Pulsewidth electrical stimulation

• US 20030055457A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: MacDonald, Stuart G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence

Abstract

A process for stimulating tissue such as cardiac tissue, nerve tissue, and brain tissue. In one step of the process, there is delivered an electrical stimulating signal to the tissue that contains from about 10 to about 1,000 individual pulses. Each individual pulse has a duration of from about one microsecond to about 100 microseconds and is discontinuous, with a spacing between adjacent pulses of at least from about 1 microsecond to about 100 microseconds. The individual pulses have a voltage of from about 10 millivolts to about 100 volts.

Claims

1. A process for stimulating tissue selected from the group consisting of cardiac tissue, nerve tissue, brain tissue, and combinations thereof, comprising the step of delivering an electrical stimulating signal to said tissue that is comprised of from about 10 to about 1,000 individual pulses, wherein:

(a) said individual pulses each have a duration of from about one microsecond to about 100 microseconds,

(b) said individual pulses are discontinuous, with a spacing between adjacent pulses of at least from about 1 microsecond to about 100 microseconds, and

(c) said individual pulses each has a voltage of from about 10 millivolts to about 100 volts.,

2. The process recited in claim 1, wherein said tissue is heart tissue, and said electrical stimulating signal is delivered by a cardiac assist device.

3. The process as claim 1, wherein said tissue is brain tissue, and said electrical stimulating signal is delivered by a deep brain stimulator.

4. The process as recited in claim 1, wherein said tissue is vagas nerve tissue.

5. The process as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical stimulating signal is provided a by a stimulating device comprising a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode.

6. The process as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical stimulating signal is provided a by a stimulating device comprising a first stimulating electrode and second stimulating electrode.

7. The process as recited in claim 1, wherein;

(a) said individual pulses are delivered to said organ or nerve within a period of less than about 10 milliseconds, wherein;

1. each of said first pulse and said second and further pulses has a voltage of from about 2 to about 20 volts direct current,

2. the time between said delivery of said first pulse and said second and further pulses is at least about 1 microsecond,

(b) said individual pulses delivered to said organ or nerve at a frequency of from about 2 kilohertz to about 5 megahertz, and

(c) said individual pulses each have a duration of from about 0.1 microseconds to about 500 milliseconds.

8. The process as recited in claim 7, wherein the spacing between said individual pulses is from about 1 microsecond to about 100 microseconds.

9. The process as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical signal is delivered by a device implanted within a biological organism.