Controlled stimulation delivery from neurostimulator
First Claim
1. A system for stimulating an electrode configured to deliver an electrical stimulation to tissue of a subject, comprising:
- an implantable device, the implantable device including;
an energy acquisition device configured to wirelessly receive an excitation signal;
a voltage limiting device connected to the energy acquisition device; and
an electrode connected to the voltage limiting device, wherein an electrical output delivered by the electrode to tissue of the subject is limited to a predetermined value by the voltage limiting device, and wherein the electrical output delivered by the electrode is powered by energy from the excitation signal; and
an exciter that is physically unconnected to the energy acquisition device and configured to radiate a wireless pulse width modulated excitation signal to the energy acquisition device of the implantable device, wherein the pulse width modulated excitation signal controls the amount of wireless current delivery to the energy acquisition device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing neurostimulation includes an external device (“external exciter”) and an implanted device. The external exciter includes an energy source which inductively powers the implanted device. Examples of such external exciters include devices having at least one of: ultrasonic transducers, Radio Frequency (RF) transmitters, and solar cells. The implanted device includes circuitry that limits its maximum energy output to a predetermined saturation threshold such that excess stimulation from the external exciter does not raise the output of the implanted device beyond the saturation threshold. The output signal of the external exciter is then pulse-width modulated in order to produce a desired amount of output stimulation from the implanted device to stimulate the bioelectrically excitable tissue at a desired level.
38 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for stimulating an electrode configured to deliver an electrical stimulation to tissue of a subject, comprising:
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an implantable device, the implantable device including; an energy acquisition device configured to wirelessly receive an excitation signal; a voltage limiting device connected to the energy acquisition device; and an electrode connected to the voltage limiting device, wherein an electrical output delivered by the electrode to tissue of the subject is limited to a predetermined value by the voltage limiting device, and wherein the electrical output delivered by the electrode is powered by energy from the excitation signal; and an exciter that is physically unconnected to the energy acquisition device and configured to radiate a wireless pulse width modulated excitation signal to the energy acquisition device of the implantable device, wherein the pulse width modulated excitation signal controls the amount of wireless current delivery to the energy acquisition device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An implantable device for delivering an electrical stimulation to tissue of a subject, comprising:
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an energy acquisition device configured to wirelessly receive a pulse width modulated excitation signal and generate an output voltage using wireless energy received from the pulse width modulation excitation signal; a voltage limiting device connected to the energy acquisition device, the voltage limiting device being configured to control the amount of energy delivered by the implantable device; and an electrode connected to the voltage limiting device and configured to deliver the electrical stimulation to tissue of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of stimulating an electrode configured to deliver an electrical stimulation to tissue of a subject, comprising:
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placing an exciter in spatial proximity to an implantable device, the implantable device including; an energy acquisition device that is physically unconnected to the exciter and is configured to wirelessly receive a pulse width modulated excitation signal from the exciter; a voltage limiting device connected to the energy acquisition device; an electrode connected to the voltage limiting device; and providing instructions to the exciter to radiate a wireless pulse-width modulated output excitation signal directed at the implantable device, wherein the pulse width modulated excitation signal provides wireless energy from the exciter to the energy acquisition device for output by the electrode and has a magnitude selected to cause the voltage limiting device to enter a voltage saturation state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification