NERVE ROOT STIMULATOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATING NERVE ROOT STIMULATOR

• US 20150057720A1
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lutronic Corporation (Lutronic, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lutronic Corporation (Lutronic, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ko, Kwang Chon
• Application Number:
  US14/388,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A nerve root stimulator, according to the present invention, comprises: a body which is installed at the spinal nerve root inside the human body; an antenna, which is provided on the body, for receiving a wireless frequency that is irradiated from outside of the human body; a power generation unit for generating power by using the wireless frequency that is received by the antenna; and electrodes for electrically stimulating the spinal nerve root by using the power that is generated by the power generation unit.

Claims

1. A nerve root stimulator, comprising:

a body part installed in a spinal nerve root of a human body;

an antenna provided in the body part and receiving a radio frequency irradiated outside the human body;

a power generating unit generating power by using the radio frequency received to the antenna; and

an electrode electrically stimulating the spinal nerve root by using the power generated in the power generating unit.

2. The nerve root stimulator of claim 1, wherein the power generating unit comprises a rectifying unit rectifying the radio frequency received to the antenna to a direct current and a switching unit controlling the power provided to the electrode.

3. The nerve root stimulator of claim 1, wherein a plurality of electrodes is provided, and the power generating unit provides power having different sizes to the plurality of electrodes.

4. The nerve root stimulator claim 1, further comprising:

a demodulator demodulating a transmission signal at the radio frequency received to the antenna and a control unit controlling an operation of the power generating unit by using data transferred from the demodulator.

5. The nerve root stimulator of claim 1, wherein a plurality of antennas extended in a length direction of the body part is included.

6. A method for operating a nerve root stimulator, comprising:

receiving a radio frequency by a nerve root stimulator installed in a spinal nerve root of a human body;

generating power by using the received radio frequency; and

applying a current to an electrode of the nerve root stimulator contacting the nerve root by using the power.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of electrodes is provided, and currents having different intensities are applied to the plurality of electrodes.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a transmission signal is demodulated at the received radio frequency to control the operation of the nerve root stimulator.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the nerve root stimulator is installed at a dorsal root ganglion.

10. A method for operating a nerve root stimulator, comprising:

receiving a radio frequency by a plurality of nerve root stimulators installed at a plurality of locations in a spinal nerve root in a human body;

demodulating an identification signal from the radio frequency by the plurality of nerve root stimulators;

verifying an unique identifier from the identification signal by the plurality of nerve root stimulators;

generating power by using the received radio frequency by the nerve root stimulator identified by the unique identifier among the plurality of nerve root stimulators; and

applying a current to an electrode of the identified nerve root stimulators by using the power.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of electrodes is provided, and currents having different intensities are applied to the plurality of electrodes.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a transmission signal is demodulated at the received radio frequency to control the operation of the nerve root stimulator.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the nerve root stimulator is installed at a dorsal root ganglion.