Neural Stimulator System
First Claim
1. An implantable neural stimulator comprising:
- one or more electrodes configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to neural tissue;
a first antenna, wherein the first antenna is a dipole antenna and is configured to;
receive, from a second antenna through electrical radiative coupling, an input signal containing electrical energy, the second antenna being physically separate from the implantable neural stimulator; and
transmit, to the second antenna through electrical radiative coupling, one or more feedback signals;
one or more circuits connected to the dipole antenna and configured to;
create one or more electrical pulses suitable for stimulation of neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal;
supply the one or more electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes such that the one or more electrodes apply the one or more electrical pulses to neural tissue;
generate a stimulus feedback signal, the stimulus feedback signal indicating one or more parameters of the one or more electrical pulses applied to the neural tissue by the one or more electrodes; and
send the stimulus feedback signal to the dipole antenna such that the dipole antenna transmits the stimulus feedback signal to the second antenna through electrical radiative coupling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable neural stimulator includes one or more electrodes, a dipole antenna, and one or more circuits and does not include an internal power source. The one or more electrodes are configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to neural tissue. The dipole antenna is configured to receive an input signal containing electrical energy utilizing electrical radiative coupling (for example, in the frequency range form 300 MHz to 8 GHz). The one or more circuits are configured to create one or more electrical pulses using the electrical energy contained in the input signal; supply the electrical pulses to the electrodes such the electrical pulses are applied to neural tissue; generate a stimulus feedback signal; and send the feedback to the dipole antenna to transmit to the second antenna through electrical radiative coupling.
141 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An implantable neural stimulator comprising:
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one or more electrodes configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to neural tissue; a first antenna, wherein the first antenna is a dipole antenna and is configured to; receive, from a second antenna through electrical radiative coupling, an input signal containing electrical energy, the second antenna being physically separate from the implantable neural stimulator; and transmit, to the second antenna through electrical radiative coupling, one or more feedback signals; one or more circuits connected to the dipole antenna and configured to; create one or more electrical pulses suitable for stimulation of neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal; supply the one or more electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes such that the one or more electrodes apply the one or more electrical pulses to neural tissue; generate a stimulus feedback signal, the stimulus feedback signal indicating one or more parameters of the one or more electrical pulses applied to the neural tissue by the one or more electrodes; and send the stimulus feedback signal to the dipole antenna such that the dipole antenna transmits the stimulus feedback signal to the second antenna through electrical radiative coupling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 33)
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16. A system comprising:
a controller module comprising; a first antenna configured to; send an input signal containing electrical energy to a second antenna through electrical radiative coupling, the second antenna being a dipole antenna and being located in an implantable neural stimulator that is configured to create one or more electrical pulses suitable for stimulation of neural tissue using the input signal, wherein the implantable neural stimulator is separate from the controller module, and receive one or more signals from the dipole antenna; one or more circuits configured to; generate the input signal and send the input signal to the first antenna; extract a stimulus feedback signal from one or more signals received by the first antenna, the stimulus feedback signal being sent by the implantable neural stimulator and indicating one or more parameters of the one or more electrical pulses; and adjust parameters of the input signal based on the stimulus feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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34. A method comprising
implanting a neural stimulator within a patient'"'"'s body such that one or more electrodes of the neural stimulator are positioned to apply electrical pulses to neural tissue, the neural stimulator including a first antenna configured to receive an input signal containing electrical energy, wherein the first antenna is a dipole antenna and the neural stimulator is configured to: -
create one or more electrical pulses suitable for stimulation of the neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal; supply the one or more electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes such that the one or more electrodes apply the one or more electrical pulses to the neural tissue; generate a stimulus feedback signal, the stimulus feedback signal indicating one or more parameters of the one or more electrical pulses applied to the neural tissue by the one or more electrodes; and transmit the stimulus feedback signal from the dipole antenna to a second antenna through electrical radiative coupling; positioning a controller module in proximity to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the controller module is connected to the second antenna; and operating the controller module such that the controller module; generates the input signal and sends the input signal to the second antenna such that second antenna transmits the input signal to the dipole antenna within the implanted neutral stimulator through electrical radiative coupling; extracts the stimulus feedback signal from one or more signals received by the second antenna; and adjusts parameters of the input signal based on the stimulus feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification