Microwave Field Stimulator

• US 20140336727A1
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curonix Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Micron Devices LLC
• Inventors: Perryman, Laura Tyler, Larson, Patrick, Andresen, Chad
• Granted Patent: US 10,315,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique

Abstract

A system includes a controller module, which includes a storage device, a controller, a modulator, and one or more antennas. The storage device is stored with parameters defining a stimulation waveform. The controller is configured to generate, based on the stored parameters, an output signal that includes the stimulation waveform, wherein the output signal additionally includes polarity assignments for electrodes in an implantable, passive stimulation device. The modulator modulates a stimulus carrier signal with the output signal to generate a transmission signal. The one or more antennas transmit the transmission signal to the implantable, passive stimulation device such that the implantable, passive stimulation device uses energy in the transmission signal for operation, sets the polarities for the electrodes in the implantable, passive stimulation device based on the encoded polarity assignments, generates electrical pulses using the stimulation waveform, and applies the electrical pulses to excitable tissue.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a controller module comprising;

a storage device configured to store parameters defining a stimulation waveform and polarity assignments for electrodes in an implantable passive stimulation device that includes a power-on reset circuit, control logic, stimulation circuitry, and stimulation electrodes;

a controller configured to generate, based on the stored parameters and polarity assignments, an output signal that includes an initial power-on portion followed by a configuration portion that encodes the polarity assignments followed by a stimulation portion that includes the stimulation waveform;

a modulator configured to modulate a stimulus carrier signal with the output signal to generate a transmission signal;

one or more antennas configured to transmit the transmission signal to the implantable passive stimulation device such that the power-on reset circuit uses energy in the power-on portion to generate a power-on reset signal that resets the control logic, the control logic reads the polarity assignment information encoded in the configuration portion and sets the polarities for the electrodes, and the stimulation circuitry generates electrical pulses using the stimulation waveform and applies the electrical pulses to excitable tissue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller module is configured to read a telemetry feedback signal from the implantable passive stimulation device, the telemetry signal generated by:

sensing a first electrical parameter and a second electrical parameter concurrently; and

comparing the first electrical parameter and the second electrical parameter to generate an analog feedback carrier frequency signal with a feedback carrier frequency that is proportional to a difference between the first electrical parameter and the second electrical parameter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first electrical parameter is a voltage over a reference resistor placed in serial connection with the electrode, and the second electrical parameter is a voltage over the electrode.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the wherein the feedback carrier frequency is proportional to a difference between a voltage over the reference resistor and a voltage over the electrode.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first electrical parameter is a voltage over a reference resistor placed in serial connection with the electrode, and the second electrical parameter is a voltage over a calibration resister placed in parallel connection with the electrode.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the feedback carrier frequency is proportional to a difference between a voltage over the reference resistor and the voltage over the calibration resistor.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the first electrical parameter correspond to a fixed voltage and the second electrical parameter is a voltage over one of:

a calibration resistor, a reference resistor, an electrode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power-on signal causes a handshake signal to be transmitted from implantable, passive stimulator to the controller module, the handshake signal confirms to the controller module that the implantable, passive stimulator is ready to receive polarity setting information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a handshake signal is received from the implantable, passive stimulator when the polarities for the electrodes are set according to the polarity assignment information encoded in the configuration portion, the handshake signal confirms to the controller module that the implantable, passive stimulator is ready to receive the stimulation portion of the transmission signal.