Vagus Nerve Stimulation Patterns Without Implant Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating diseases and disorders often require drug administration, and the afferent arc of the vagus nerve, which senses inflammatory status, remains incompletely understood.
Innovation Solution
Stimulating the vagus nerve with a disease-specific, condition-specific, or endogenous mediator-specific neurogram pattern to treat conditions such as inflammation, hypoglycemia, or hyperglycemia, using implantable electrodes to apply corrective stimulus patterns derived from neurograms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implantable devices are used for nerve stimulation, then therapeutic effect is improved, but surgical implantation procedures and risks are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical implantable device with a non-implantable external device that uses a wearable battery pack and external stimulator, eliminating the need for surgical implantation while maintaining nerve stimulation therapy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the battery and electronic components from the implantable device and places them in an external wearable battery pack, separating the power source from the patient's body to avoid surgical risks
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-implantable devices are used, then surgical risks are eliminated, but device mobility and flexibility are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the device into separate modular components: an external stimulator, a wearable battery pack, and a wireless communication module, allowing each component to be optimized independently for mobility and ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs wireless communication parameters and power transmission parameters to enable contactless operation, allowing the external device to maintain flexible positioning while providing continuous therapy
3Measurement precision
If complex implantable devices are used, then therapy precision is improved, but device failure and revision surgery risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex implantable electronics with a simplified external device that achieves therapy precision through software-based control and wireless communication, eliminating the reliability risks associated with implantable components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses wireless communication to transmit control signals and data between the external device and the therapy system, creating a virtual connection that replicates the functionality of implantable devices without the associated risks
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
Effectively treats conditions like inflammation, hypoglycemia, or hyperglycemia without drugs by mimicking the body's natural neural responses, modulating systemic inflammatory pathways and blood glucose levels.
Implementation Method 1
Nerve stimulation for treatment of diseases and disorders
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~2E
AI summary
Methods are disclosed for treating a subject having a disease or disorder comprising stimulating a nerve of the subject with a corrective stimulus pattern derived from a disease- specific, condition-specific, endogenous mediator-specific or pharmacologic agent-specific neurogram in an amount and manner effective to treat the disease or disorder.