Pulse dosage control unit for tissue stimulation system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling the energy content and the number of pulses of a dose of electrical stimulation to be applied to by lead means coupled to nerve tissues, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for providing a continuous train of pulses at a selected frequency;
(b) duty cycle control means for producing first and second initiate signals and a terminate signal, said duty cycle means responsive to the occurrence of a predetermined number of pulses for providing said terminate signal occurring a first interval after said first initiate signal of at least one pulse period, said second initiate signal occurring a second interval after said terminate signal of a selected whole number of said pulse periods; and
(c) gate means responsive to said first and second initiate signals and said terminate signal for facilitating the passage of said train of pulses between said first initiate and terminate signals and for preventing the passage of the train of pulses between said terminate and second initiate signals, whereby the dosage of the electrical pulses to the body tissue is constant regardless of the frequency selected.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for applying electrical stimulation to areas of the nervous system wherein the method permits precise pulse dosage control over prescribed time intervals to be exercised by the administering physician, and the apparatus is organized to provide the desired pulse dosage by means of selectable duty cycle on/off modulation of a pulse train having selectable pulse repetition rates and pulse widths. Digital circuitry is used in a pulse counting technique to implement the generation of pulse sequences such that direct quantitative control may be exercised.
28 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling the energy content and the number of pulses of a dose of electrical stimulation to be applied to by lead means coupled to nerve tissues, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for providing a continuous train of pulses at a selected frequency; (b) duty cycle control means for producing first and second initiate signals and a terminate signal, said duty cycle means responsive to the occurrence of a predetermined number of pulses for providing said terminate signal occurring a first interval after said first initiate signal of at least one pulse period, said second initiate signal occurring a second interval after said terminate signal of a selected whole number of said pulse periods; and (c) gate means responsive to said first and second initiate signals and said terminate signal for facilitating the passage of said train of pulses between said first initiate and terminate signals and for preventing the passage of the train of pulses between said terminate and second initiate signals, whereby the dosage of the electrical pulses to the body tissue is constant regardless of the frequency selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a system for applying a dose of electrical signals to lead means coupled to tissue for the purposes of stimulating said tissue, pulse generator means comprising:
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(a) means for generating a series of electrical signals having desired parameters adapted for being applied to said lead means; and (b) dose control means including counting means coupled to said generating means for counting the electrical signals to set independently of the desired parameters the number of a plurality of the electrical signals to define the dose, and means responsive to said counting means having counted the independently set number of the electrical signals for interrupting the application of said series of electric signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for controlling the energy content and the number of a plurality of pulses to define a dose of electrical stimulation to be applied via lead means coupled to nerve tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for providing a train of pulses of a variable, selected frequency; and (b) duty cycle control means coupled to said providing means to receive the train of pulses and including means for counting the regular pulses to set the number of a plurality of pulses within the dose independent of the selected frequency of the pulses to be applied to the nerve tissue during a first interval set by the number of pulses within the dose, and means responsive to said counting means having counted the set number of the plurality of pulses for terminating the application of the continuous train of pulses to the nerve tissue, and means for selectively choosing a second interval during which the application of the train of pulses to the nerve tissue is interrupted, whereby the duty cycle of the pulses in terms of the ratio of the first and second intervals and therefore the energy applied to the nerve tissue is controlled.
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Specification