Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation for Bowel Dysfunction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for constipation, such as electrical stimulation via subcutaneously implanted electrodes, are invasive and do not address the underlying cause of the condition, providing only short-term relief and causing social distress and a significant healthcare burden.
Innovation Solution
Non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation systems and methods that administer daily electrical stimulation to the lumbar, abdominal, lower pelvic, and sacral regions for extended periods, using a portable device with multiple electrodes and customizable settings, to promote long-term muscle and nerve training for improved bowel function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If subcutaneously implanted electrodes are used for electrical stimulation, then bowel evacuation function is improved, but invasiveness increases and social distress occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses transcutaneous electrodes as an intermediary device that delivers electrical stimulation through the skin without requiring subcutaneous implantation. This mediator approach maintains the therapeutic effect on bowel evacuation while avoiding the harmful invasiveness of implanted electrodes, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and object-affected harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical surgical implantation process with a non-invasive transcutaneous application method. By substituting the mechanical insertion of electrodes into subcutaneous tissue with surface application, the system maintains electrical stimulation functionality while eliminating the harmful mechanical invasion and associated social distress.
2Speed
If electrical stimulation is provided only during treatment sessions, then immediate bowel evacuation effect is achieved, but long-term improvement does not occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical stimulation daily over an extended period (at least one week) as a preliminary training action for the muscles and nerves. This preliminary action prepares and conditions the bowel musculature in advance, creating lasting improvements that extend beyond the immediate treatment sessions, thereby resolving the contradiction between speed of immediate effect and duration of long-term action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous daily electrical stimulation treatment sessions over at least one week to maintain constant training of the bowel muscles and nerves. This continuity of useful action ensures that the therapeutic effect accumulates and persists long after the treatment period ends, addressing the contradiction by ensuring duration of action while maintaining the immediate effect during each session.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive transcutaneous stimulation is used, then invasiveness is reduced, but treatment duration must be extended to achieve long-term effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic daily electrical stimulation sessions conducted over at least one week. This periodic action pattern allows the non-invasive treatment to accumulate therapeutic effects through repeated applications, achieving long-term improvement without requiring invasive procedures. The periodic nature balances the reduced invasiveness with an extended but manageable treatment duration.
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 non-invasive approach provides sustained improvement in bowel function, increasing defecation frequency and reducing soiling episodes, with no adverse effects, and can be safely administered at home without professional supervision, offering a more effective and comfortable alternative to existing treatments.
Implementation Method 1
non-invasive electrical stimulation apparatus, devices, methods and systems are described herein to be used specifically for the treatment of constipation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of treating a waste evacuation dysfunction comprising administering transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) to at least one lower pelvic and/or sacral region for a specific treatment regimen. Also disclosed is a system for configuring a stimulation device to deliver transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) the system comprising: a computing device storing or having access to a plurality of TES settings and comprising a user interface to enable authorized selection of at least one of the TES settings for provision of TES by the stimulation device according to the at least one selected TES setting and the stimulation device communicatively coupled to the computing device to receive and store the selected at least one TES setting the stimulation device being of a size to be readily carried on a body and configured to selectively provide current to external electrode according to the one TES setting.