Session C2
6051
Disclaimer – This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on publicly
available information and may not be provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any purpose other
than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
NEUROSTIMILUATION TO REDUCE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC CLUSTER
HEADACHES
Jacob Blahut, jnb45@pitt.edu, Lora 6:00, Mazin Rahman, mar275@pitt.edu, Lora 6:00
the “engineer better medicines” grand challenge as offered
by the National Academy of Engineering. [3]
The effects of neurostimulation have been demonstrated
in various experiments and described in many academic
journals. Documentation relating to stimulation of the brain
and nerves by an artificial electronic device will be
used on how exactly the electric pulses affect the senses. The
device’s manufacturer, Autonomic Technologies Inc., will
provide the device’s design and technical details. Benefits and
side effects will be pulled from medical observations of
the neurostimulator’s usage in Germany and Denmark.
Revised Proposal - According to the World Health
Organization, upwards to 47% of adults suffer from a
headache disorder. [1] Many of those disorders are
debilitating to the individual and prevent a normal life.
Headache disorders are notorious for their lack of an
effective treatment. Most drugs and natural remedies are
often only an attempt to treat the symptoms rather than the
actual cause of the headaches. Neurostimulation, however, is
an effective and efficient way to treat the
headaches. Neurostimulation, via direct connection into
the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), blocks the pain-causing
neurotransmitters at the onset of a headache preventing pain
from being registered by the brain. [2]
The neurostimulator is smaller than an almond, weights
1.5 grams, and is 5mm in thickness. The device consists of
three pieces: the neurostimulator body, a lead tip, and a
fixation plate. The neurostimulator is anchored to the
cheekbone on the side of the pain via the fixation plate. This
is done above the second molar during oral surgery. During
the surgery, the lead tip extends into the SPG. From there, the
lead tip has 6 electrodes to stimulate the SPG and block the
pain from being transmitted. The body houses a rechargeable
battery for continued use.
The use of neurostimulation to block pain triggering
nerve clusters allows those suffering from migraines and
cluster
headaches
to
live
normal
lives. Neurostimulation could see widespread use with other
headache disorders. This is an important development
because this process is providing an effective treatment for a
previously
untreatable and
painful ailment. Neurostimulation to treat headaches has the
potential to affect a large portion of the population who suffer
from headache related conditions.
Medicine and technology are converging now more so
than ever. The days of the witchdoctor and quirky tricks are
being replaced by scientific knowledge. Home remedies often
do not work. That’s where bioengineering comes into
play. Engineering’s involvement with understanding how the
body works and combining that knowledge with technology
produces devices such as this neurostimulator to increase the
quality of life for a massive amount of people worldwide. The
study of neurostimulation and its effects corresponds to
University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering
2016/01/29
REFERENCES
[1] “Headache Disorders.” World Health Organization.
(2012).
(Online
article).
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/
[2] J. Scott, B. Zielinksi. (2013). “ATI Neurostimulator
System For Cluster Headaches.” Brown University.
(Powerpoint)
[3] “NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering.” National
Academy of Engineering. (2016). (Online article).
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges.aspx
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
I. Ayzenbeg, Z. Katsarava, A. Sborowski, M. Chernysh, V.
Osipova, G. Tabeeva, T.J. Stiener. (2014). “Headacheattributed Burden and Its Impact on Productivity and Quality
of Life in Russia: Structured Healthcare for Headache is
Urgently Needed.” (Academic Journal). European Journal of
Neurology 21. pp.758-765
This academic journal, from a Russian study on how
headaches affect the quality of life, finds connections between
headaches and public welfare. The authors examine in which
ways headaches affect the general population in multiple
aspects of life such as work, and recreation. Possible ethics
involving quality of life. Will be used in paper as a source of
ethical consideration. Will also be used to determine
candidates for neuromodulation.
1
Jacob Blahut
Mazin Rahman
R. Barker. (2013). “Electronic Aspirin: SPG Stimulation
Therapy.”
Prezi.
(Online
presentation).
https://prezi.com/2idzmgom9ko_/electronic-aspirin/
This prezi provides an overview of the electronic aspirin.
The presentation briefly explains various headache disorders
such as cluster headache. Common treatments for cluster
headaches are explained and shown through videos. The
presentation demonstrates how the neurostimulator operates
and how a user is able to control the device. This info will be
used in the paper as an example of what headache disorders
are and how neurostimulation will change them.
provide design and technical details about their device. This
knowledge will be heavily described in the conference paper
to illustrate the schematics of the neuromodulator.
“Headache Disorders.” World Health Organization. (2012).
(Online
article).
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/
This factsheet published by the World Health Organization
provides an overview of headache disorders and how many
people are affected by each disorder. Information provided by
the factsheet allows an overlook of potential disorders that
may be corrected by the neuromodulation. Details on the
nerves involved in each disorder is provided. In the paper, the
factsheet lists possible users that will be targeted for usage of
electronic aspirin.
G. Broggie, G. Messina, C. Marras, I. Dones, A. Franzini.
(2010). “Neuromodulation for Refractory Headaches.”
(Academic Journal) Neuromodulation: Present and Future.
pp. S87-S92
This source is an academic journal published from a peer
reviewed publication. Within the journal, a history of the use
of neuromodulation to combat headaches is presented. The
source provides the current methods of using electric
stimulation to interact with nerves and in particularly, the
sphenopalatine ganglion. In relation to this paper, this will be
referenced to explain how electronic aspirin operates to
achieve pain relief.
J. Scott, B. Zielinksi. (2013). “ATI Neurostimulator System
For Cluster Headaches.” Brown University. (PowerPoint)
This PowerPoint is a detailed looking into ATI
Neurostimulator. The PowerPoint delves into how the device
is constructed and the purpose of each piece. This is a look
schematically into a neurostimulation device. This will be
referenced in the paper for design details and usage of the
device. The PowerPoint also speaks about the regions of
nerves that are stimulated. Those nerve interactions will be
evaluated for safety.
“Choosing Your Topic Video Tutorial.” University of
Pittsburgh
Library
System.
(Video).
http://www.library.pitt.edu/other/files/il/fresheng/index.html
The video is from the University of Pittsburgh’s library
system. This video helped to narrow down the topic for this
paper. Methods taken from the video include taking a broad
subject and continuingly narrowing that subject down to a
workable topic. This method will be employed when
discussing the uses and design details of neurostimulation to
treat chronic and cluster headaches.
“NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering.” National Academy
of
Engineering.
(2016).
(Website).
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/challenges.aspx
This website provided the grand challenges for engineers.
The challenge of “Engineer better medicine” is the reason
behind neurostimulation devices. The purpose is to increase
the quality of life by reducing the ailments. The
neurostimulation is no different as it removes pain from a
previously untreatable ailment. In the paper, this website will
be used as a justification for the need of devices to counter the
effects of headaches.
(2015). “Cluster Headaches.” American Headache Society.
(Website).
http://www.americanheadachesociety.org/assets/1/7/NAP_fo
r_Web_-_Cluster___Other_Short-Lasting_Headaches.pdf
This pdf from the American Headache Society is detailed
look at short lasting headaches, their causes, and treatment
options. Various disorders are described by their duration and
intensity. The pdf breaks down the headache and the
symptoms that lead up to and occur right before the onset of
a headache. In the paper, this info will be used to determine
the best time for the user to activate the device.
T.J. Schwedt, B. Vargas. (2015). “Neurostimulation for
Treatment of Migraine and Cluster Headache.” Wiley
Periodicals Inc.. (PDF).
This pdf is a detailed look at neurostimulation as a possible
treatment option for serious headache disorders. The pdf is a
detailed looking into the sphenopalatine ganglion as the
source of migraines and cluster headaches. Specific
frequencies can manipulate the output of the sphenopalatine
ganglion which can alter the sensation felt by the individual.
Techniques, electronic frequencies, and data will be described
in the paper.
(2013). “Cluster Headaches: How It Works.” Autonomic
Technologies. (Website). http://www.ati-spg.com/us/en/atineurostimulation-system/how-it-works/
Autonomic Technologies produces a neurostimulation
device to target cluster headaches. In this piece of their
website, how electric pulses block nerve signals is discussed.
The website is a primary source for the ongoing development
of electronic aspirin. Autonomic Technologies will also
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