IMPLANTABLE ELECTRICAL STIMULATOR

• US 20120035687A1
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: LU, Shey-Shi, Shih, Wen-Pin, Yang, Yao-Joe, CHIU, Hung-Wei, HO, I-Hsiu, FANG, Po-Hsiang, WANG, Chang-Lun, LEE, Yi-Chin, LIN, Chii-Wann, LIN, Mu-Lien, Chang, Chi-Heng, Tsai, Yao-Chuan, Wen, Yeong-Ray, LIN, Wei-Tso
• Application Number:
  US13/015,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035687A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an implantable electrical stimulator which includes two stimulating electrodes, a system-on-chip and an inductive coil. The system-on-chip can apply electric stimulation to the dorsal root ganglion via the stimulating electrodes. An external power supply can wirelessly charge the system-on-chip through the inductive coil.

Claims

1. An implantable electric stimulator, comprising:

two stimulating electrodes;

a system-on-chip electrically connecting the stimulating electrodes, for applying electric stimulation to a dorsal root ganglion via the stimulating electrodes; and

an inductive coil electrically connected to the system-on-chip such that an external power supply is operable to wirelessly charge the system-on-chip through the inductive coil.

2. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 1, wherein the system-on-chip comprises:

a controller for generating a stimulus signal; and

a driver electrically connected to the stimulating electrodes, for enhancing the stimulus signal such that the stimulating electrodes is operable to output the enhanced stimulus signal to the dorsal root ganglion.

3. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 2, wherein the system-on-chip further comprises:

a clock regenerator electrically connected to the inductive coil, for converting a wireless signal provided by the external power supply into a working clock for the controller such that the controller is operable to generate the stimulus signal based on the working clock.

4. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 2, wherein the system-on-chip further comprising:

a radio frequency receiver electrically connected to the controller, for receiving and demodulating a modulated signal from a radio frequency transmitter to output a demodulated signal such that the controller is operable to set the parameter of the stimulus signal based on the demodulated signal.

5. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 4, wherein the radio frequency receiver comprises:

at least one amplifier for amplifying the modulated signal;

an envelope detector for detecting the envelope line of the amplified modulated signal to output a detected signal;

a comparator for discriminating the potential of the detected signal to obtain the demodulated signal; and

a buffer for outputting the demodulated signal to the controller.

6. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 2, wherein the system-on-chip further comprising:

a rectifier electrically connected to the inductive coil, for rectifying the wireless signal provided by the external power supply into a direct current;

a voltage limiter electrically connected to the rectifier, for limiting the voltage of the direct current to a value lower than a predetermined voltage; and

a regulator electrically connected to the voltage limiter, for regulating the direct current to provide a steady voltage, and providing the steady voltage to the controller.

7. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 6, wherein the regulator is a low-dropout regulator.

8. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 2, wherein the system-on-chip further comprises:

a power-on reset circuit for resetting the controller when the external power supply is wirelessly charging the system-on-chip.

9. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises:

a pulse width modulating device for periodically outputting at least one pulse as the stimulus signal.

10. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 1, further comprising:

a bio-compatible material encapsulating the system-on-chip.

11. An implantable electric stimulator, comprising:

two stimulating electrodes adapted to electrically connect a dorsal root ganglion;

a system-on-chip for outputting electric stimulation via the stimulating electrodes; and

a receiving coil for inductively coupled to the output coil of an external power supply so that the external power supply is operable to wireless charge the system-on-chip.

12. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 11, wherein the system-on-chip comprises:

a controller;

a clock regenerator electrically connected to the receiving coil, for converting the wireless signal provided by the external power supply into a working clock for the controller;

a rectifier electrically connected to the receiving coil, for rectifying the wireless signal provided by the external power supply into a direct current;

a voltage limiter electrically connected to the rectifier, for limiting the voltage of the direct current to a value lower than a predetermined voltage;

a regulator electrically connected to the voltage limiter, for regulating the direct current to provide a steady voltage, and providing the steady voltage to the controller so that the controller generates a stimulus signal based on the working clock; and

a driver electrically connected to the stimulating electrodes, for enhancing the stimulus signal so that the stimulating electrodes output the enhanced stimulus signal to the dorsal root ganglion.

13. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 12, wherein the system-on-chip further comprising:

a power-on reset circuit for resetting the controller when the external power supply is wirelessly charging the system-on-chip.

14. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 12, wherein the regulator is a low-dropout regulator.

15. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 12, wherein the system-on-chip further comprising:

a radio frequency receiver electrically connected to the controller, for receiving and demodulating a modulated signal from a radio frequency transmitter to output a demodulated signal such that the controller is operable to set the parameter of the stimulus signal based on the demodulated signal.

16. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency receiver comprises:

at least one amplifier for amplifying the modulated signal;

an envelope detector for detecting the envelope line of the amplified modulated signal to output a detected signal;

a comparator for discriminating the potential of the detected signal to obtain the demodulated signal; and

a buffer for outputting the demodulated signal to the controller.

17. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 12, wherein the controller comprises:

a pulse width modulating device for periodically outputting at least one pulse as the stimulus signal.

18. The implantable electric stimulator of claim 11, further comprising:

a bio-compatible material encapsulating the system-on-chip.