Bi-phasic current stimulation system
First Claim
1. A bi-phasic pulse generator for producing pulses to stimulate living tissue comprising:
- first and second voltage terminals having voltages of different magnitudes;
first and second conducting paths connected in parallel between said first and second voltage terminals, each of said first and second conducting paths including first and second switches connected in series, with said first switch being connected electrically closer to said first voltage terminal than said second switch and the intersections of said first and second switches in each of said paths defining output electrodes across which pulse-generator output bi-phasic pulses are produced;
interconnecting means for connecting said first switch of said first conducting path with said second switch of said second conducting path and said first switch of said second conducting path with said second switch of said first conducting path to respectively close and open said second switches in response to said first switches of opposite paths being opened and closed; and
, a driving means for alternately driving one of said first switches open and the other closed for a first predetermined time period, and vice versa for a second predetermined time period.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for producing current-controlled bi-phasic pulses to stimulate living tissue includes two conducting paths connected in parallel between high and low voltage terminals, with each of the conducting paths having first and second switches connected in series therein. The intersections of the respective first and second switches in each of the paths define output terminals across which bi-phasic pulses are produced. These output terminals include electrode members for electrically attaching them to living tissues. Interconnecting circuits connect the first switch of each of the conducting paths with the second switch of the other conducting path to respectively open and close the second switches in response to the first switches of opposite paths being opened and closed. A digital programmer alternately drives one of the first switches open and the other closed. Current controlling valves are connected in the paths between the low voltage terminal and the output terminals to selectively control current flow through the electrodes.
89 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A bi-phasic pulse generator for producing pulses to stimulate living tissue comprising:
- first and second voltage terminals having voltages of different magnitudes;
first and second conducting paths connected in parallel between said first and second voltage terminals, each of said first and second conducting paths including first and second switches connected in series, with said first switch being connected electrically closer to said first voltage terminal than said second switch and the intersections of said first and second switches in each of said paths defining output electrodes across which pulse-generator output bi-phasic pulses are produced;
interconnecting means for connecting said first switch of said first conducting path with said second switch of said second conducting path and said first switch of said second conducting path with said second switch of said first conducting path to respectively close and open said second switches in response to said first switches of opposite paths being opened and closed; and
, a driving means for alternately driving one of said first switches open and the other closed for a first predetermined time period, and vice versa for a second predetermined time period.
- first and second voltage terminals having voltages of different magnitudes;
-
2. A bi-phasic pulse generator as in claim 1 wherein is further included current-control, valve means connected in each of said paths between said first voltage terminal and said output electrodes to thereby control the flow of current through said electrodes.
-
3. A bi-phasic pulse generator as in claim 2, wherein said switches and control means comprise transistors.
-
4. A bi-phasic pulse generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises a programming circuit means for alternately driving said first switches in a programmed sequence.
-
5. A bi-phasic pulse generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output electrodes include means for electrically attaching said electrodes to living tissue.
-
6. A bi-phasic pulse generator for producing pulses to stimulate living tissue comprising:
- first and second voltage terminals having different voltage potentials thereon;
first and second output electrodes adapted to be attached to living tissue;
a control circuit means connected between each of said first and second voltage terminals and to each of said output electrodes for alternately connecting said first voltage terminal to said first electrode and said second voltage terminal to said second electrode and said first voltage terminal to said second electrode and said second voltage terminal to said first electrode, said control circuit means connected between said first voltage terminal and each of said electrodes including electronic valve means for selectively controlling the magnitude of current flow between said first voltage terminal and both of said first and second electrodes; and
a control means attached to said electronic valve means for selectively adjusting the flow of current through said valve means.
- first and second voltage terminals having different voltage potentials thereon;
-
7. A bi-phasic pulse gEnerator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said electronic valve means comprise transistors.
Specification