Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation for Mood Disorders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transcutaneous nerve stimulation, including transcutaneous and transcranial nerve stimulation, face challenges in promptly and effectively addressing treatment-resistant mood disorders due to reliance on predetermined physiological signal thresholds and manual nerve location, which can lead to delayed or inadequate stimulation. Additionally, these methods often require significant power and are not easily wearable or portable.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop system that uses physiological signals to detect arousal characteristics of treatment-resistant mood disorders, adjusts stimulation parameters in real-time, and applies transcutaneous nerve stimulation using a system with a storage device, physiological sensor, and electric circuit to produce an electric field that stimulates nerves based on measured parameters, ensuring timely and effective treatment while being portable and wearable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If predetermined physiological signal thresholds and manual nerve location methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment timing is delayed and effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors physiological signals (heart rate, skin conductance, temperature) and uses this feedback to detect arousal characteristics of mood disorders in real-time, enabling timely and effective stimulation intervention rather than relying on predetermined thresholds
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects mood disorder arousal characteristics and adjusts stimulation parameters without requiring manual nerve location or external intervention, making the device self-sufficient while improving treatment reliability
2Loss of time
If real-time physiological signal monitoring and automatic parameter adjustment are implemented, then treatment timing is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of physiological signals and provides ongoing parameter adjustment to ensure timely treatment intervention, eliminating delays while managing power through efficient processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters based on detected arousal characteristics, optimizing treatment effectiveness while managing power consumption through adaptive parameter modification rather than continuous maximum output
3Reliability
If continuous real-time adjustment of stimulation parameters is performed, then treatment efficacy is improved, but device portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions including physiological signal monitoring, arousal characteristic detection, and stimulation parameter adjustment into a single portable device, eliminating the need for separate equipment while maintaining treatment efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides dynamic real-time adjustment of stimulation parameters based on detected arousal characteristics, enabling effective treatment while maintaining portability through adaptive rather than static operation
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 provides timely and effective transcutaneous nerve stimulation, addressing the limitations of existing methods by detecting mood disorder arousal characteristics and adjusting stimulation parameters in real-time, ensuring timely intervention and improving treatment efficacy while being portable and wearable.
Implementation Method 1
an electric field is produced based on the arousal, the electric field stimulating least a portion of a nerve of the user transcutaneously
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, physiological signal(s) are received from physiological sensor(s) configured to measure at least one physiological property of a user. An arousal of at least one characteristic of at least one treatment resistant mood disorder is detected through employment of an estimation method based at least in part on at least one of the physiological signal(s). A value for at least one of a plurality of stimulation parameters is selected based at least in part on at least one of the physiological signal(s). An electric field based at least in part on the arousal is produced. The electric field is configured to stimulate at least a portion of a median nerve of the user transcutaneously. The electric field is based at least in part on at least some of the plurality of stimulation parameters.