Array Stimulator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for applying electrical pulses to a patient, the apparatus being either implantable in the patient or applicable transcutaneously to the patent, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged in an array, the electrodes forming a plurality of electrode pairs wherein each pair comprises an anode and a cathode which are made up of one or more electrodes from the array electrically connected in parallel, and a signal generator for generating signals to said electrodes so as to form said electrical pulses, the signal generator being arranged to generate said signals such that the signals are either sequentially transmitted to successive electrode pairs in a cycle so the respective electrode pairs receive the corresponding signals at different times, or alternatively so that the signals are received by the electrode pairs such that they do not all start and end at the same point in time, wherein said electrical pulses form by addition a composite pulse which has a duration between 4 μ
- s and 1500 μ
s and a maximum voltage between 2v and 50v when said apparatus is implantable and 15v to 500v when said apparatus is applicable transcutaneously.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An array stimulator has a plurality of electrodes in an array (22), the electrodes forming a plurality of electrode pairs, and a signal generator (18) for generating signals to the electrodes so as to generate electrical pulse in a patient to which the stimulator has been applied either transcutaneously or by implantation. Those electrical pulses form a composite pulse in the patient which stimulates the nervous system of the patient. The composite pulse has a duration between 4 μs and 1500 μs and a maximum voltage between 2V and 50V when the stimulator is implanted, and 15V to 500V when applied transcutaneously. The electrical pulses themselves are significantly shorter duration than the composite pulse, so they stimulate the nervous system of the patient much less than the composite pulse or not at all.
137 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying electrical pulses to a patient, the apparatus being either implantable in the patient or applicable transcutaneously to the patent, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged in an array, the electrodes forming a plurality of electrode pairs wherein each pair comprises an anode and a cathode which are made up of one or more electrodes from the array electrically connected in parallel, and a signal generator for generating signals to said electrodes so as to form said electrical pulses, the signal generator being arranged to generate said signals such that the signals are either sequentially transmitted to successive electrode pairs in a cycle so the respective electrode pairs receive the corresponding signals at different times, or alternatively so that the signals are received by the electrode pairs such that they do not all start and end at the same point in time, wherein said electrical pulses form by addition a composite pulse which has a duration between 4 μ
- s and 1500 μ
s and a maximum voltage between 2v and 50v when said apparatus is implantable and 15v to 500v when said apparatus is applicable transcutaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- s and 1500 μ
Specification