SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF NERVES

• US 20130013026A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nstim Services GmbH
• Original Assignee: Neurodan AS
• Inventors: Hyer, Michael, Eder, Clemens Florian, Hansen, Morten
• Granted Patent: US 9,248,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 ; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/008 using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling

Abstract

A system for treatment of gait disorders reflects, with electrical stimulation patterns fed to electrodes (1, 8) arranged at the patient, on the event of heel-strike and heel-off, the events being generated by a wireless heel switch (5). The pulse generator (4) also transfers the electrical energy needed to operate the heel switch (5) wirelessly. The event signal from the heel switch (5) is modulated in order to achieve a longer operating range.

Claims

1. A system for stimulation of nerves comprising:

At least one electrode,

A pulse generator for generating a pulse pattern to be forwarded to that at least one electrode and

A trigger device,

the pulse generator being configured to receive control signals wirelessly from the trigger device,

wherein the trigger device is powered wirelessly from the pulse generator.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generator includes a transmitter that frequently sends out broadcasts and the trigger device include means for inductive loading the transmitter, the inductive load being an oscillation circuit with a resonant frequency tuned into the frequency of the broadcasted signal.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the trigger device includes means for sensing an event e.g. the heel-strike and/or heel-off event.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the means for sensing an event includes at least one tactile switch.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the oscillation circuit arranged in the trigger device is shifted between 1) an open-loop configuration, where it will not appear as a load on the transmitter and 2) a closed-loop configuration, where it will appear as a load on the transmitter, the open-loop and closed-loop configurations reflecting the triggered event of the trigger device as e.g. the state of a tactile switch, or a logical control circuit generating a pattern of pulses to form a data-stream.

6. A system according to claim 2, wherein the oscillation circuit arranged in the trigger device is configured to appear as a load on the transmitter, the load reflecting the value of a sensor as e.g. a variable capacitor, a variable resistor, a force sensitive resistor, a piezo electric element or a logical control circuit generating an analog or digital output.

7. A system according to claim 2 wherein the trigger device includes means for creating modulation products in a side band of the carrier.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the means for creating modulation products in a side band of the carrier is a logical unit that generates a pre-scaled subcarrier, the subcarrier being modulated onto the carrier.

9. A system according to claim 3, wherein the trigger device modulates the signal received from the transmitter by producing event-related changes in the reflexion coefficient.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the oscillation circuit arranged in the trigger device is configured to produce event-related changes in the reflexion coefficient, the change in the reflexion coefficient reflecting the value of a sensor as e.g. one of a switch, a variable capacitor, a variable resistor, a force sensitive resistor, a piezo electric element or a logical control circuit generating an analog or digital output.

11. A system according to claim 2, wherein the trigger device includes a logical unit that collects and converts the sensed events or measurements into a data stream, to be forwarded to the reader.

12. A system according to claim 3, wherein at least one trigger device is arranged on or in a compound made of one or more layers of flexible material as e.g. plastic foil.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the compound is supplied with an adhesive on at least one surface or part of a surface.

14. A system according to claim 3, wherein the trigger device is adapted to be embedded in or arranged with one of the following:

A plaster,

A strap,

A wrist band,

A watch,

A sports or medical device,

A piece of jewelry,

A bracelet or necklace,

A pair of glasses,

One or more dental teeth,

A substrate adapted to be fixed towards the palate,

A block of flexible material such as silicone,

A block of electrical isolating material such as silicone, or

A block of water proof material such as silicone.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the trigger device is adapted to be implanted in the human or animal body.

16-20. -20. (canceled)