Wireless Neural Stimulator with Injectable Field Concentrators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current magnetic stimulation devices face limitations such as lack of targeting, premature overheating, inability to penetrate deep into the body, loud noises, and inefficiencies in small-animal testing due to high power requirements and poor scalability, leading to low efficacy and unpredictability in treatments.
Innovation Solution
A wireless neuromodulation system that uses an external coil to generate targeted magnetic fields with a miniaturized driver circuit and injectable electric field concentrators, allowing for continuous stimulation without overheating, reduced noise, and improved power efficiency, enabling deeper penetration and smaller, wearable designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional magnetic stimulation devices are used, then neural stimulation can be achieved, but the devices overheat prematurely and cannot provide continuous stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: an external wearable magnetic field generator and an internal injectable conductor. This segmentation allows the magnetic field generation and the neural stimulation to be separated, enabling continuous operation without overheating of a single integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
The injectable conductor acts as an intermediary element that concentrates the magnetic field at the target neural location. By placing this conductor directly at the stimulation site, the system achieves effective neural stimulation with lower overall power requirements, preventing overheating.
2Length of stationary object
If high power is used for magnetic stimulation, then deeper penetration into the body is achieved, but the devices overheat and require cooling periods
Solution Approach 1:
The injectable conductor provides localized field concentration at the target neural site. This allows the magnetic field to be effectively concentrated where needed without requiring high overall power output, enabling deep penetration without overheating.
3Reliability
If conventional magnetic stimulation coils are used, then neural stimulation is achieved, but loud noises are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The noise-generating coil is extracted and placed externally in a wearable unit, separated from the injection site. The injectable conductor itself is passive and does not generate noise, eliminating the harmful noise factor while maintaining stimulation effectiveness.
4Reliability
If large magnetic stimulation devices are used, then effective neural stimulation is achieved, but the devices are not wearable due to size
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the stimulation function into a small external wearable coil and a tiny internal injectable conductor. This segmentation allows the external unit to be compact and wearable while the internal component is minimally invasive, together providing effective neural stimulation.
5Measurement precision
If traditional implanted wire stimulation is used, then targeted neural stimulation is achieved, but the procedure is highly invasive requiring surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical surgical implantation process is replaced with a minimally invasive injection procedure. The injectable conductor can be delivered through a simple injection rather than requiring surgical implantation of wires, significantly reducing the invasiveness while maintaining targeting precision.
6Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic stimulation devices are scaled down for small-animal testing, then animal studies become possible, but the devices overheat quickly due to high power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation into external coil and internal conductor allows the system to be scaled down for small animals. The external coil can be made small and wearable on animals, while the injectable conductor is already at the nanoscale, enabling effective stimulation without overheating.
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 system achieves highly targeted and continuous neural stimulation with reduced invasiveness, improved efficacy, and the ability to perform small-animal studies, addressing the limitations of prior art by enhancing power management and noise reduction.
Implementation Method 1
By Faraday's law of electromagnetics, these electric fields can be generated from changing magnetic fields, hence, the name 'magnetic stimulation'.
Implementation Method 2
By Faraday's law of electromagnetics, these electric fields can be generated from changing magnetic fields
Implementation Method 3
these systems also add a driver circuit for the magnetic coil that allows for high voltage and fast pulses in the coil, while requiring low-voltage power supply that could be a wearable battery
Data Source
AI summary
Neural stimulator systems with an external magnetic coil to produce changing magnetic fields is applied outside the body, in conjunction with one or more tiny injectable objects that concentrates the induced electric field to a highly-targeted location. These systems include a driver circuit for the magnetic coil that allows for high voltage and fast pulses in the coil, while requiring low-voltage power supply that may be powered by a wearable or portable external device, along with the coil and driver circuit.