Method and means to improve the effects of electrical cell and neuron stimulation with random stimulation in both location and time
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting the location of an electrical stimulation caused by an electrical stimulator configured to be implanted in an animal comprising:
- providing a supporting structure configured to be attached to the animal;
providing an electrode supporting structure with a proximal extremity, a distal extremity, a surface and an inner volume;
providing a plurality of pads or electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure;
providing one or more electronic controlling unit which is configured to change the state of some of the electrodes from on to off and/or from off to on at different times or to leave the state of some of the electrodes unchanged,providing electrically connecting means connecting the electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure to the one or more electronic controlling unit wherein,the one or more electronic controlling unit is configured for providing a change in the electrodes that are turned on providing electrical stimulation, in such a way that the locus of the electrical stimulation occurs at precise locations along the electrode supporting structure, as electrodes are chosen around the electrode supporting structure, as changing from PAD1 to PAD2, or even more, changing from PAD1 to PAD1 and PAD3 together, or even more, as changing from PAD1 to PAD3, etc., thereby changing the position of application of the electrical stimulation with respect to an intended target tissue of the animal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric stimulator for brain, heart, skin and internal organs in animals and plants where the electrodes are distributed on a supporting structure. The supporting structure may be adapted for brain, heart, skin or other internal organs, as for DBS, heart pacemaker, TENS, etc. The invention discloses a plurality of electrodes at the surface of the supporting structure, from which electrically stimulating currents can be injected into the organism. Turning off an electrode while turning on another electrode has the effect of moving the stimulation within the body of the organism from one point to another point, with the same effect but with less spent energy than physically moving the whole electrode support. We call this electrode shifting. Rotational and translational electrode shifting are possible. The invention also discloses random changes of the electrode shifting, and random changes of the stimulation time and of the stimulation duration.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting the location of an electrical stimulation caused by an electrical stimulator configured to be implanted in an animal comprising:
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providing a supporting structure configured to be attached to the animal; providing an electrode supporting structure with a proximal extremity, a distal extremity, a surface and an inner volume; providing a plurality of pads or electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure; providing one or more electronic controlling unit which is configured to change the state of some of the electrodes from on to off and/or from off to on at different times or to leave the state of some of the electrodes unchanged, providing electrically connecting means connecting the electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure to the one or more electronic controlling unit wherein, the one or more electronic controlling unit is configured for providing a change in the electrodes that are turned on providing electrical stimulation, in such a way that the locus of the electrical stimulation occurs at precise locations along the electrode supporting structure, as electrodes are chosen around the electrode supporting structure, as changing from PAD1 to PAD2, or even more, changing from PAD1 to PAD1 and PAD3 together, or even more, as changing from PAD1 to PAD3, etc., thereby changing the position of application of the electrical stimulation with respect to an intended target tissue of the animal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrical stimulation apparatus comprising:
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an energy storage unit; a first supporting structure configured to provide fixed attachment to an animal; an electrode supporting structure fixed on the first supporting structure, with a proximal extremity, a distal extremity, an inner volume and a surface; a plurality of electrodes located at the surface of the electrode supporting structure, in proximity to a target tissue of the animal; one or more electronics controlling unit, and devices connecting the plurality of electrodes to the one or more electronics controlling unit; whereby the one or more electronics controlling unit is capable of selecting which electrodes are stimulating at a given time, changing from electrode1 to electrode2, or even more, changing from electrode1 to electrode1 and electrode3 together, or even more, as changing from electrode1 to electrode3, whereby the plurality of electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure are turned on and/or off as time passes, causing a change in time of the locus of electrical stimulation such that it is possible to apply the electrical stimulation at a precise depth and at a precise angular orientation with respect to the target tissue, as electrodes further down are selected, and also at any particular direction, as electrodes are chosen around the electrode supporting structure, whereby the electrical stimulation on the target tissue of the animal changes its location with respect to the target tissue of the animal according to a preassigned rule. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer program product for use on a computer system for modifying the position of an electrical stimulation of a plurality of cells in an animal, the electrical stimulation provided by a plurality of stimulating electrodes at the surface of an electrode supporting structure, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code, the computer readable program code including:
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program code for selecting the digital address associated with the stimulating electrode capable of causing the electrical stimulation at a desired location, program code for changing the digital address as a function of time to select different stimulating electrodes to be the source of the electrical stimulation at a different location, whereby the progressive advancement of the stimulating electrodes causes a stimulating propagating wave with symmetry characteristic of the symmetry of the advancement of the stimulating electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification