Sensing and stimulation system

• US 10,265,514 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Harding, William, Mark, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Behringer, Luther
• Application Number:
  US14/181,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20150231387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1104 induced by stimuli or drugs; A61B5/1102 takes precedence; investigating medicinal preparations G01N33/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/40 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the nervous system A61B5/4806, A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/45 For evaluating or diagnosing the musculoskeletal system or teeth A61B5/1036, A61B5/1074, A61B7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4851 Prosthesis assessment or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6811 External prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6867 specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part A61B5/6847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6877 Nerve
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 : Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 : Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 : Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 : for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 : Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 : Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke

Abstract

A sensing and stimulation system includes a central hub, and a plurality of flexible arms extending from the central hub. Each of the arms includes at least one electrode and at least one sensor. Each of the arms is configured to perform sensing and stimulation including electrically stimulating biological material, and sensing biological responses and changes. The system includes a port configured to be alternatively connected to a remote control module for wireless operation of the system and a leaded connector for wired operation of the system.

Claims

1. A sensing and stimulation system, comprising:

a central hub;

a plurality of flexible anus extending from the central hub, wherein each of the arms includes at least one electrode and at least one sensor, and wherein each of the arms is configured to perform sensing of biological responses and changes, and electrically stimulating biological material using electrical signals;

a remote control module configured to generate the electrical signals with voltage and current levels sufficient to provide pain therapy when delivered to the biological material using at least one of the arms; and

a port configured to be alternatively connected to the remote control module for wireless operation of the system and a leaded connector for wired operation of the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to receive sensor data from a prosthetic device and generate the stimulation signals based on the received sensor data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control module is connected to the port and configured to transmit and receive wireless radio frequency (RF) signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an overall length of each of the arms is individually adjustable.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a central portion of each of the arms is configured to individual adjust a corresponding length of the arm by rolling up of the arm.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to identify variations in muscular structure in response to the temperature sensor detecting thermal variations along substantially an entire length of the arms.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to detect movement by comparing sensed pressure from a pressure sensor to baseline parameters.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible arms includes at least eight flexible arms extending radially outward from the central hub, and wherein a proximal end of each of the arms is connected to the central hub.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a distal end of one of the arms includes the port.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the central hub includes the port.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least eight flexible arms are arranged in a star configuration in which the arms extend radially outward from the central hub at evenly spaced positions 360 degrees around the central hub.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least eight flexible arms are arranged in a half-star configuration in which the arms extend radially outward from the central hub at evenly spaced positions 180 degrees around the central hub.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to automatically switch between a passive mode, a semi-passive mode, and an active mode, wherein the system is purely inductively powered in the passive mode, inductively charged in the semi-passive mode, and internally powered with a rechargeable battery in the active mode.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to store health specific data used to determine if an abnormal event has occurred, and is configured to automatically react to the abnormal event with response therapy.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the pain therapy is a stimulation therapy selected from the group consisting of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and peripheral nerve field stimulation.