Stimulator apparatus for internal body organ
First Claim
1. Apparatus for periodically stimulating an internal body organ under the selective control of a device located outside of the body, said apparatus comprising:
- an external transmitter unit having means for producing a relatively high frequency output and means for periodically effectively interrupting said high frequency output; and
an implantable unit includinga power supply portion having output terminals and means reactively coupled with said transmitter unit when the latter is in proximity to said implantable unit for producing a D.C. voltage across said output terminals during each duration of the high frequency output,at least one electrode adapted to be affixed adjacent the organ to be stimulated,an energy storage device,an electronic switching device having control elements which cause said electronic switching device to be non-conductive when a voltage of at least a predetermined value is applied between said elements,circuit means connecting said energy storage device, said electrode, and said electronic switching device in series,means connecting said power supply portion to said energy storage device to cause energy to be stored in the latter while said switching device is in non-conducting condition,and means connected across the output terminals of said power supply portion and to said control elements of said switching device for deriving from said power supply portion and applying to said control elements a voltage of at least said predetermined value so that said switching device is non-conductive while said power supply portion is supplying a voltage and means for causing said switching device to become conductive each time said voltage ceases, to cause said energy storage device to cause periodic energization of said electrode to stimulate said organ.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable unit for stimulating an internal body organ in which there is a power supply portion for having power induced therein from a source external of the body and electrodes adapted to be attached to a muscular organ such as a bladder or the like, said unit having an energy storage device, such as a capacitor, connected to the electrodes under the control of a transistor which is normally maintained non-conductive as a result of the voltage drop across an impedance connected to the power supply so that each time that the power supply is interrupted, the transistor becomes conductive to discharge the energy storage device through the electrodes and apply a stimulating voltage to the organ. The transmitter source external of the body is designed to periodically interrupt for a short period the voltage transmitted thereby so that the voltage produced by the power supply of the implantable unit is thus periodically interrupted. The sole means for holding the transistor of the implantable unit non-conductive is the impedance connected across the power supply so that as soon as the voltage from the power supply disappears, the transistor becomes conductive. The implantable unit has no internal power supply and its sole source of power is that derived from the transmitter.
200 Citations
10 Claims
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1. Apparatus for periodically stimulating an internal body organ under the selective control of a device located outside of the body, said apparatus comprising:
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an external transmitter unit having means for producing a relatively high frequency output and means for periodically effectively interrupting said high frequency output; and an implantable unit including a power supply portion having output terminals and means reactively coupled with said transmitter unit when the latter is in proximity to said implantable unit for producing a D.C. voltage across said output terminals during each duration of the high frequency output, at least one electrode adapted to be affixed adjacent the organ to be stimulated, an energy storage device, an electronic switching device having control elements which cause said electronic switching device to be non-conductive when a voltage of at least a predetermined value is applied between said elements, circuit means connecting said energy storage device, said electrode, and said electronic switching device in series, means connecting said power supply portion to said energy storage device to cause energy to be stored in the latter while said switching device is in non-conducting condition, and means connected across the output terminals of said power supply portion and to said control elements of said switching device for deriving from said power supply portion and applying to said control elements a voltage of at least said predetermined value so that said switching device is non-conductive while said power supply portion is supplying a voltage and means for causing said switching device to become conductive each time said voltage ceases, to cause said energy storage device to cause periodic energization of said electrode to stimulate said organ. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification