Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation With Programmable Pulse Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical treatments for conditions such as epilepsy, headaches, and neurological disorders often require invasive procedures, which can be costly, risky, and inconvenient, and there is a need for non-invasive methods that can be administered at home for immediate relief and long-term wellness benefits.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive nerve stimulation system using electrodes on the skin surface to transmit electrical impulses to target nerves, such as the vagus nerve, with a modular architecture and programmable parameters to improve cognitive and overall health, including reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing relaxation, and improving sleep and mental performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invasive procedures are used for nerve stimulation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient risk and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the skin and subcutaneous tissue as an intermediary medium to transmit electrical impulses from external electrodes to deeper nerves. The stimulator delivers controlled electrical energy through these intermediate layers without requiring direct surgical exposure of the nerve, thereby maintaining treatment effectiveness while eliminating invasive surgical risks such as infection, bleeding, and tissue damage.
2Reliability
If invasive procedures are used for nerve stimulation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but procedure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-administered nerve stimulation therapy where patients can apply the stimulator device themselves without requiring surgical intervention or specialized medical procedures. The device includes user-friendly controls and automatic parameter adjustment, allowing patients to treat themselves at home, thereby eliminating the need for complex surgical procedures, hospital facilities, and specialized surgical training.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive nerve stimulation is used, then patient safety and convenience are improved, but ability to reach deep nerves decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic electrical impulse delivery with varying parameters (frequency, pulse width, amplitude) to achieve deep nerve stimulation non-invasively. By using trains of electrical pulses with specific timing and intensity patterns, the device can penetrate through skin and subcutaneous tissue to reach deeper nerves without requiring physical penetration, leveraging the periodic nature of electrical stimulation to overcome tissue resistance and achieve therapeutic effects at depth.
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 stress and anxiety, improves sleep and cognitive performance, and enhances overall wellness by stimulating nerves non-invasively, providing immediate relief and long-term benefits without the drawbacks of invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an energy source coupled to the stimulator and configured to generate at least one electrical impulse and to transmit the at least one electrical impulse transcutaneously from the electrode through the outer skin surface of the user to a selected nerve
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods are provided for stimulating one or more nerves within a user. A system comprises a stimulator comprising an electrode configured for contacting the outer skin surface at, or near, the target location and an energy source coupled to the stimulator and configured to generate at least one electrical impulse and to transmit the at least one electrical impulse transcutaneously from the electrode through the outer skin surface of the user to a selected nerve in the user adjacent to, or near, the target location. The energy source comprises a primary circuit board that includes a processor and a computer-readable data storage device storing program instructions that, when executed by the processor, the program instructions generate the electrical impulse, and a secondary circuit board removably coupled to the main circuit board.