METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling electrical stimulation used for stimulating nerve fibers, comprising:
- an electrode array including a plurality of electrodes each of which is separately powered and controlled by an independent power source; and
an electrode controller for receiving input control signals and driving an electrode set in the electrode array so as to generate a composite stimulation signal in the electrode set;
wherein the electrode set comprises a plurality of electrodes, of which two adjacent electrodes are of a first power polarity for controlling a location of the composite stimulation signal, and one or more other electrodes are of a second power polarity which is inverse with respect to the first power polarity, so as to balance a total power polarity of the electrode set and focus on a stimulation region of the composite stimulation signal which is generated between the two adjacent electrodes.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling an electrical stimulation system to increase the resolution of the stimulation region with multiple independent power source electrodes is proposed. In the apparatus, the electrode set contains at least three electrodes of which two adjacent electrodes are of the same power polarity to control the location of the composite stimulation signal and the others are of an inverse power polarity to balance the total power polarity and narrow the stimulation region. The method for the apparatus comprises steps of: receiving a target stimulation location and level, generating at least one parameter to adjust power settings of the electrodes, thereby obtaining a composite stimulation signal corresponding to a virtual channel of which a location and level match the target stimulation location and level.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling electrical stimulation used for stimulating nerve fibers, comprising:
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an electrode array including a plurality of electrodes each of which is separately powered and controlled by an independent power source; and an electrode controller for receiving input control signals and driving an electrode set in the electrode array so as to generate a composite stimulation signal in the electrode set; wherein the electrode set comprises a plurality of electrodes, of which two adjacent electrodes are of a first power polarity for controlling a location of the composite stimulation signal, and one or more other electrodes are of a second power polarity which is inverse with respect to the first power polarity, so as to balance a total power polarity of the electrode set and focus on a stimulation region of the composite stimulation signal which is generated between the two adjacent electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling electrical stimulation with a plurality of electrodes for stimulating nerve fibers, the method comprising:
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receiving a target stimulation location and level; and generating at least one parameter for adjusting power settings of an electrode set to be driven in an electrode array, so as to obtain a composite stimulation signal corresponding to a virtual channel of which a location and level match the target stimulation location and level; wherein the electrode set includes a plurality of electrodes, in which two adjacent electrodes are of a first power polarity for controlling the location of the composite stimulation signal, while one or more other electrodes are of a second power polarity which is inverse with respect to the first power polarity, so as to balance the total power polarity of the electrode set and focus on a stimulation region of the composite stimulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for controlling electrical stimulation used for stimulating nerve fibers, comprising:
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an electrode array including a plurality of electrodes, each of which is separately powered and controlled by an independent power source; and an electrode controller for receiving input control signals and driving an electrode set in the electrode array so as to generate an composite stimulation signal in the electrode set; wherein the electrode set comprises a plurality of electrodes, of which at least one electrode is of a first power polarity and other electrodes are of a second power polarity which is inverse with respect to the first power polarity, so as to balance a total power polarity of the electrode set and focus on a stimulation region of the composite stimulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for controlling electrical stimulation with a plurality of electrodes for stimulating nerve fibers, the method comprising:
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receiving a target stimulation location and level; and generating at least one parameter for adjusting power setting of a electrode set to be driven in an electrode array, so as to obtain a composite stimulation signal corresponding to a virtual channel of which a location and level match the target stimulation location and level; wherein the electrode set includes a plurality of electrodes, in which at least one electrode is of a first power polarity and other electrodes are of a second power polarity which is inverse with respect to the first power polarity, so as to balance a total power polarity of the electrode set and concentrate stimulation region of the composite stimulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification