NERVE STIMULATION SYSTEM WITH PROGRAMMED PULSE CHARGE ATTENUATION
First Claim
1. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve, the system comprising a controller, a pulse generator and an operator interface, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the pulse generator generating a pulse output waveform, the waveform comprising pulses each pulse having a pulse charge, each pulse charge comprising a function of variable parameters, the variable parameters comprising pulse current amplitude and pulse width, the operator input being engagable to incrementally vary one of the parameters, the controller being programmed to vary the other parameter as a function of the incremental value of the one parameter.
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Abstract
A processor implemented nerve stimulation system for regional anesthesia administration varies pulse width as a programmed function of applied current or varies applied current as a function of adjusted pulse width. The system also provides a waveform of repeating cycles of different pulse width components separated within the waveform frequency and which may be simultaneously attenuated as a function of applied current within an attenuation range. Among possible functional relationships between pulse width and applied current within an attenuation range is the exponential reduction of pulse width as a function of applied current.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve, the system comprising a controller, a pulse generator and an operator interface, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the pulse generator generating a pulse output waveform, the waveform comprising pulses each pulse having a pulse charge, each pulse charge comprising a function of variable parameters, the variable parameters comprising pulse current amplitude and pulse width, the operator input being engagable to incrementally vary one of the parameters, the controller being programmed to vary the other parameter as a function of the incremental value of the one parameter.
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8. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve, the stimulation system comprising a controller, a pulse generator and an operator interface, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the pulse generator generating a pulse output waveform, the waveform comprising repeating cycles of three different pulse width components separated by ⅓
- of the waveform frequency, at the same pulse current amplitude, the operator interface being engageable to simultaneously vary the pulse current amplitude of each pulse width component.
- View Dependent Claims (9)
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14. A method of programming a controller of nerve stimulation system having a pulse generator which generates a pulse waveform output and an operator interface, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) operatively connecting an administration needle to the pulse generator, b) introducing the administration needle into a subject at a location anatomically positioned for locating a target nerve, c) linearly advancing the administration needle toward the target nerve while incrementally reducing the pulse current amplitude in a linear manner to elicit stimulation of the target nerve, d) reducing the pulse width when necessary to maintain stimulation while simultaneously maintaining the linear relationship between administration needle penetration and pulse current amplitude, e) observing and noting correlated values of pulse current amplitude and pulse width necessary to maintain stimulation of the target nerve, and f) programming the controller with a transfer function of pulse current amplitude versus pulse width which correlates to the plotted values.
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Specification