TECHNIQUE FOR ADJUSTING THE LOCUS OF EXCITATION OF ELECTRICALLY EXCITABLE TISSUE WITH PAIRED PULSES
First Claim
1. An apparatus including at least two electrodes for inducing action potentials at an adjustable locus of electrically excitable tissue of an organism, comprising in combination:
- a first electrode selected from the at least two electrodes, the first electrode capable of being driven with a first pulse, the first pulse having a pulse parameter to generate a first action potential area and a first subthreshold potential area;
a second electrode selected from the at least two electrodes, the second electrode capable of being driven with a second pulse, the second pulse having a pulse parameter to generate a second action potential area and a second subthreshold potential area; and
a generator configured to provide the first and second pulses to the first and second electrodes to create a steerable electric field, the generator providing substantially non-simultaneous pulses to the first and second electrodes and wherein the superposition of the first subthreshold potential area with the second subthreshold potential area results in a deep tissue suprathreshold potential area of the adjustable locus wherein a third action potential is induced.
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Abstract
The locus of electrically excitable tissue where action potentials are induced can be controlled using the physiological principle of electrotonus. Substantially non-simultaneous first and second pulses are applied to first and second electrodes, respectively, to generate both first and second action potentials and first and second subthreshold potential areas, within the tissue. The locus within the tissue where additional action potentials are induced may be determined by a superposition of the first and second subthreshold areas according to the physiological principle of electrotonus. Superposition of the first and second subthreshold areas provides deep tissue suprathreshold potential areas of adjustable locus wherein additional action potentials are induced.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus including at least two electrodes for inducing action potentials at an adjustable locus of electrically excitable tissue of an organism, comprising in combination:
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a first electrode selected from the at least two electrodes, the first electrode capable of being driven with a first pulse, the first pulse having a pulse parameter to generate a first action potential area and a first subthreshold potential area;
a second electrode selected from the at least two electrodes, the second electrode capable of being driven with a second pulse, the second pulse having a pulse parameter to generate a second action potential area and a second subthreshold potential area; and
a generator configured to provide the first and second pulses to the first and second electrodes to create a steerable electric field, the generator providing substantially non-simultaneous pulses to the first and second electrodes and wherein the superposition of the first subthreshold potential area with the second subthreshold potential area results in a deep tissue suprathreshold potential area of the adjustable locus wherein a third action potential is induced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of inducing action potentials at an adjustable locus of electrically excitable tissue within an organism with a generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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delivering a first pulse of electrical stimulation to the tissue using a first set of at least one cathode within an array of electrodes implanted near the tissue to generate a first action potential area and a first subthreshold potential area in the tissue with respect to a return electrode disposed within the organism;
delivering a second pulse of electrical stimulation to the tissue using a second set of at least one cathode within the array to generate a second action potential area and a second subthreshold potential area in the tissue with respect to the return electrode;
the second pulse substantially non-simultaneous with the first pulse;
adjusting a first pulse parameter of the first pulse to cause a corresponding adjustment of the first subthreshold potential area; and
adjusting a second pulse parameter of a second pulse to cause a corresponding adjustment of the second subthreshold potential area; and
wherein a deep tissue suprathreshold potential area results from a superposition of the first substhreshold potential area and second subthreshold potential area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of inducing an action potential at an adjustable locus of electrically excitable tissue within an organism using a two-dimensional array of electrodes comprising the steps of:
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implanting the two-dimensional array of electrodes near the tissue;
selecting at least two electrodes from the two-dimensional array of electrodes;
for each of the at least two selected electrodes, delivering a substantially non- simultaneous corresponding pulse of electrical stimulation to the tissue to generate an action potential area and a subthreshold potential area in the tissue with respect to a return electrode disposed within the organism, the corresponding pulse having a corresponding pulse parameter;
adjusting the corresponding pulse parameter for at least one of the selected electrodes to cause an adjustment of the corresponding subthreshold potential area, and wherein a deep tissue suprathreshold potential area is induced from a superposition of the two subthreshold potential areas. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of inducing action potentials at an adjustable locus of electrically excitable tissue within an organism with a generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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delivering a first pulse of electrical stimulation to the tissue using a first set of at least one cathode within an array of electrodes implanted near the tissue to generate a first action potential area and a first subthreshold potential area in the tissue with respect to a return electrode disposed within the organism;
delivering a second pulse of electrical stimulation to the tissue using a second set of at least one cathode within the array to generate a second subthreshold potential area in the tissue with respect to the return electrode;
the second pulse substantially non-simultaneous with the first pulse;
adjusting a first pulse parameter of the first pulse to cause a corresponding adjustment of the first subthreshold potential area; and
adjusting a second pulse parameter of a second pulse to cause a corresponding adjustment of the second subthreshold potential area; and
wherein a deep tissue suprathreshold potential area results from a superposition of the first substhreshold potential area and second subthreshold potential area. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification