Electro-medical stimulator system

• US 3,920,025 A
• Filed: 07/15/1974
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry G. Friedman, Peter Stasz
• Original Assignee: Harry G. Friedman, Peter Stasz
• Inventors: Stasz, Peter, Friedman, Harry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/488,266
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419C,419E,419P,419PG,419PS,421,422,423,2.5R,2.6R,2.1R
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

A body stimulation system including a remote low frequency transmitter, a low frequency receiver, a power transmitter controlled by the low frequency receiver, and an implantable stimulator device with means for receiving signals from the power transmitter. The power signal is synchronized to the low frequency transmitter, and interference protection circuitry is included in the system. Special circuitry is also provided to decrease the effect of the spacial relationships between the power antenna and the implanted receiver.

Claims

1. A body stimulation system comprising:

first means adapted to be implanted in a body and including receiver means for receiving externally transmitted signals of radio frequency energy and means adapted to connect the receiver means to a portion of the body;

second means adapted to be mounted external to the body for establishing an electromagnetic connection with said receiver means and including controlled radio frequency energy transmitter means for transmitting signals of radio frequency energy to the receiver means;

third means for controlling The transmission of radio frequency energy from the second means, and including low frequency electromagnetic receiver means;

fourth means including remote low frequency electromagnetic energy transmitter means for transmitting energy waves at a frequency in the range of approximately 2 kilohertz to 10 kilohertz, and including switch means connected to the low frequency transmitter means for controlling the operation thereof; and

synchronizer means connected to the third means for turning the controlled radio frequency energy transmitter means on and off substantially coincident with a switching of the low frequency transmitter means between on and off states.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the third means includes:

protection circuit means connected between the low frequency receiver means and the second means and including frequency detection means, pulse height detection means and pulse width detection means, for blocking interference energy signals from effecting the second means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which:

the third means is potted in a substance resistant to vibration for minimizing magneto-strictive reaction in the third means due to mechanical forces striking the third means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including:

cycler means for providing selectable series of control pulses to the second means for actuating the controlled transmitter means, said apparatus further including means for selectively connecting one of said cycler means and said third means to said second means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the switch means includes:

means for selectively providing a signal to actuate the low frequency transmitter means; and

electrical time constant means connected to the switch means and the low frequency transmitter means for deactuating the low frequency transmitter means after the switch means signal has ended for a predetermined period of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second means includes:

output voltage control means connected to the controlled transmitter means, and including means manually adjustable for setting a maximum voltage output level, means manually adjustable for setting a minimum voltage output level and means manually adjustable for selecting an output voltage between the maximum and minimum set levels.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second means includes means for detuning the electromagnetic connection between the controlled energy transmitter means and the receiver means, to allow for less critical placement of the controlled energy transmitter means with respect to the receiver means.