ONSET-MITIGATING HIGH-FREQUENCY NERVE BLOCK
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of blocking signal transmission through a nerve with reduced onset activity includes applying an HFAC to an axon of a nerve to block the transmission of signals through the axon. The method may also include applying a direct current (DC) to the axon, increasing the amplitude of the DC over time to a predetermined amplitude, applying the HFAC, and then decreasing the DC. The method may also include temporarily reducing the amplitude of the HFAC to permit the transmission of signals through the axon and subsequently increasing the amplitude to block transmission without triggering an onset response. The method may also include temporarily applying an unbalanced charge to the nerve and then balancing the charge over time.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1-38. -38. (canceled)
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39. A method, comprising:
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providing one or more transition waveforms to a nerve to manage an onset activity in the nerve; and providing at least one steady-state waveform to block nerve signal transmission in the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An apparatus, comprising:
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an electrode; a waveform generator connected to the electrode; and a controller configured to; first control the waveform generator to generate a DC ramp and to apply the DC ramp to a nerve through the electrode; then control the waveform generator to generate a first alternating waveform and to apply the first alternating waveform to the nerve through the electrode, where the first alternating waveform has an increasing amplitude, and where the first alternating waveform has one of, a cathodic offset, and an anodic offset; then control the waveform generator to generate a second alternating waveform and to apply the second alternating waveform to the nerve through the electrode, where the second alternating waveform has one of, a cathodic offset that ramps to zero, and an anodic offset that ramps to zero; then control the waveform generator to generate a steady state, HFAC waveform and to apply the steady state HFAC waveform to the nerve through the electrode.
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48. An apparatus, comprising:
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an electrode; a waveform generator connected to the electrode; and a controller configured to; control the waveform generator to first apply a first high frequency alternating current (HFAC) to a nerve through the electrode, the first HFAC having a first amplitude and a first frequency, the combination of the first amplitude and the first frequency being configured to produce a conduction block in the nerve, where the conduction block blocks transmission of signals through the nerve; control the waveform generator to then apply a second HFAC to the nerve, the second HFAC having a second amplitude and a second frequency, the combination of the second amplitude and the second frequency being configured to not produce a nerve conduction block in the nerve, the combination of the second amplitude and the second frequency being configured to prevent the occurrence of an onset condition in the nerve upon the application of a third HFAC sufficient to produce a conduction block in the nerve; and control the waveform generator to then apply the third HFAC to the nerve, the third HFAC having a third amplitude and a third frequency, the combination of the third amplitude and the third frequency being configured to produce a conduction block in the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An apparatus, comprising:
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an electrode; a waveform generator connected to the electrode; and a controller configured to; control the waveform generator to first apply a direct current (DC) to an axon of a nerve, the DC having a first DC amplitude, the DC having the first amplitude not being sufficient to produce a nerve block in the axon; then control the waveform generator to alter the DC over a first period of time by changing the first DC amplitude to a second DC amplitude, the DC having the second DC amplitude being sufficient to produce a conduction block in the nerve; then control the waveform generator to apply a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) to the nerve, the HFAC having an HFAC amplitude and an HFAC frequency, the HFAC being configured to produce a conduction block in the nerve; and then control the waveform generator to alter the DC over a second period of time by changing the second DC amplitude to a third DC amplitude, the DC having the third DC amplitude not being sufficient to produce a conduction block in the nerve; where the combination of the DC and the HFAC and the order in which the DC and the HFAC are applied reduce an onset activity in the nerve associated with producing a conduction nerve block when compared to the onset activity in the nerve if only the HFAC was applied. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification