Wide-Spaced Bipolar Probe for Pain-Free Muscle Twitch Elicitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available bipolar stimulator probes with close electrode spacing cause significant pain and induce small, low-force muscle twitches, making them unsuitable for Surface Applied Electrical Twitch Obtaining Intramuscular Stimulation (SA-ETOIMS) procedures, while monopolar stimulation requires separate reference electrodes that are cumbersome and prone to adhesion issues, leading to inefficient treatment.
Innovation Solution
A bipolar stimulator probe with a fixed or adjustable wide spacing between the active and reference electrodes, allowing for efficient and pain-reduced muscle twitch elicitation by simulating monopolar stimulation conditions, eliminating the need for separate reference electrodes and reducing treatment time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard bipolar stimulating probes with close electrode spacing (2 cm or less) are used, then the device structure is simple and easy to operate, but significant stimulation pain is induced and small low-force twitches are elicited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the inter-electrode distance from the standard 2 cm or less to a wider spacing of 3-4 cm or more. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by reducing stimulation pain while maintaining ease of operation, as the wider spacing distributes the electrical field more effectively without requiring complex device redesign
2Device complexity
If standard bipolar stimulating probes with close electrode spacing (2 cm or less) are used, then the device structure is simple, but small low-force twitches are elicited that do not provide significant pain relieving effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the inter-electrode distance parameter to 3-4 cm or more, which enables the elicitation of large force twitches necessary for pain relief while maintaining relatively simple device structure. The parameter change optimizes the electrical field distribution to stimulate motor end-plate zones more effectively
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate individual electrodes are used for stimulation and recording, then flexibility is improved, but both active and reference electrodes have to be moved in bi-manual fashion which slows down the procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by integrating the active stimulation electrode and reference electrode onto a single bipolar probe with wide spacing. This combination allows the clinician to move both electrodes simultaneously as one unit, resolving the contradiction by maintaining flexibility while eliminating the need for bi-manual movement, thus significantly improving treatment speed
4Object-affected harmful factors
If monopolar stimulation with separate reference electrode is used, then stimulation pain is reduced, but the reference electrode requires frequent relocation to avoid repetitive stimulation which wastes time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by merging the active and reference electrodes into a single bipolar probe unit. This eliminates the need for separate reference electrode relocation while maintaining the pain-reducing benefits of wide electrode spacing, as both electrodes move together in a single manual operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the bipolar probe adjustable in inter-electrode distance, allowing the clinician to optimize the spacing dynamically based on the specific muscle and treatment requirements. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains low pain levels while adapting to different anatomical locations without requiring electrode relocation
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 wide-spaced bipolar probe enables faster, more efficient, and less painful SA-ETOIMS treatments by allowing large force twitches to be elicited quickly, reducing the risk of trans-thoracic current and wire entanglement, and improving clinician convenience by integrating the reference electrode for localized stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
bipolar stimulator probe with a fixed or adjustable wide spacing between the active and reference electrodes, allowing for efficient and pain-reduced muscle twitch elicitation
Implementation Method 2
Commercially available bipolar stimulating probes have an inter-probe distance of 2 cm or less between the active and reference electrodes
Data Source
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AI summary
A bipolar stimulator probe suitable for application of intramuscular stimulation provides an active stimulator electrode and a reference electrode as part of a single tool. The separation between the electrodes is significantly greater than the electrode separation of known bipolar stimulator probes and bipolar bar electrode configurations. The probe tool may be configured to permit adjustment of the fixed relative position of the electrodes within a given range. By providing a relatively wide spacing between the two electrodes, the tool can be used to approximate the effect of monopolar stimulation with a separate reference electrode, with the electrical stimulus producing less pain to the patient compared to bipolar stimulation where the two electrodes are spaced apart by only 2-4 cm or less.