Time shared stimulator

• US 3,888,261 A
• Filed: 12/07/1973
• Issued: 06/10/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald D. Maurer
• Original Assignee: Donald D. Maurer
• Inventors: Maurer, Donald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/422,896
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419C,419E,419G,419P,419R,420,421,422,423 307/115 328/39 340/183,184,188CH,248D 343/723,856,858
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

A time shared stimulator which employs a single pulse generator to provide non-simultaneous independently controllable multiple outputs. A train of pulses in which the power level of successive pulses may be controlled is produced from the pulse generator output. Switching circuitry connects the pulse train to a series of output electrodes. A trigger signal, which is generated on the trailing edge of each pulse generator pulse, is applied to the switching circuitry to route successive pulses in the pulse train to different ones of the pulse output electrodes.

Claims

1. A device for electrically stimulating living tissue which comprises:

n output means adapted for connection to said tissue, n being any integer greater than 1;

means for producing a train of periodic pulses composed of n constituent pulse series, said pulse train producing means including means for independently regulating the power level of the pulses in each constituent pulse series; and

means connected between said n output means and said pulse train producing means for routing the pulses of each constituent pulse series to a different one of said n output means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said routing means comprises:

means for producing a signal upon one edge of each pulse in said pulse train; and

means connected to said signal producing means and connecting said pulse train producing means to each of said output means for routing consecutive pulses in said pulse train to different output means in response to the signal from said signal producing means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said signal producing means includes means for producing n discriminable signals, said routing means including means for discriminating between said discriminable signals to route each pulse in a constituent pulse series to the same output means while routing the pulses of different constituent pulse series to different output means.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said power level regulating means comprises means for regulating the amplitude of the pulses.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein n equals 2 and said one edge is the trailing edge.

6. A time shared stimulator which comprises:

n output means adapted for connection to a living animal body, n being any interger greater than 1;

pulse generator means;

means operatively connected to said pulse generator means for transfoming the pulses generated by said pulse generator means into a train of periodic pulses composed of n constituent pulse series, said pulse transforming means including means for independently regulating the power level of the pulses in each constituent pulse series;

means connected to said pulse generator means for producing a signal upon one edge of each pulse generated by said pulse generator means; and

means operatively connected to said pulse transforming means and responsive to said signal producing means for routing consecutive pulses in said pulse train to different output means.

7. The time shared stimulator of claim 6 wherein said signal producing means includes means for producing n discriminable signals, said routing means including means for discriminating between said discriminable signals to route each pulse in a constituent pulse series to the same output means while routing the pulses of different constituent pulse series to different output means.

8. The time shared stimulator of claim 6 wherein said power level regulating means comprises means for regulating the amplitude of the pulses.

9. The time shared stimulator of claim 8 wherein n equals 2 and said one edge is the trailing edge.

10. The time shared stimulator of claim 9 wherein the pulses of said constituent pulse series alternate with each other, said signal producing means including means for producing alternating discriminable pulses and said routing means including means for discriminating between said discriminable pulses to route the pulses of each constituent pulse series to a different one of said output means.

11. A time shared stimulator which comprises:

pulse generator means;

first means connected to receive the pulses from said pulse generator means for controlling the power level of said pulses;

second means connected to receive the pulses from said pulse generator for controlling the power level of said pulses independently of said first means;

means operatively connected to said first and second means for producing a train of pulses in which pulses from said first means alternate with pulses from said second means;

first and second output means adapted for connection to a living animal body; and

means connected between said pulse train producing means and said output means for alternately routing pulses in said pulse train between said first and second output means.

12. The time shared stimulator of claim 11 wherein said first and second power level controlling means comprise means for controlling pulse amplitude.

13. Time shared stimulator of claim 12 wherein said routing means comprises:

means for producing a signal upon one edge of each pulse in said pulse train;

means connected to said signal producing means and connecting said pulse train producing means to each of said output means for routing alternate pulses in said pulse train between said first and second output means in response to the signals from said signal producing means

14. The time shared stimulator of claim 13 wherein said one edge is the trailing edge.

15. The time shared stimulator of claim 13 wherein said signal producing means includes means for producing alternating discriminable pulses, said routing means includiing means discriminating between said discriminable pulses for routing pulses controlled by said first power level controlling means to said first output means and pulses controlled by said second power level controlling means to said second output means.

16. A time shared stimulator which comprises:

pulse generator means;

first means connected to receive the pulses from said pulse generator means for controlling the power level of said pulses;

second means connected to receive the pulses from said pulse generator for controlling the power level of said pulses independently of said first means;

means connected to said first and second means for generating a train of pulses in which pulses from said first means alternate with pulses from said second means;

means for transmitting a signal representative of said pulse train;

means for receiving said pulse train signals;

first and second output means adapted for connection to a living animal body;

means connected to said pulse train signal receiving means and said output means for switching said received pulse train signals between said output means;

means connected to said pulse generating means for generating a pulse upon one edge of each pulse from said pulse generator means;

means for transmitting a signal representative of said edge pulse;

means for receiving said edge pulse signal; and

means connected to said switching means and said edge pulse signal receiving means for causing said switching means to route alternate pulses in said received pulse train signal between said first and second output means in response to said received edge pulse signal.

17. The time shared stimulator of claim 16 wherein said edge pulse generating means includes means for generating alternating discriminable pulses, said switching causing means including means for discriminating between the discriminable edge pulse signals to cause said switching means to route pulse train signals representative of the pulses from said first power level controlling means to said first output means and signals representative of the pulses from said second power level controlling means to said second output means

18. The time shared stimulator of claim 17 wherein said first and second power level controlling means comprise means for controlling pulse amplitude.

19. The time shared stimulator of claim 16 wherein said edge is a trailing edge.

20. The time shared stimulator of claim 19 wherein said means for generating an edge pulse comprises a monostable multivibrator which is triggered into its quasi-stable state upon the trailing edge of each pulse from said pulse generator means.

21. The time shared stimulator of claim 20 wherein said multivibrator comprises means responsive to said pulse generator means for producing alternating descriminable pulses, said switching causing means including means discriminating between said discriminable signals for causing said switching means to route pulse train signals reepresentative of the pulses from said first power level controlling means to said first output means and signals representative of the pulses from said second power level controlling means to said second output means.

22. In an electronic system for the stimulation of a biological system in a living body of the type having a transmitter for generating transmitted pulses of radio frequency energy through a transmission antenna and having a body implantable receiver for receiving by means of a receiving antenna the transmitted pulses, for transforming the radio frequency energy to stimulation energy, and for applying the transformed pulses to stimulation electrodes attached to the body, the improvement which comprises:

said trasMitter comprises pulse generating circuit means for producing at least first and second alternating pulse series signals, means responsive to each pulse in the first and second pulse series signals for producing a routing signal, means for modulating the first and second pulse series signals with a first carrier frequency signal, means for modulating the routingg signal with a second carrier frequency signal, and output circuit means for combining the first and second modulated pulse series signals and the modulated routing signal and applying the combined modulated signals to the transmitting antenna; and

said receiver comprises first and second stimulation electrodes adapted to be attached to the body, and demodulating receiver circuit means responsive to the routing signal for separately applying the first and second pulse series to the first and second stimulation electrodes, respectively, to effect the concurrent reaction and treatment of discrete body tissue.