Vestibular Electrode Double-Bend Geometry Limits Insertion Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vestibular implants face challenges in designing a stimulation electrode that can selectively stimulate vestibular nerve branches without damaging the hair cells, particularly in reaching the crista without compressing or traumatizing the membranous canals, which is essential for preserving natural vestibular function.
Innovation Solution
A vestibular stimulation electrode lead with a double bend structure, featuring an extra-vestibular lead branch and an intra-vestibular electrode array with discrete angles to limit insertion depth and prevent over-insertion, ensuring the electrode array remains parallel to the canal and maintains anatomical alignment, thereby minimizing trauma and surgical complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode is inserted deeper to reach the crista, then stimulation effectiveness is improved, but trauma to the membranous canals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is pre-shaped with a double-bend geometry during manufacturing, with the first bend positioning the electrode array parallel to the canal and the second bend limiting insertion depth. This preliminary configuration ensures that upon insertion, the electrode automatically assumes the correct position without requiring complex intraoperative adjustments, thereby reaching the target crista region effectively while preventing over-insertion that would cause trauma to the membranous canals.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode incorporates specific geometric parameters including bend angles of 30-60 degrees and a limited insertion length of 1-3 mm beyond the canal opening. These parameter changes in the electrode's physical configuration allow it to navigate the anatomical constraints of the semicircular canal while maintaining a safe distance from the fragile membranous structures, thus achieving reliable stimulation without causing harm.
2Reliability
If the electrode is made smaller to prevent compression, then preservation of natural function is improved, but insertion precision is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is pre-shaped with a double-bend geometry during manufacturing, with the first bend positioning the electrode array parallel to the canal and the second bend limiting insertion depth. This preliminary configuration ensures that upon insertion, the electrode automatically assumes the correct position without requiring complex intraoperative adjustments, thereby reaching the target crista region effectively while preventing over-insertion that would cause trauma to the membranous canals.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode incorporates specific geometric parameters including bend angles of 30-60 degrees and a limited insertion length of 1-3 mm beyond the canal opening. These parameter changes in the electrode's physical configuration allow it to navigate the anatomical constraints of the semicircular canal while maintaining a safe distance from the fragile membranous structures, thus achieving reliable stimulation without causing harm.
3Ease of operation
If the electrode structure is simplified for easier insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but ability to limit insertion depth is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is pre-shaped with a double-bend geometry during manufacturing, with the first bend positioning the electrode array parallel to the canal and the second bend limiting insertion depth. This preliminary configuration ensures that upon insertion, the electrode automatically assumes the correct position without requiring complex intraoperative adjustments, thereby reaching the target crista region effectively while preventing over-insertion that would cause trauma to the membranous canals.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode incorporates specific geometric parameters including bend angles of 30-60 degrees and a limited insertion length of 1-3 mm beyond the canal opening. These parameter changes in the electrode's physical configuration allow it to navigate the anatomical constraints of the semicircular canal while maintaining a safe distance from the fragile membranous structures, thus achieving reliable stimulation without causing harm.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vestibular stimulation electrode lead is described for conducting electrical stimulation signals generated by an implanted vestibular stimulation module. An extra- vestibular lead branch carries the stimulation signals from the stimulation module to a vestibular entry location. A stopper collar is bent away at a first discrete angle from a distal end of the extra-vestibular lead branch to penetrate into a vestibular structure at the entry location. An intra-vestibular electrode array is bent away at a second discrete angle from the stopper collar and has an outer surface with one or more electrode contacts for delivering the stimulation signals to vestibular neural tissue at a target location within the vestibular structure. The first and second discrete angles form a geometry of the stopper collar and intra- vestibular electrode array that limits insertion of the intra-vestibular electrode array beyond the target location within the vestibular structure.