Wireless Closed-Loop Neural Stimulation with Energy Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional biomedical implantable devices are often bulky due to large batteries and require intrusive wiring, leading to complications and inefficient stimulation delivery, especially in applications requiring precise neural activity monitoring and stimulation.

Innovation Solution

A closed-loop system with implantable treatment devices that incorporate energy harvesting circuits for ambient energy, sensing circuits for bioelectrical signal processing, and communication circuits for wireless data transmission and control, allowing for optimized stimulation parameters based on real-time neural activity feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional biomedical implantable devices use large batteries for power, then the device can operate continuously, but the device becomes bulky and requires intrusive wiring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the battery from the implantable device and places it in an external controller. The implantable device receives power wirelessly through an energy harvesting circuit that couples to the external controller, eliminating the need for internal batteries and reducing device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an external controller as an intermediary that provides both power and control signals to the implantable device. The external controller contains the battery and processes neural signals, while the implantable device focuses only on stimulation and sensing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If implantable devices use intrusive wiring for lead connections, then electrical connections can be established, but complications and stimulation delivery efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidcomplications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with a wireless electromagnetic coupling system. The implantable device communicates with the external controller through electromagnetic fields, eliminating physical leads and associated complications while maintaining reliable electrical connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If implantable devices lack real-time neural activity feedback, then device complexity is reduced, but stimulation optimization and treatment efficacy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtreatment efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where the implantable device senses neural activity and transmits it to the external controller. The controller processes the neural signals and adjusts stimulation parameters in real-time based on the sensed activity, optimizing treatment efficacy while maintaining manageable device complexity through division of labor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables miniaturized, wirelessly powered implants that can efficiently sense and stimulate neural activity without bulky components, optimizing stimulation parameters for improved neural activity monitoring and treatment efficacy while reducing power consumption and invasive procedures.

Implementation Method 1

an energy harvesting circuit configured to harvest ambient energy, where the ambient energy is at least one energy selected from the group consisting of ambient electrical, magnetic energy, and electromagnetic energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy harvesting: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20240173551A1Closed-Loop Wireless Stimulation Systems with Wirelessly Powered Stimulators and Recorders

Publication Date: 2024.05.30 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

Systems and methods for wirelessly powered biomedical treatment systems with closed-loop wireless implantable treatment devices for recording and stimulation are described. In an embodiment, a treatment system, includes: at least one implantable treatment device implantable in a location with respect to a body part, where the at least one implantable treatment device includes: an energy harvesting circuit configured to harvest ambient energy, a sensing circuit configured to sense bioelectrical signals, an stimulator circuit coupled to a set of electrodes to deliver energy, and a communication circuit configured to control the stimulation delivery circuit to deliver energy via at least one electrode from the set of electrodes in response to wireless control signals received from an external controller.