surface, improving user comfort and efficacy of nerve and muscle stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
a current-injecting electrode arranged in proximity to one of the stimulating electrodes, current-generating means in the area of said injecting electrode, between said injecting electrode and the nearest stimulating electrode, in such a way as to reduce, or even eliminate, the undesirable sensations possibly resulting from the excitation of the subcutaneous receptors by said stimulation current
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode system for transcutaneous nerve and/or muscle stimulation that includes a pair of stimulating electrodes and a stimulation current generator for generating a nerve and/or muscle stimulation current between the stimulating electrodes. The system also includes a current-injecting electrode arranged in proximity to one of the stimulating electrodes, and an injection-current generator located in the area of the current-injecting electrode. The current-injecting electrode and the corresponding injection-current generator reduce, or even eliminate, undesirable sensations resulting from an excitation of subcutaneous receptors by the stimulation current.