Wirelessly Powered Passive Implant for Craniofacial Pain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating craniofacial pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia and temporomandibular joint syndrome, often require invasive procedures and rely on battery-powered implantable pulse generators, which can be costly and require repeated surgical interventions for battery replacement.
Innovation Solution
A wirelessly powered passive device is implanted near craniofacial nerves, using non-inductive antennas to receive electromagnetic energy for neural modulation, eliminating the need for a physical power source and reducing invasiveness through minimally invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery-powered implantable pulse generators are used to treat craniofacial pain, then effective neural modulation therapy can be provided, but the procedure requires repeated surgical interventions for battery replacement and increases overall treatment cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the battery component from the implantable device, creating a passive implant that receives power wirelessly from an external source. This eliminates the need for battery replacement surgeries while maintaining the neural modulation therapy functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between therapy effectiveness and surgical intervention requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical battery-powered system with a wireless electromagnetic power transfer system. The external antenna transmits electromagnetic energy that is received by an implantable antenna, converting electromagnetic energy to electrical energy to drive the neural modulation electrodes without any mechanical battery component, thereby eliminating repeated surgical interventions
2Reliability
If traditional invasive procedures are used to implant neural modulation devices, then effective pain treatment can be achieved, but the procedure increases surgical complexity and tissue contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for complex invasive implantation procedures by using a minimally invasive approach where a small passive implant is placed near the target nerve. The wireless power transmission capability allows the device to be powered without large incisions or complex connections, simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining pain relief effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The passive implantable device utilizes a thin-film construction that can be easily positioned adjacent to craniofacial nerves through minimally invasive procedures. The flexible, thin-film design reduces the size and invasiveness of the implant while maintaining effective neural modulation capability
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
This approach provides effective pain relief with reduced surgical complexity and lower costs, enabling wider adoption of neural modulation therapy by eliminating the need for battery replacement and minimizing tissue contact during implantation.
Implementation Method 1
the wirelessly powered passive device configured to receive an input signal non-inductively from an external antenna
Implementation Method 2
causing neural modulation to the nerve through one or more electrodes on the wirelessly powered passive device
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations provide a method for treating craniofacial pain in a patient, the method including: placing a wirelessly powered passive device through an opening into a target site in a head or neck region of the patient's body, the wirelessly powered passive device configured to receive an input signal non-inductively from an external antenna; positioning the wirelessly powered passive device adjacent to or near a nerve at the target site; and causing neural modulation to the nerve through one or more electrodes on the wirelessly powered passive device.