Arced Implant Unit for Specialized Nerve Modulation

Publication ID: 24-11857791_0009_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Arced Implant Unit for Specialized Nerve Modulation,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857791_0009_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857791_0009_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,791.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The present inventive concept relates to a family of arced implant units designed for specific, niche applications, such as treating sleep disorders, high-altitude environments, disaster relief, and high-security needs. These specialized variations adapt the original arced implant unit to address unique operational environments and market demands.

Background and Problem Solved

The original arced implant unit, disclosed in the parent patent, provides a versatile solution for modulating nerves. However, certain applications require tailored designs to accommodate specific constraints, such as high-security environments or extreme weather conditions. The present inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing specialized variations of the arced implant unit, ensuring effective nerve modulation in diverse scenarios.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept encompasses five distinct embodiments, each catering to a specific market or operational environment. Claim 1 describes a system for modulating a nerve in individuals with sleep disorders, utilizing a sensor to detect sleep patterns and adapt nerve stimulation accordingly. Claim 2 outlines a method for treating sleep apnea by implanting a nerve modulator in the patient's tongue and configuring it to respond to detected sleep patterns. Claim 3 presents a nerve modulation system for high-altitude environments, where changes in atmospheric pressure trigger nerve modulation. Claim 4 details a disaster relief kit, comprising a portable nerve modulator, power source, and user interface, designed to treat individuals with sleep disorders in emergency situations. Claim 5 describes a nerve modulation system for high-security environments, featuring secure communication for transmitting nerve modulation data.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The present inventive concept introduces novel, non-obvious variations of the original arced implant unit, tailored to address specific market demands and operational environments. The inventive step lies in the adaptation of the original design to accommodate unique constraints, such as high-security needs or extreme weather conditions, thereby expanding the applicability of nerve modulation technology.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include variations in sensor types, nerve modulation protocols, or power sources to accommodate different operational environments. For instance, a variant for extreme weather conditions could incorporate weather-resistant materials or redundant power sources. Another embodiment might focus on miniaturization for implantation in smaller animals or humans.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The present inventive concept offers significant commercial potential in various industries, including medical devices, disaster relief, and high-security solutions. The specialized variations can be marketed to address specific needs, such as sleep disorder treatment, high-altitude exploration, or secure communication systems. The inventive concept's adaptability ensures broad appeal across diverse markets and applications.

Field of Art

Biomedical engineering, specifically neural modulation and implantable medical devices for nerve stimulation, with expertise in electrical stimulation, biocompatible materials, and physiological signal processing

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer with advanced degree, experience in medical device design, understanding of neural stimulation techniques, knowledge of implantable electronics, and familiarity with adaptive medical technologies

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent's arced implant unit provides a fundamental design for nerve modulation that can be readily adapted to specific use cases by incorporating known sensor technologies, communication protocols, and environmental modifications. The core technological concept of a flexible, implantable nerve stimulation device remains consistent across the PTD's variations, with modifications representing predictable extensions of the original patent's core technology.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Flexible carrier unit with elongated arms and electrodes for nerve modulation
PTD Variation
Specialized nerve stimulator for sleep disorder treatment with added sleep pattern detection sensor
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating sensor technology to modulate nerve stimulation is a known technique in adaptive medical devices, representing a predictable combination of existing technologies
Source Patent Element
Implant unit configured for specific nerve targeting
PTD Variation
High-altitude environment nerve modulation system with atmospheric pressure sensors
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting the implant to respond to environmental conditions is an obvious design choice for medical devices operating in variable physiological contexts
Source Patent Element
Flexible carrier with multiple electrode pairs for nerve stimulation
PTD Variation
Disaster relief portable nerve modulation kit with user interface and power source
Obviousness Reasoning
Developing portable, field-deployable medical technologies is a standard engineering approach for extending medical device functionality to emergency scenarios
Source Patent Element
Implantable electrical modulator with nerve targeting capabilities
PTD Variation
High-security nerve modulation system with secure communication protocols
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding secure communication to medical implants is a predictable evolution in medical device design, addressing data privacy and transmission security concerns
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง 103, the variations disclosed in this publication would be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art of neural modulation devices, as they represent predictable extensions of the fundamental technological approach disclosed in US Patent 11857791, combining known techniques in sensor integration, environmental adaptation, and communication protocols with the foundational implantable nerve stimulation design.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,791
TitleArced implant unit for modulation of nerves
Assignee(s)Nyxoah SA